Highlanders v Crusaders
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="579500" data-time="1463131509"><p>
Disagree. His form since he's been back has been very good. He's been miles better than that 12 year old playing for the Chiefs.</p></blockquote>
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He's been excellent tonight I thought -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="579501" data-time="1463131532"><p>Great game, as I said last week Joseph is an excellent coach.<br>
From a crusaders perspective I'm not overly disappointed. Nadolo to come back, moody, Barrett and crotty to start ahead of Crockett, Romano and fonotia.<br>
Thought Dagg was our best player, almost error free and a threat with ball in hand.</p></blockquote>
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And some very good kicking too -
So Sader, Chiefs and Landers all on 37 points. Landers played one more game. Saders ahead on points diff. <br><br>
Great stuff by the three teams. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="579506" data-time="1463131795"><p>So Sader, Chiefs and Landers all on 37 points. Landers played one more game. Saders ahead on points diff. <br><br>
Great stuff by the three teams.</p></blockquote>
That Canes decision to "rest" players could potentially wreck their season now as they could end up being left behind. -
<p>I watched the game with the alternative commentary (ref's mic) once I saw the Crusaders' cheerleaders were there.</p>
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<p>Read - whinge, whinge, whinge.</p>
<p>I thought Dixon was very good and will have done his AB chances no harm.</p>
<p>Faddes looked like a world beater</p>
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<p>Very tight at the top of the NZ conference now. These NZ derbies are so crucial.</p> -
<p>Dagg was good I thought. Only attacking threat. Missed Nadolo's physicality out wide, Macali too inexperienced and McNicol not really up to this level.</p>
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<p>Missed Crotty in the centres.</p>
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<p>Odd option taking as well. Things like Todd having a go at the line in close instead of Tafua then McNicol and Mongia doing so much kicking instead of passing it to Dagg.</p> -
Wow. L Whitelock and Faddes with the game of their lives. Crotty should have started - as should have Moody and Barrett - Toddy should cop some heat for that.<br><br>
I think Dixon just played his way into the ABs. The Smiths, Sopoaga and Naholo were excellent. Fekitoa was ok but not that great.<br><br>
For the biggest game of his career - Mo'ounga equipped himself very well. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="579513" data-time="1463132096">
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<p>Did Hohneck play? </p>
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<p>Came on as sub with 15? minutes to go</p> -
<p>Don't want to criticize the ref but he is getting praised because he allowed a free flowing entertaining game not because he applied the laws of the game that well. He also allowed a shitload of off the ball stuff.</p>
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<p>You could certainly make a case that Read and Ellis had a fair bit to whinge about but I won't as it was a great game and good for the competition that the Highlanders won.</p> -
What I found hilarious about Hohneck at loosehead was the fact we went down to golden oldies the other week, when he had to come on.
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What happens when you have a backline full of superstars, the opposition analyse the heck out of the world beaters and forget out Faddes. Worked out pretty well for us.
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Not sure if this was mentioned at the time, but I thought I was a bloody strange call;<br>
When A Smith fired the pass from the ruck into the retreating Crusaders player, the ref let it go... <br>
Really, since when is that not an automatic penalty?<br><br>
But anywho, what a freaking game, how good are the Highlanders?<br><br>
Faddes, Faddes, who the fuck is Faddes?<br><br>
He's really come outa nowhere and done a hell of a job firstly on the wing, then they put him to 13, and I thought meh.. can't see him doing much there, but hang on a minute... Think he could soon end up with cult hero status in Dunedin if he hasn't already. -
<p>Fuck it!</p>
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<p>Good game. Crusaders started like a house on fire, but needed one or both of those tries to take the crowd out of the game. A couple of missed tackles and the Highlanders were away with their tails up and the Crusaders looking very rattled.</p>
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<p>Cut to pieces by fucking Matt Faddes! Fonotia looked outclassed, lacked pace and caught in no man's land a couple of times. Shoulda started with Crotty.</p>
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<p>We didn't get the forward dominance we needed. I don't think we picked off any of their lineouts and their scrum largely stood up. Their backs were better - as expected.</p>
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<p>Not too disconsolate, but I will say this.</p>
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<p>Fuck you Luke Whitelock - spent who knows how many seasons at the Crusaders playing like a fucking softcock and then turns up with that against us. Someone needs to make him piss in a bottle and take it away for testing. And he should hand at least full season's salary back to buy beer for all the Crusaders' fans who had to put up with his half arsed efforts.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="579522" data-time="1463133229"><p>
Fuck it!<br><br>
Good game. Crusaders started like a house on fire, but needed one or both of those tries to take the crowd out of the game. A couple of missed tackles and the Highlanders were away with their tails up and the Crusaders looking very rattled.<br><br>
Cut to pieces by fucking Matt Faddes! Fonotia looked outclassed, lacked pace and caught in no man's land a couple of times. Shoulda started with Crotty.<br><br>
We didn't get the forward dominance we needed. I don't think we picked off any of their lineouts and their scrum largely stood up. Their backs were better - as expected.<br><br>
Not too disconsolate, but I will say this.<br><br>
Fuck you Luke Whitelock - spent who knows how many seasons at the Crusaders playing like a fucking softcock and then turns up with that against us. Someone needs to make him piss in a bottle and take it away for testing. And he should hand at least full season's salary back to buy beer for all the Crusaders' fans who had to put up with his half arsed efforts.</p></blockquote>
that just speaks to how good a coach Jamie Joseph is. He is able to get the very best out of every player. The way he has turned a bunch of good but not excellent players into an amazing team is quite spectacular. I don't think it is just him as the Highlanders back play is excellent with Tony Brown as back coach. -
<p>From a neutral's perspective, this was an awesome game to watch!</p>
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<p>A few points:</p>
<ul><li>Crusaders dominated possession for most of the game (esp first half) but couldn't convert that into chances, let alone convert chances into points. I found them quite sloppy on attack.</li>
<li>Crusaders' defence was a leaky as my former home. Very unhealthy as the score line showed.</li>
<li>Highlanders got a lot of help from the refereeing trio who missed a lot of offending, including high tackles by Highlanders' players. In one (1st half), Havili almost got decapitated. Crusaders fans have some right to be angry about that, because most bad calls were in Highlanders favour (how was Ash Dixon not penalised!)</li>
<li>If Tamanivalu's try was a try, then Read's one shouldn't have been disallowed</li>
<li>The Highlanders backs are just awesome! Naholo back at the right time! Faddes surprisingly good, too!</li>
<li>In response to earlier posts: Dagg had a great game and should be in AB contention. He's been in great form since his return from injury.</li>
<li>Elliott Dixon and Jordan Taufua battle still undecided; I'd prefer Taufua for an AB bench spot (more consistent, better ball runner)</li>
<li>Slackbladder's decision to bring Crotty on from the bench has totally misfired (as could have been predicted). What an idiot. Same: Scott Barrett.</li>
<li>Aaron Smith is the world's best halfback and showed that again and again in this game.</li>
<li>Macilai got owned by Naholo; still has a lot to learn.</li>
<li>In the end, the difference was only 8 points, thanks to the superior boot from Mo'unga. Think he did well for a rookie. Wasn't impressed by Sopoaga at times.</li>
<li>All in all, I think the Crusaders deserved a bonus point out of this game, but definitely not a win. Highlanders deserved winners.</li>
<li>NZ conference: 1. Crusaders, 2. Chiefs, 3. Highlanders all on 37 points, Crusaders best points differential and Highlanders one more game played. The Stormers won't get further than 34 if they get a bonus point win this weekend, and the Canes can get to 36 with a bonus point win, but - like the Landers - one more game played.</li>
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<p>Edited to add that I found Fekitoa disappointing. The worst of the Highlanders' backs tonight. From the Crusaders' backs, I thought Mo'unga, Havili & Dagg were good (Crotty not enough game time).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Damo" data-cid="579525" data-time="1463133721">
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<p>that just speaks to how good a coach Jamie Joseph is. He is able to get the very best out of every player. The way he has turned a bunch of good but not excellent players into an amazing team is quite spectacular. I don't think it is just him as the Highlanders back play is excellent with Tony Brown as back coach.</p>
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<p>I still want the fucker drug tested :)</p>
