SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil)

[Duluth]

Probably the same xv but with Clarke returning for Lam?

Same mix on the bench? Makes sense to have midfield cover more than an outside back

[Duluth]

TANTALISING SEMI FINAL SHOWDOWN — Blues Rugby

A pair of milestones for Rieko Ioane (100) and Hoskins Sotutu (50) set the stage for what promises to be an epic DHL Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final showdown as the Blues travel to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders this Friday night at 7:05pm. Caleb Clarke returns to the left wing in a near full

1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Nepo Laulala
4 Tom Robinson
5 James Tucker
6 Akira Ioane
7 Dalton Papalii (c)
8 Hoskins Sotutu – 50th cap
9 Finlay Christie
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Bryce Heem
13 Rieko Ioane – 100th cap
14 Mark Telea
15 Zarn Sullivan

Reserves:
16 Kurt Eklund
17 Jordan Lay
18 Marcel Renata
19 Cameron Suafoa
20 Adrian Choat
21 Sam Nock
22 Harry Plummer
23 Stephen Perofeta

Players not considered: Sam Darry (arm, season), Alex Hodgman (shoulder, season), Tanielu Telea (knee), Patrick Tuipulotu (arm, season)

[KiwiMurph]

Pleased for Clarke who missed last year's playoffs through injury and for Papalii who came off of the bench in last year's final due to injury.

[mariner4life]

Rieko having a hundred caps sort of blew me away

my brain can't comprehend he has been around that long. Only 8 Blues have more than him as well.

[Machpants]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300905032/crusaders-lose-all-blacks-flanker-ethan-blackadder-for-rest-of-campaign
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili-Talitui, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (capt), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O’Neill, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki.

[Duluth]

@mariner4life said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

Rieko having a hundred caps sort of blew me away

my brain can't comprehend he has been around that long. Only 8 Blues have more than him as well.

Signed for 4 more years. Maybe another 60 SR matches depending on injuries? By then he'll be 30, just entering his prime as an NZ centre

[KiwiMurph]

@Duluth I imagine one of those 4 years will be in Japan.

[Duluth]

Choat squeezed past Segner for the bench. They've been having a great battle all year

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph TBH I'd have probably leaned toward Lam to start over Clarke

[nzzp]

@KiwiMurph said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

Pleased for Clarke who missed last year's playoffs through injury and for Papalii who came off of the bench in last year's final due to injury.

Injuries to Clarke and Dalton, and the Saders getting Whitelock back last year was a massive swing for the final.

[Stargazer]

Crusaders Team Named for Semi Final

We've named our side to take on the Blues this Friday in the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final!

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

@KiwiMurph TBH I'd have probably leaned toward Lam to start over Clarke

Yeah it's a pretty 50/50 call - Lam got his shot in last year's final vs Crusaders - Clarke gets his shot in this year's semi vs Crusaders.

[Bones]

I love how the crusaders now have two guys on the wing who are better at centre than the guy named there...who's probably better on the wing than one of those guys. Baffled.

Blues loosies will be licking their lips at getting stuck into some Strange. No...wait...

[Chris]

Angus Gardiner Ref for this SF

[KiwiMurph]

@Bones said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

@Bovidae Berry and the blues have a chance. Gardner, might as well not turn up.

Guess the Blues might as well not turn up.

[Kirwan]

@Chris said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

Angus Gardiner Ref for this SF

Prefer him to the thief.

[Kiwiwomble]

how have we got this far without a comment on the title?!

[Tim]

@Kiwiwomble We long to be the villains of NZ rugby again.

[NTA]

Scoreless draw and multiple All Black short-term injuries.

Thanks

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

@Bones said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

@Bovidae Berry and the blues have a chance. Gardner, might as well not turn up.

Guess the Blues might as well not turn up.

He definitely favours the favourites...