Crusaders vs Hurricanes
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The below from Clubrugby.nz sums up this game perfectly.
If not now, when. The question for the Hurricanes, top of the table, as they head to Crusader country. Or as sometimes its has been better known, here there be dragons. While everyone wisely is nodding that the southern men can never be discounted, even from a horror three nil start to the season, then surely the Hurricanes will never have a better chance to raid the cookie jar. There’s no Scott Barrett, to add to their injury woes, and a new rookie first five is being parachuted in (Riley Hohepa). And that in a team that clearly is struggling to find its feet anyway. Against that, the worries that this is shaping up as the Crusaders’ last stand, if they want to get somewhere near the top four coming playoffs time. Actually, teams with four losses have finished as high as second – after that the drop can be sharp, although in 2022 the Highlanders made eighth with an eye-watering 10 losses. Even so, four losses from four will leave them having to be hot for the rest of the comp. I am not sure however that Australian teams are going to be easy pickings so much this year, and all the New Zealand outfits, even the Highlanders, look competitive. What mindset for the Hurricanes then, who last week turned in quite an accomplished across the board team performance? Grunt up front, guile out the back. Not much to be unhappy with, and indeed one of the most composed efforts in recent years. Obviously, the worse idea would be to assume that will be repeated this weekend. The Hurricanes should treat this as if they are playing the Crusaders of old and set out to play the sort of rugby that eventually dismantled the Blues. Ruthless and clinical, not words you’d associate with the Canes, but what will be needed. Complacency and hubris will give the Crusaders a sniff, and a drowning man, as they say, will grasp at anything. -
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smart, consistent spine players are few and far between in NZ rugby.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
The other interesting stat is that Penney is on a 8-game losing streak as a SR coach as he was 0-5 with NSW before being sacked.
Will he get to 0-5 again?
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@antipodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
The other interesting stat is that Penney is on a 8-game losing streak as a SR coach as he was 0-5 with NSW before being sacked.
Will he get to 0-5 again?
If he did, what would you do? Coaching change isn't a quick fix ... what happens if the next coach isn't even as good?
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nervous as about this one, this would be a true test. if Canes win this, then i would be one of those people who say "This is our year"! but id be more like "we actually have a chance" apart from Shields in at 6 and Barrett back, would likely be our best side IMO
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Raining and cold down here today, I think it'll play a big factor and benefit the Crusaders.
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@African-Monkey meant to clear before kick-off though. Shit weather always benefits the Crusaders with the way they play. Hopefully it dries up.
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
@African-Monkey meant to clear before kick-off though. Shit weather always benefits the Crusaders with the way they play. Hopefully it dries up.
the way they played.
This forward pack hasn't shown what the packs of old have done. If they can put i tout there against the Canes fair play to'em
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@Canes4life Already has. Same can't be said for the temperature though!
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@African-Monkey ah well the weather’s about to get a hell of a lot worse when a Hurricane hits Christchurch in about an hour. 😁
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@antipodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
The other interesting stat is that Penney is on a 8-game losing streak as a SR coach as he was 0-5 with NSW before being sacked.
Will he get to 0-5 again?
High likelihood of hitting half a dozen I reckon.
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Glad the rain has cleared, bring on a cracking match.
