SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders
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Good to see Blues let media in the sheds post match.
Injury denied flanker Tom Robinson a chance to take the field in the final, but the Northlander was well prepared to mark the end of the Blues' title drought. "She's ready mate," Robinson says, patting his liver. "I've given the dog about six or seven days worth of food and just said 'I'll see ya in seven days, Rocco." "There'll be a big party tonight. Party at Dalts' [Blues flanker Dalton Papalii] house. DJ Dalts will be on the decks." -
@duluth said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
I said earlier in the week that I wanted the Blues to have a 6/2 split. It was obvious that the Highlanders would attempt to tire out the big Blues pack with an extra forward sub.
When Robinson was ruled out a 6/2 split wasn't really an option.It's impressive the Blues pack finished stronger. They had one less sub, plus Goodhue getting injured not long after coming on meant the second row basically played the full match.
The Gibson try was earned through multiple players still working hard and over powering the Highlanders.Surprised something more hasn’t been said about Goodhue’s injury. It was a head to the rib cage looked like from the side.
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@sparky said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@steven-harris said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp glad it wasn’t a Red , would have put a damper on the game , let’s see if the Blues put it on report , if not we move on
Game in New Zealand is being officiated very differently than in Europe at the moment. In Europe any contact with the head is a straight red. In NZ refs are concerned about putting a damper on the game as you put it. No question in my mind if Ash Dixon had been playing in Toulouse, Exeter or Belfast he would have had a early shower.
Just because a fan on the internet says it, that doesn’t mean it is the refs motivation. I think it’s far from it. When they’re out there I don’t think 15, 14, 13 players really comes into their minds when assessing potential foul play.
What I found interesting last night is the number of interventions from the AR’s that caused late whistles or things completely unsighted by the ref. Now I’m sure we all want things being picked up if there is illegality, but it is still so hit and miss, that for long time watchers of the fame it comes as a big surprise when it happens.
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@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@african-monkey love your work.
Gotta give it to the Highlanders, they were bullied around up front a fair bit, but stayed in the fight and nearly pulled it off. They have a great culture down there with a great set of fans. They'll no doubt win a title in the near future imo.
I'm really not convinced. They were a distant second last night everywhere but on the scoreboard. They only really threatened penalties, and were only in the games as teh Blues coughed up possession and territory on a regular basis. Arguably played their final last week against the Brumbies, but will struggle to score enough points against good opposition I reckon.
As you say, though, great scrappy culture that gets teh best out of their players. Reminds me of the early Brumbies - taking players others don't want and turning them into a strong team.
Well thank you kind blues fans for even allowing the Highlanders to enter Eden Park, what a bloody honour eh! Really the final should've just been the Blues doing laps of the ground and Roane swearing at the crowd..
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@bones don't be too sensitive fella. Blues were very disciplined around the rucks, and defensively monsters. Highlanders asked good questions, but the reality was they didn't look likely you score big points.
Good season, good game, great scramble, but realistically dominated most of the night
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@bones now now fella. It's the first Super 15 title in 18 years and they deserve their own plaudits for beating all the other teams, breezing through the semis and knocking off the second best club team in the souther hemisphere.
Sore loser bones, let them celebrate like the crusaders have for the last how many years and give them their time in the sun. Super rugby champions for 2021 - fully earned and deserved.
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@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones don't be too sensitive fella. Blues were very disciplined around the rucks, and defensively monsters. Highlanders asked good questions, but the reality was they didn't look likely you score big points.
Good season, good game, great scramble, but realistically dominated most of the night
Well that's even more honourable innit, allowing our pretend rugby players onto the field to pretend to tackle the big city stars. They'll remember that their whole lives I reckon, when they go back to their day jobs.
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@booboo said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
wow, just re-watched the yellow card on Ash Dixon. That is as clear a red as you'll see, how on earth the refs got to the decision they did is incredible. 'secondary contact' my arse; late, high, always high, direct shoulder to head. It's kinda like red card bingo.
There was some origin level whistle swallowing going on out there last night. And the irony is that sort of contact is exactly what is tryin gto get out of the game
And they were desparate to find a card against against the Blues when Nareki ran obstruction causing the collision.
‘Thank God for Brendan Pickerall’?! Lions TMO showing his worth.
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@bones said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones don't be too sensitive fella. Blues were very disciplined around the rucks, and defensively monsters. Highlanders asked good questions, but the reality was they didn't look likely you score big points.
Good season, good game, great scramble, but realistically dominated most of the night
Well that's even more honourable innit, allowing our pretend rugby players onto the field to pretend to tackle the big city stars. They'll remember that their whole lives I reckon, when they go back to their day jobs.
You are looking too hard to find offense. Most of us have credited the Clan for a great performance.
If anything, pointing out things like the Blues having 70% possession at one point, the Clan missing over 20 tackles, and having to make over a 100 more tackles makes the closeness of the game even more of an achievement for the Clan.
The Blues were dominant.
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@bones as a long (long) suffering Blues fan, the landers are the only side we've had the wood on over the last couple of years. Won 5 of the last 6 I think, and when we played you on EP earlier this year, there were only some ropey decisions (Akira 'forward pass') that prevented us hitting 50.
You could see it another way - the Blues were 7.5 point favourites at the TAB, and covered the spread (just). So the game played out the way the bookies expected
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@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones as a long (long) suffering Blues fan, the landers are the only side we've had the wood on over the last couple of years. Won 5 of the last 6 I think, and when we played you on EP earlier this year, there were only some ropey decisions (Akira 'forward pass') that prevented us hitting 50.
You could see it another way - the Blues were 7.5 point favourites at the TAB, and covered the spread (just). So the game played out the way the bookies expected
Sitting in the stands the crowd realised how close the Blues were to losing the game. The Highlanders fed off the Blues ill discipline and if they had stuck to their narrow channel of attack they might have been able to steal the game
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@canefan said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones as a long (long) suffering Blues fan, the landers are the only side we've had the wood on over the last couple of years. Won 5 of the last 6 I think, and when we played you on EP earlier this year, there were only some ropey decisions (Akira 'forward pass') that prevented us hitting 50.
You could see it another way - the Blues were 7.5 point favourites at the TAB, and covered the spread (just). So the game played out the way the bookies expected
Sitting in the stands the crowd realised how close the Blues were to losing the game. The Highlanders fed off the Blues ill discipline and if they had stuck to their narrow channel of attack they might have been able to steal the game
was impressive how the Blues came from behind to win. Didn't turn dominance into points - but did enough in the end
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@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@canefan said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones as a long (long) suffering Blues fan, the landers are the only side we've had the wood on over the last couple of years. Won 5 of the last 6 I think, and when we played you on EP earlier this year, there were only some ropey decisions (Akira 'forward pass') that prevented us hitting 50.
You could see it another way - the Blues were 7.5 point favourites at the TAB, and covered the spread (just). So the game played out the way the bookies expected
Sitting in the stands the crowd realised how close the Blues were to losing the game. The Highlanders fed off the Blues ill discipline and if they had stuck to their narrow channel of attack they might have been able to steal the game
was impressive how the Blues came from behind to win. Didn't turn dominance into points - but did enough in the end
Make no mistake, they should have won in a canter. But they pushed passes when they should have consolidated, sometimes you need to set a target and trust that your team mates will recycle the ball rather than throw a 50/50 ball as you are falling in contact. And then they conceded pen after pen by not trusting their defence to front up against the Highlanders forwards rumbling it up the middle
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@kirwan said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp yeah who knows why NZRU even bothered with a final once it was seen it would be THE BLUES vs t' landers.
Got to help you improve somehow.
I doubt we will though, hardly even being rugby players at the Highlanders. Hopefully you guys can share it around in all the finals you always make, see if it rubs off on the other teams.
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@bones said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@kirwan said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp yeah who knows why NZRU even bothered with a final once it was seen it would be THE BLUES vs t' landers.
Got to help you improve somehow.
I doubt we will though, hardly even being rugby players at the Highlanders. Hopefully you guys can share it around in all the finals you always make, see if it rubs off on the other teams.
Yawn.
