Crusaders v Blues
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
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@chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
Will give you that, although I don't rate Strange at all.
Given you can't really count Goodhue, (as much as Id like to: huge fanboi) that's a whole one starter.
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@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@chris said in Crusaders v Blues:
@booboo said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the s
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Apart from Whitelock (And Goodhue but he hardly counts) who of them is in the top XXIII?
Matera ,Strange,Whitelock,McAlister. and Goodhue,Would all be in the top 23.
Will give you that, although I don't rate Strange at all.
Given you can't really count Goodhue, (as much as Id like to: huge fanboi) that's a whole one starter.
True but the bench is a big part of the game these days.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.
The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.
Blues massive underdogs with all the injuries
Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.
Word just in that we will be without McCaw, Read, Jack and Carter. Although the Blues are trying claim that last fella as one of their outs…
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@act-crusader McCaw is irreplaceable although I'm sure Steve Brett, Mose Tuiali'i and Ali Williams will do a job for Dean's & Gibson
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@act-crusader Word from the camp is that Scott Robertson may not make the starting team either.
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THE BLUES CHASE GOOD FRIDAY AGAINST CRUSADERS IN CHRISTCHURCH — Blues Rugby
The Blues will get no tougher litmus test on their progress than the Easter Friday clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch. The team bagged three wins in their challenging three-game schedule in a week, before resetting with an impressive victory against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
1. Alex Hodgman (48)
2. Kurt Eklund (30)
3. Ofa Tuungafasi (113)
4. Luke Romano (5)
5. Josh Goodhue (42)
6. Tom Robinson (38)
7. Dalton Papalii© (50)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (29)
9. Finlay Christie (23)
10. Beauden Barrett (10)
11. Mark Telea (31)
12. Bryce Heem (13)
13. Reiko Ioane (79)
14. AJ Lam (13)
15. Stephen Perofeta (38)16. Ricky Riccitelli 5)
17. Jordan Lay (3)
18. Nepo Laulala (17)
19. James Tucker (4)
20. Adrian Choat (11)
21. Taufa Funaki (3)
22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (3)
23. Zarn Sullivan (11)/ Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens (5)Players not considered: Akira Ioane, Harry Plummer, Sam Nock
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
I don't quite understand how Laulala is back? Didn't he get 3 weeks?
Was it three games perhaps? If so, thanks MP.
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@kirwan said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
I don't quite understand how Laulala is back? Didn't he get 3 weeks?
Was it three games perhaps? If so, thanks MP.
Even 3 games doesn't add up unless you count the game he got red-carded in.
from Stuff
Laulala pleaded guilty to the Sanzaar foul play review committee for contravening Law 9.20: dangerous play in a ruck or maul. He is suspended from all forms of the game up to and including April 15, which will see him also sit out the visits to the Chiefs and Crusaders.EDIT - Blues have said his suspension has been reduced one week.
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@kiwimurph A friend messaged me something about Laulala being able to do a training course that would get him off another week of the suspension. Haven't been able to find anything about it though, and the friend has no knowledge other than what's in the press.
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kirwan said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
I don't quite understand how Laulala is back? Didn't he get 3 weeks?
Was it three games perhaps? If so, thanks MP.
Even 3 games doesn't add up unless you count the game he got red-carded in.
from Stuff
Laulala pleaded guilty to the Sanzaar foul play review committee for contravening Law 9.20: dangerous play in a ruck or maul. He is suspended from all forms of the game up to and including April 15, which will see him also sit out the visits to the Chiefs and Crusaders.EDIT - Blues have said his suspension has been reduced one week.
Did they say why, and just as importantly did they get the same for Caleb?
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@kiwimurph I am staggered by this! Shook my head as I read the team list.
And poor Milo-Harris is out of the 23
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@tim said in Crusaders v Blues:
@kiwimurph A friend messaged me something about Laulala being able to do a training course that would get him off another week of the suspension. Haven't been able to find anything about it though, and the friend has no knowledge other than what's in the press.
Ahh, I did read that Caleb couldn't do that course because his action wasn't covered by anything. Seems a bit unfair.
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All Black Ofa Tuungafasi has been cleared to start at tighthead prop, despite receiving 28 stitches in a facial wound against the Chiefs
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I assume Laulala's reduction comes from this paragraph in SANZAAR's decision:
"The Player was informed of his ability to apply for the Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention. Any player who has a citing or red card upheld by a disciplinary panel for foul play involving the Head Contact Process may apply to have the final week of their sanction substituted by undertaking a coaching intervention that specifically addresses the technical tackle/contact technique-error that caused or contributed to the foul play. This intervention will be overseen by the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Expert Review Panel – a panel of expert independent coaches - and is only be available to first time offenders."
But that's a big joke in Laulala's case, because he's hardly a first time offender. But hey, if they offer this to him, of course he'll take it!
Strangely enough, the decision in Clarke's case has disappeared from SANZAAR's website (I downloaded the decision, so it was there before). Anyhow, a reduction in Clarke's case for a similar reason as Laulala's wouldn't have made him available for the Crusaders game, as he got his card in a later game.
