Final: Chiefs v Crusaders
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I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
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Maybe part of the gameplan, is they see Finau being dangerous in the wider channels deeper in the contest, and will use Sowakula as a battering ram in tighter, to muscle up against the Crusaders early. Probably a similar reason why Ah Kuoi beats out Lord - ability to bring impact off the bench.
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Stats about both sides plus some overall stats for the competition
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@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers. -
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
One thing that impresses me about the current Chiefs outfit is that they hold their shape, even with the punches.
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I'm going with the old cliche that, "It's why they play the game".
I can see reasons why both teams might win.
Chiefs - best team in the regular season, beat the Crusaders twice.
Crusaders - best team in the play-offs (so far) thumped two higher ranked teams than those the Chiefs have struggled against.
Crusaders - still decimated by injuries and unlikely they'll play as well as they did against the Blues. But Razor has the magic touch.
Chiefs - Almost full strength and McMillan is no mug.
Ranking mainly on ABs and ABs XV selections
Front row - Crusaders - 2 ABs and a ABXV vs 1 AB and 1 ABXV
Locks - Even, but really Crusaders by a whisker, as long as Sammy actually plays.
Loosies - Chiefs by a mile - so complacent they've picked PGS!!!
Inside backs - Chiefs because they've got an AB and near AB and we've only got Drummie - but, really, Crusaders, because we've got Richie - the most influential Super rugby player of all time and, hopefully, a man who tomorrow will take his first step toward being the World Rugby Player of the Year for 2023 (You heard that here first! Fuck you all - except Crusaders supporters
).Midfield - two ABs and two NZ XVs - evens.
Outside backs - Three ABs vs one and one nearly - Crusaders.
Bench - Chiefs by a mile! An AB in waiting and a former AB on the bench.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
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@Nepia said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
It's offensive to the Chiefs to compare them to the Blues.
Chiefs record vs the other semi finalists: 5-0
Blues record vs the other semi finalists: 0-5
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@Nepia said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.This talk of a plan actually has me worried. The Blues clearly had a plan (which bafflingly included stationing two of their loosies wide for most of the match) for the Crusaders that was different to their normal style and we all saw how that worked out.
The Cheifs will be fine with their plan as long as the Crusaders don't have a plan. If the Saders have a plan, the plans go out the wondow and it will come down to which team has a made a pact to win.
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Biggest problem for the Chiefs is David Havili isn't there to ruthlessly exploit like the last two games
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@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
The Cheifs will be fine with their plan as long as the Crusaders don't have a plan. If the Saders have a plan, the plans go out the wondow and it will come down to which team has a made a pact to win.
I guess I'm about to state the obvious. Or maybe it depends who has the better game plan and / or how the players implement the game plan.
Richie was made to look like a super star last week by a very poor blues team playing like mugs. One aspect of the chiefs game plan must be to close him down. It can be done and sometimes is and must be if they are to win
Canes allowed a certain blues wing to look like a super star. He looked less than ordinary last week. The chiefs can do it but they need the right plan and players at their best. They haven't been close to their best in recent weeks.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
@Chester-Draws said in Final: Chiefs v Crusaders (poll in first post):
I'm impressed that people are so keen on the Crusaders.
Last semi-final a bit more composure in the Chiefs backs, and they would have won. Since then the Chiefs have got better, in both personnel and game plan, and the Crusaders have got worse (due largely to manpower in their case). The game is in Hamilton this time.
> And McMillan has basically confirmed Bones' point -- they were planning the Crusader game even before the Brumbies were beaten.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
I expect a Chiefs win but I thought that the Blues would prevail last week so.... I hold out hope the good guys will prevail and silence those nasty cowbells and mulleted no-hopers.Yep but he said it was a meeting that same day, the reason was to plan out week, as he wanted the coaches as well as the players to have a break on Sunday etc. I really think he talks so much sense MacMillan, a bit like Jason Ryan to me a couple of fellas I enjoy listening too.
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Clayton McMillan met up with the rest of his Chiefs coaching staff on Saturday, fresh off watching the Crusaders’ demolition job of the Blues the night before, and conjured up a plan of how best to prepare his team for facing the perennial champions in the Super Rugby Pacific final.
If that quote from Stuff is true, it was a bit more than "planning the week".
Not to mention that, having played them twice before and won, I don't imagine that the changes will be massive. They need to have a plan to pressure Drummond and shut down Mo'unga, but they will already know which options might work.
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This might end up being thrown in my face later but I have to give my honest prediction.
I think the Crusaders will do this relatively easily. They looked sensational last week. I cannot remember the Crusaders losing a playoff game. I presume they have never lost one witn Razor as coach. I do not see that happening tonight.
