Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season

[Chris B.]

Crusaders with a series of infringements giving the Highlanders field position.

[Kiwiwomble]

"Both sides are struggling with the fatigue of the game as the scrum takes a while to set"

...shouldn't be with pretty much a new tea at half time

[Chris B.]

Ollie Jager with the first significant looking injury. Archilles-looking...

[Chris B.]

Tavatavanawai gets a second try - comes into the line from the blindside and runs straight through the Highlanders.

For someone who was only a late call-up for the Mako, he looks pretty useful. Big and fast.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

Ollie Jager

he cant have been that injured....

[Chris B.]

Great run by Tamati Williams - shows real pace - really impressive - and then another excellent charge by Fletcher Newell to score.

One of the better moves I've seen concocted by props!

26-21 - 10 minutes to go.

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

Ollie Jager

he cant have been that injured....

He's off - it was Newell scored the try.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B oh, the commentary lists him

[Kiwiwomble]

damn, talk about a game of two halfs

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble Definitely off.

He went down like he'd been hit by a sniper.

Crusaders score from a 12 man lineout drive.

Highlanders use their challenge and find a fault - surprise, surprise.

No try.

This is going to be a dubious rule!

[Kiwiwomble]

that Cameron bloke seems ok....

edit: really, the commentary said they found nothing wrong...

[Chris B.]

Sorry - I've got that wrong - seems the try stands.

28-26 Crusaders.

[Chris B.]

...and Makene has a chance to win it on fulltime, but his penalty fails and the Crusaders retain the Farmlands Cup.

Woo Hoo!!!

[Kiwiwomble]

I know its only pre season but they need a rev up after that, all but two were fresh legs in the second half, its not like the saders brought on DC or something

[Chris B.]

@Kiwiwomble Game of two halves - and four teams?

I think Romano looked quite instrumental in the second half performance - Crusaders came out with a lot more second half urgency.

Highlanders II didn't really look at the races, much like Crusaders I.

Cameron was pretty good!

Segner a couple of good lineout takes and appeared to pack at 8, despite wearing 6 (didn't look natural there).

That really was an impressive run by Williams and nearly as good from Newell.

[Stargazer]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders vs Highlanders pre-season:

On right now. How come @Stargazer doesn't have 10 posts on a thread already!!!

Too much in awe of Fabulous Fakatava!

[Stargazer]

Scorers:

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer I am appalled that it is me who has effectively had to kick off the new season!

[Stargazer]

Can someone tell me what put the Crusaders offside several times in the first half. I think at least 3-4 of the penalties against them came from offside calls, but I couldn't see what happened. It had to do with the Highlanders kicking?

[Stargazer]

Typical preseason game, with lots of adjusting to do to the referee's calls, especially around the ruck. Not surprised by the high number of penalties; it's always like that. Can't say much about such games; they're a means to get rid of rust and give players game time who won't play too much during the season, unless there are many injuries.

Players who looked good during this game:

Highlanders: Fakatava, Coltman (except for some bad line-out throws in the beginning of the 1st half), Mitch Hunt, Nareki. Connor G-B looked promising.

Crusaders: Romano, Tavatavanawai, Leicester Fainga'anuku, big Tamaiti Williams, S Havili.