The Silver Fern

Beehre has Holland covered around the track - at least at this stage - two players who should only continue to improve

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

This Rieko should have stayed on the wing narrative is using an incredibly short memory. He moved into the midfield after being dropped for George fucking Bridge... that tells you how well he was playing on the edge.

Well that's somewhat misleading. He had a leg injury that never came right in 2019 - which is why he looked all sorts of rubbish even on the wing.

2020 he was back to his full fitness but had moved to 13 by then

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Canes4life 💯..why can’t some of the best coaches see the pictures we are seeing

Same reason Christie keeps starting and was an AB as recently as last year?

@Machpants said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

Players who stood out to me

Five from Saders and Four from Blues come to mind

Lio Willie
Havili
Tamaiti
Newell
Scooter

Lam
Beehre
Sotutu
Zarn

Sullivan? That I don't see

Was money under the high ball - I guess I'm factoring in he's played fuck all rugby in the last 12 months

Players who stood out to me

Five from Saders and Four from Blues come to mind

Lio Willie
Havili
Tamaiti
Newell
Scooter

Lam
Beehre
Sotutu
Zarn

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:

@akan004 the only upside is someone else will have an opportunity to take the 13 jersey

For Blues

Yet to be seen if Razor will pick someone else

@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

Vintage garbage handling from Rieko

BB should have plugged it, can't lay blame at the feet of those trying to fix his fuck up in a scramble.

Also true

Vintage garbage handling from Rieko

Is there a player who has a bigger discrepancy at Super level vs test level than Reece?

At Super rugby he looks the best winger in the world

@Machpants said in Crusaders v Blues:

Funaki clears the ball in about half the time compared to Christie

Noticeable how he got into that maul and ripped the ball clear too

Tough game for H Tuipulotu to debut

Class work by Newell there

Brilliant defence Lam

Christie..... it's like playing with 14 men.....

Tupaea with shades of his brother with that turnover

Fihaki cannot tackle

Holy fuck what a pass

@KiwiInLondon said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

but they should have taken the 3.....

And they could be in front if they took all their opportunities. 2 tries for all that possession and territory is woeful. They blues are tactically incompetent

It's not tactical incompetence it's average attack and poor execution

Blackadder knock on

Fuck he is average

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiInLondon 💯..beggars belief
The crazy thing is if there was only 3 points in this I would bet dollars to doughnuts they would be taking the shot

How is that crazy? Down 3 vs down 12 is totally different

Blues have effectively dug their own grave though. Just needed to stay in touch in these conditions... they have not looked like scoring a try all night. Crusaders will always give enough penalties to stay in the game. Now they are forced to chase the game.

They have been down 7 to start the game

Then down 7 at halftime

Then down 12 early second half

They need tries