Dagg to start v Jaguares
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<p>Good game from the Crusaders. Still room for improvement, esp goal kicking, but it's clear that the Crusaders mean business. Only two bonus points below the Chiefs now.</p>
<p>Great game from Dagg, Crotty, Barrett, and a few others. Mo'unga should do nothing but practicing his kicks this week, or hand over to Nadolo, or even Dagg.</p>
<p>Ellis is a tool; his arms are way too short to throw a successful punch. Will he be cited for the attempt?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="572519" data-time="1460710876"><p>unfortunately he throws like the 2015 version of Keven Mealamu</p></blockquote>
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Before tonight his throwing had been spot on. He had an absolute mare tonight though. -
Just back from the game and very happy with that.<br><br>
Positives as follows<br><br>
Dagg is back, looked fast and willing to take contact. Good stuff. Especially as nadolo had a quiet night. Nice to know we have other threats in our backline <br><br>
Franks is also back. Playing like he did in his prime so many huge hits on defence.<br><br>
Pleased to see Ellis and others playing with passion. Was sick and tired of the "don't react" policy under Richie. Too many times did we sit back and let messum, tamiefuna etc niggle us and push us around. Definitely a new attitude this year.<br><br>
Mouaga keeps improving (goal kicking aside)<br><br>
Scrum was awesome again<br><br>
Agree with others on here that our liineout was a bit shit. But we've had the best lineout in the comp all season, so willing to accept it for one game. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="572553" data-time="1460715143"><p>
Franks is also back. Playing like he did in his prime so many huge hits on defence.</p></blockquote>
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He was dynamic tonight. Loved his pop pass too. <br><br>
Very pleased with the scrum. Moody was able to get in and under the Jags TH. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="572615" data-time="1460720804">
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<p>I'm 24 mins into my recording.<br><br>
Izzy Dagg just scored and is looking the shit. AB recall?<br><br>
Further comment to follow.</p>
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<p>2nd try is way better.</p> -
Happy with that. Franks had been savage this season. Barrett is a very good lock. Dagg was good. Crotty solid. <br><br>
Mounga kicking the main downer. -
<p>Dagg looked good, I remember Shag saying when he missed out , they told him what he needs to work on , </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Im guessing a part of that was his sharpness with ball in hand . he looked a bit more like the old Dagg last night. </p> -
<p>I'm very happy with the result, after being worried all week that this could have been a banana skin game for the Crusaders given the travel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In saying that, if I'm brutally honest I'm not sure if this game is a reflection on how good we were, or how poor the Jags were. I thought the Crusaders were wasteful again in attack, and squandered quite a few chances that a team like the Chiefs would have taken. The set piece was still good although not flawless. Mo'unga's goal kicking has not been brilliant, but I really like the way he is emerging as a no.10. I thought our best players were Todd,Dagg, Read and Crotty. I know Matt Todd has somewhat flown under the radar this year, what with all the focus being on Cane and Ardie Savea, but he is a seriously good player. His defense is world class, his workrate is phenomenal and his support play is a real feature. He also makes great decisions in attack, in terms of when to pass/offload, when to run and when to take the tackle. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="572687" data-time="1460779278">
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<p>I'm very happy with the result, after being worried all week that this could have been a banana skin game for the Crusaders given the travel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In saying that, if I'm brutally honest I'm not sure if this game is a reflection on how good we were, or how poor the Jags were. I thought the Crusaders were wasteful again in attack, and squandered quite a few chances that a team like the Chiefs would have taken. The set piece was still good although not flawless. Mo'unga's goal kicking has not been brilliant, but I really like the way he is emerging as a no.10. I thought our best players were Todd,Dagg, Read and Crotty. <strong>I know Matt Todd has somewhat flown under the radar this year, what with all the focus being on Cane and Ardie Savea, but he is a seriously good player. His defense is world class, his workrate is phenomenal and his support play is a real feature. He also makes great decisions in attack, in terms of when to pass/offload, when to run and when to take the tackle. </strong></p>
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<p>Pretty crazy to think that after the greatest ever 7 retired that NZ still has so much depth in that position. I would think all of Cane, Savea, Todd, Gibson, Latimer, Taufua and Christie would be a good shot at starting for most international teams.</p>
<p>Australia really the only other country with that sort of depth at 7, the only spot they seem to have depth. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="572714" data-time="1460790366">
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<p>Pretty crazy to think that after the greatest ever 7 retired that NZ still has so much depth in that position. I would think all of Cane, Savea, Todd, Gibson, Latimer, Taufua and Christie would be a good shot at starting for most international teams.</p>
<p>Australia really the only other country with that sort of depth at 7, the only spot they seem to have depth. </p>
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<p>And an openside we let go to Scotland, John Hardie is being talking of by some experts as the B&I Lions starting 7 next year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="572687" data-time="1460779278">
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<p>I'm very happy with the result, after being worried all week that this could have been a banana skin game for the Crusaders given the travel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In saying that, if I'm brutally honest I'm not sure if this game is a reflection on how good we were, or how poor the Jags were. I thought the Crusaders were wasteful again in attack, and squandered quite a few chances that a team like the Chiefs would have taken. The set piece was still good although not flawless. Mo'unga's goal kicking has not been brilliant, but I really like the way he is emerging as a no.10. I thought our best players were Todd,Dagg, Read and Crotty. I know Matt Todd has somewhat flown under the radar this year, what with all the focus being on Cane and Ardie Savea, but he is a seriously good player. His defense is world class, his workrate is phenomenal and his support play is a real feature. He also makes great decisions in attack, in terms of when to pass/offload, when to run and when to take the tackle. </p>
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<p>Yeah - I actually thought we would lose that game. In the end we won easily and perhaps the best performance of the season. Still much to work on, but we're playing with more intent than the past few seasons - some of which is a change in approach from the coaches, but quite a bit a different attitude from the senior players who are a bit less focused on their AB careers.</p>
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<p>Dagg had an excellent game - really wound the clock back a few years and reinforces my belief hat he's not been 100% for the past couple of years. Showed a clean pair of heels to the Argies for his 2nd try and a long time since he's done that.</p>
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<p>Mo'unga is going very well, except for the goal kicking. A solution needs to be found, because his current accuracy won't cut the mustard in the big games.</p>
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<p>Agree on Todd - he can play!</p>
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<p>Interesting to see Taufua appearing in various form "selections" (Breakown/Herald). His big drawback is that he's about four inches short of being the desired height for an international blindside. Admittedly, paired with Read, you'd still have a better lineout than the Collins/So'oialo pairing, but I'm still inclined to agree with Nepia (gargles with listerine
) that his best position might be seven.</p>
