SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues
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Papilii was excellent for the Blues and would be my choice for the AB 7 jersey. Hope he is not badly injured. The rest of the blues were pretty meh - the defence was rubbish at times, and the missed penalties from pretty much in front of the sticks is not really excusable at this level. Not sure what Christie has to do to start ahead of Ruru he looks NPC level to me. Clarke and Sotutu not a patch on last season.
I'll be very disappointed if Havili is not selected for the ABs. Most consistent 12 in NZ rugby at present, can pass off both hands, has a great kicking game, kicked a clutch DG a couple of games back and so on. Jordan surely must be in the ABs starting XV. Crusaders have a problem at 7 and Grace has had a very underwhelming season. Whitelock just massive in the this game.
My ABs backline from 9 to 15: Smith, Mounga, Ioane, Havili, ALB, Jordan, Barrett the giraffe
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@billy-tell said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Papilii was excellent for the Blues and would be my choice for the AB 7 jersey.
My ABs backline from 9 to 15: Smith, Mounga, Ioane, Havili, ALB, Jordan, Barrett the giraffe
Papilii has been the Blues Player of the Season by some distance. Ready IMHO to be given the AB 7 Jersey until Sam Cane if fit.
More or less agree on that backline. The AB coaches might back themselves to fix Caleb Clarke's workrate and finishing issue. Such a talent, but he hasn't delivered for the Blues this year for some reason.
I'd go with DMac at 10 ahead of Mo'unga. Loving his distribution and game management at First Five this year.
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So just watched a replay of this match. Haven't read the match thread so this may have been covered.
WTF was the ref thinking for the the 57 minute ruck penalty he gave to the Crusaders?
Three seperate Crusaders came in from the side and Richie Mo'unga lifted Christie in the air and pushed him over the ruck (I mean he is a ginga but still). Then he awards the penalty to the Crusaders?
Also Mo'unga when arriving had just flopped on the ruck and then Reece went round behind him and flopped on him, then Reece did a fake Hollywood falling backwards while one of the other players came in the side.
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@kiwimurph i think 9 (ruru) is just 1 of a number of issues.
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@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@chris said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Without Moody, a wobbly scrum, no AB centre, halfbacks that still make silly errors, poor discipline that cost us 3 points too often. Very surprised we are leading the comp.
have faith Bro one game away from glory again.
Did I mention we are missing McCaw, Carter, Franks and Read
Weren't the Blues missing MJ, Brooke, Carlos, Olo, Fitzy, Jonah and Rupeni?
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@taniwharugby said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwimurph i think 9 (ruru) is just 1 of a number of issues.
I agree. But it's a pretty big example.
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To win Super rugby games it seems to require a skill set the Blues aren’t able to achieve.They are able to rumble and carry the ball with the best of them,but their attack seems so easily shutdown.Not sure the backline wouldnt be better with Rieko on the wing,but inside him the worries would remain.Will the return of Beauden Barrett improve things? But he ,coming back from Japan may not be able to create as he does for Suntory.Love to see a creative backline,not necessarily on the advantage line do some magic for the Blues.The team seems to be desperate to do better,but no great plays are forthcoming to get their mojo back.They definitely don’t play territory very well,and always give up penalties at just the wrong time.
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@kiwimurph yea imagine if Christie or Nock were given the same length rope as Ruru, who year on year has shown he isn't really the answer.
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@kiwimurph yea prolly deserved more than just the penalty but Telea did too good a job of trying to milk the card! So the sideline doctor ruled him out without an HIA despite protestations from the Blues trainer and doctor. Is that an automatic injury stand down even though hes fine??
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@trodthesod said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
To win Super rugby games it seems to require a skill set the Blues aren’t able to achieve.They are able to rumble and carry the ball with the best of them,but their attack seems so easily shutdown.**Not sure the backline wouldnt be better with Rieko on the wing,but inside him the worries would remain.**Will the return of Beauden Barrett improve things? But he ,coming back from Japan may not be able to create as he does for Suntory.Love to see a creative backline,not necessarily on the advantage line do some magic for the Blues.The team seems to be desperate to do better,but no great plays are forthcoming to get their mojo back.They definitely don’t play territory very well,and always give up penalties at just the wrong time.
Rieko does a lot of covering defence from centre so the Blues could lose that.
Is your computer missing the space bar?
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Haven't read the thread but will still crack on and say....I'm worried the crusaders cynical play and high tackles are going to cost us at international level.
Salt in the wounds for the blues on the penultimate try to have a guy score when he should have been in the bin.
The ref favouritism is getting a bit bizarre now. Knock on advantage early in the game, Mounga takes a droopy and Doleman calls it back for the scrum? When have we ever not seen a ref say advantage over when a team kicks it away? It's the little things, they add up.
Anyway, brutal game between clearly the top two teams in SRA. Blues had their chances but just not accurate enough. Crusaders relentless.
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@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Penalty only?? Wtf.
Should have been at least yellow
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@nepia said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
So just watched a replay of this match. Haven't read the match thread so this may have been covered.
WTF was the ref thinking for the the 57 minute ruck penalty he gave to the Crusaders?
Three seperate Crusaders came in from the side and Richie Mo'unga lifted Christie in the air and pushed him over the ruck (I mean he is a ginga but still). Then he awards the penalty to the Crusaders?
Also Mo'unga when arriving had just flopped on the ruck and then Reece went round behind him and flopped on him, then Reece did a fake Hollywood falling backwards while one of the other players came in the side.
Makes the win sweeter reading that.
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@act-crusader said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@nepia said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
So just watched a replay of this match. Haven't read the match thread so this may have been covered.
WTF was the ref thinking for the the 57 minute ruck penalty he gave to the Crusaders?
Three seperate Crusaders came in from the side and Richie Mo'unga lifted Christie in the air and pushed him over the ruck (I mean he is a ginga but still). Then he awards the penalty to the Crusaders?
Also Mo'unga when arriving had just flopped on the ruck and then Reece went round behind him and flopped on him, then Reece did a fake Hollywood falling backwards while one of the other players came in the side.
Makes the win sweeter reading that.
Yep, very professional game management right there.
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@frank said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
@bones said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:
Anyway, brutal game between clearly the top two teams in SRA. Blues had their chances but just not accurate enough. Crusaders relentless.Would not say it is clear Blues are number 2 at all.
You could be onto something there.
