Final: Blues vs Crusaders

[broughie]

@Chris-B the fans and the players have to earn it.

Yes after not watching rugby from then 90’s through maybe 2010 I was shocked to see the performance of
Ta$man. When I played, sabbatical from soccer, Murray West was the captain, they would lose to the West Coast and Buller. Marlbaorough would clean their clocks. Nelson United was the game
In town.

[broughie]

@Chris-B more so than the Bay of Plenty.

[Nevorian]

@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Nelson had nothing to offer as far as rugby

still don't

oh, except a cheque book i guess

And history- first recorded game of rugby played in NZ in 1870

[Chris B.]

@mariner4life That's how thin the links were.

There weren't even people born in Nelson going to play elsewhere and making the ABs (like Mitchell). There were a tiny handful who went and played for other, bigger provinces (e.g. Allan Prince, Kyle Byers) - and Will Dempster!!!

[Chris B.]

@Nevorian said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@broughie said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Nelson had nothing to offer as far as rugby

still don't

oh, except a cheque book i guess

And history- first recorded game of rugby played in NZ in 1870

Yeah - we invented rugby in NZ.

[Nevorian]

Should be a cracker of a game. Hopefully not too many long term injuries to our All Black contingent creating more selection headaches for Fozzie.

[broughie]

@Chris-B Will Dempter?!!!! I had to tackle that monster a full steam. Ended up on my ass but did not embarrass myself.

LOL. Used to play indoor soccer against the Dempter family. They were a horde.

[Chris B.]

@broughie Seemed to be a regular for the South Island and I think played a few AB trials, but never quite cracked the ABs.

[Bovidae]

@Chris-B said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

The home team has won the past 22 play-off games in Super rugby. You have to go back to 2017 to find an away winner.

The Highlanders beating the Hurricanes in 2015 has been the exception for NZ teams in finals in the 2000s.

[broughie]

@Chris-B Yep he wasn’t good enough and he was a really nice guy. There were a lot of dumb Rugby fluffybunnies like the Rackley brothers, except Jeff, populating the town.

[Duluth]

The final that Super Rugby Pacific needs

The all-Kiwi showdown between the Blues and Crusaders will be played in front of a sell-out crowd at Eden Park, which will bring some much needed glory, buzz and attention to Super Rugby Pacific.

[KiwiMurph]

Barrett-Mo'unga showdown the big drawcard in throwback Super Rugby final

Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final between the Blues and Crusaders sold out inside five hours. With big names across the paddock, an old school feel, and the All Blacks No. 10 jersey on the line, it really could be something special.

[Old Samurai Jack]

@mariner4life Exactly, he is a Poverty Bay boy 100%!

[Bovidae]

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

[Old Samurai Jack]

@Bovidae This is the guy that gifted the Blues a final last week, isn't it?

[Machpants]

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

What's their percentage with other refs of the same era? Probably similar!

[Bovidae]

@Machpants Probably. That stat was mentioned so I thought I'd include that info. I am surprised O'Keeffe has never refereed a game between these two teams before.

@Old-Samurai-Jack Yes, same ref.

[Kirwan]

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@Bovidae This is the guy that gifted the Blues a final last week, isn't it?

No, the one trying to gift the crusaders a home final by letting in truck and trailer trys.

[ACT Crusader]

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

And those 3 were absolute stitch ups.

[Dan54]

@Bovidae said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Confirmed.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

The Crusaders have an 83% winning record when O’Keeffe officiates their games, losing just three of 18.
The 33-year-old has, however, never refereed a match between the Blues and Crusaders.

What has that stat got to do with anything, I remember in Aus a rugby pundit giving the percetages of game ABs won with Nigel Owens as ref, and when you looked it was no different to any other ref, just the ABs won a lot, maybe a bit like Crusaders?
Hell the ref won't decide game, the players will as always!