Crusaders v Blues
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Certain individual Blues players everyone seems to be complaining about in this thread were on a team that defended for most of the first half and had a team plan to kick away ball every time they received it.
Then in the second half they were chasing a game which was in reality already won.
I'm not sure we can take too much out of this game. For example, Sotutu got through a bunch of defence, the stuff people usually hype on here, but because he's seen as an attacking player it seems to be undervalued when he does it. Meanwhile Grace made half as many tackles as one of his fellow lossies and one of his locks, turned over the ball 4 times if ESPN stats are correct, yet is being lauded mostly due to his "flashy" running. No this is not an attack on Grace, he's still a good player.
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A very physical game which lacked any great flow,but kept my interest because of its importance.I think the resurgent Crusaders were always going to win this,and the Blues losing a man for 20 minutes didn’t help their cause.
Of the back lines in the comp I think the Chiefs is the most creative,am I right in saying they play deeper hence are running at speed towards the defence with more time stepping and sometimes passing back to a second line of attack.?It came a little unstuck against the Reds,but generally very classy.The Blues attack in comparison disappoints.
Must say what a marvellous display of determination and guts from Adrian Choat,take a bow you have played bloody well all year.I’m picking a Crusader Chiefs final,and at Hamilton favour the Chiefs. -
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@KiwiMurph Line ball, I'd call that OK.
*Blues supporter, BTW
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@Machpants How is that line ball? I'm not talking about the pass. How is that not a knock on? Tamaiti reaches back with his hand and then the ball is lost forwards. It's near impossible for that to be anything other than a Crusaders knock on.
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It was maddening, as Paps was pleading with them to check it.
Both should get a rest, that is exactly why we have a video ref.
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Now the anti-Blues crowd have vomited up their glee, here’s my two cents.
Crusaders are the best finals football team in the country, they cranked up the intensity to 11 and applied the blow torch. Going to take something special for them not to win again, clear favourites.
I was actually pretty happy with what I saw from the Blues. In years past we would have collapsed under that sort of pressure, instead our defence was incredible. Huge performances across the field, real excellent team culture and calmness. Forced a lot of mistakes from them.
As for the attack, after the first 30mins with the tackle count at 75-2, fatigue was clearly a factor. Once we got the red card, the contest was effectively over. Pretty pleased to not concede any points after the red card, and after that volume of tackles.
Don’t need to mention the obvious knock on for the try.
Very enjoyable game to watch, casualty ward must have pretty full for both sides.
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@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:
Just in case anyone missed it (the 4 officials somehow did).
This directly lead to crusaders only second half try.
Much like the accidental off side that was missed when the Saders played the Chiefs a couple of weeks ago. Very poor from the officials.
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D Duluth forked this topic on
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I thought Ofa was really good for the Blues. The scrum was good and his defense was massive.
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@Duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:
It didn’t affect the result but the TMO should be stood down for missing that huge knock on
Other ferners have even gone to the press about it.
'You shouldn't miss something as blatant as that': Why ex-All Black is unhappy with Papalii decision
Blues flanker Dalton Papalii was red carded in the 15-3 defeat to the Crusaders early in the second half but the sequence of events after the high shot has left ex-All Black John Kirwan scratching his head.
