Crusaders v Chiefs
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="561562" data-time="1456701551">
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<p>boooooring....</p>
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<p>How about we discuss the game, not something that Toddy said in an interview that annoyed you</p>
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<p>You should start a new thread for conversations with yourself about rugby laws.</p>
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<p>Just to be clear, I simply made comment. You started the discussion.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="561562" data-time="1456701551">
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<p>boooooring....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How about we discuss the game, not something that Toddy said in an interview that annoyed you</p>
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<p>You should start a new thread for conversations with yourself about rugby laws.</p>
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<p>Just because you're okay with cheating, doesn't mean we have to be.</p> -
<p>Back to the rugby.</p>
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<p>I thought Andy Ellis had his best game in a couple of years,</p>
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<p>Last year he looked tired and slow to get to breakdowns, which I blamed on his stint in Japan. </p>
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<p>Only one game in but promising signs.</p> -
<p>In the corresponding game in 2014 the Chiefs ended up with Nathan Harris playing at openside. This was the game that Afeaki and Retallick clashed heads forcing both off the field. Then Retallick's replacement (Koloamatangi) was injured 7 mins later and the Chiefs only had one forward sub left - Harris. He played the last 14 mins on the side of the scrum.</p>
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<p>In this game the Crusaders reserve TH prop (Alaalatoa) never even played so Blackadder could have also rearranged his forward pack. Fukofuka wasn't the only option available.</p> -
Thought the saders over did the kicking at times. They tried the attacking cross kick a few times which didnt come off, one of which was rubbish and put them under pressure. Hopefully they can refine that. Really hope Ngatai can stay fit this year to push for the ABs midfield. Imo he is the closest thing to Conrad we have in that he seems to be an intelligent player. Pair him with someone with a bit of punch and the AB midfield might not be such a big hole.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="561572" data-time="1456704756">
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<p>Thought the saders over did the kicking at times. They tried the attacking cross kick a few times which didnt come off, one of which was rubbish and put them under pressure. Hopefully they can refine that. Really hope Ngatai can stay fit this year to push for the ABs midfield. Imo he is the closest thing to Conrad we have in that he seems to be an intelligent player. Pair him with someone with a bit of punch and the AB midfield might not be such a big hole.</p>
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<p>Yeah almost mentioned that in both my posts. The Chiefs dropped a couple of kicks early on and we got a bit too keen and kept doing it.</p>
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<p>Agree about Ngatai, he has to be an All Black this year. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="561572" data-time="1456704756"><p>Thought the saders over did the kicking at times. They tried the attacking cross kick a few times which didnt come off, one of which was rubbish and put them under pressure. Hopefully they can refine that. Really hope Ngatai can stay fit this year to push for the ABs midfield. Imo he is the closest thing to Conrad we have in that he seems to be an intelligent player. Pair him with someone with a bit of punch and the AB midfield might not be such a big hole.</p></blockquote>
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I like non-injured Ngatai a lot. Hope he has followed the C Smith path and got his injuries out of the way. He can play anywhere too, so looks a great bet for a few tests in black. I still like him better at 13 (Moala 12), but with Fekitoa and Ranger around, there are plenty of class players who can play both positions. <br><br>
We'll miss the old firm, but there is plenty of class about that it shouldn't be a weak area... -
Yes power and pace were never words you would use to describe conrad so i don't see it being an issue as long as there is balance in the 12/13 combo. He is hardly a lightweight though. Just needs to stop getting injured. As far as i can remember he was one of the only ones to come out of that samoan test looking good.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="561578" data-time="1456706979">
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<p>I like Ngatai, but I wonder if he has either the pace or power for test rugby.</p>
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<p>Ngatai <span>was a national age grade sprint champion. He's quicker than you think.</span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="561545" data-time="1456697986">
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<p>You'll be happy with this news then: </p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''>
</a></p>
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<p>Yeah, I read the article and I see he's a tradesman who's made his way by hard grit up the rugby ranks. He's perfectly adequate, but he is not the stuff of a title-winning 1st 15. Havili looked wasted/lost at 15, should be played elsewhere.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="561626" data-time="1456733558">
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<p>I would be pleased by a SBW / Ngatai combo for the EOYT. For the June tests and the RC, I guess Hansen won't use two newcomers in the midfield at the same time. So we won't see a Ngatai / Moala combo, that's for sure.</p>
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<p>I'd like to see Fekitoa (12) and Ngatai (13) given a chance. Fekitoa lacks distribution skills at this point of his career so I think he can be a like-for-like replacement for Nonu at 2nd 5. As others have mentioned, Ngatai has similar attributes to Smith. Crotty is another option but Ngatai has more upside.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="561626" data-time="1456733558">
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<p>I would be pleased by a SBW / Ngatai combo for the EOYT. For the June tests and the RC, I guess Hansen won't use two newcomers in the midfield at the same time. So we won't see a Ngatai / Moala combo, that's for sure.</p>
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<p>Agreed although Ngatai is a pretty experienced and heady player.</p>
<p>My early preference would be Ngatai and Fekitoa for the RC. With Moala in the squad mix.</p> -
Will have to watch Ngatai more closely. He's never stood out for me. Perhaps i was a victim of his early hype some years ago (early Hurricanes days) so i watched him to see what he could produce and it wasn't that much so I've written him off.<br><br>
Not that my opinion counts for much.<br><br>
From reading above he's the shit so I'll keep a closer eye out. -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="561629" data-time="1456734739">
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<p>I'd like to see Fekitoa (12) and Ngatai (13) given a chance. <strong>Fekitoa lacks distribution skills at this point of his career so I think he can be a like-for-like replacement for Nonu at 2nd 5.</strong> As others have mentioned, Ngatai has similar attributes to Smith. Crotty is another option but Ngatai has more upside.</p>
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<p>except that Nonu was a pretty good distributor</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gary" data-cid="561660" data-time="1456765853">
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<p>except that Nonu was a pretty good distributor</p>
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<p><strong>Became</strong> a very good distributor. So hope for Fekitoa.</p>
