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ACT CrusaderA

ACT Crusader

@ACT Crusader
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  • ACT CrusaderA

    Poll: Super Rugby 2025 Top 6

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    Canes4lifeC

    @Machpants said in Poll: Super Rugby 2025 Top 6:

    Godfrey is out for the canes, I want to change my vote 😞

    Yeah I think the Canes are cooked. You can’t win shit without a good 10. Good news for the Highlanders and Blues as it’s unlikely the Canes will do much with an attacking 10. The fact Proctor is still out for another 4-6 weeks makes things even worse.

    I’d like to change my vote and say the Blues will sneak in over the Canes.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    All Blacks vs Fiji

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    antipodeanA

    @Bovidae said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

    @Bovidae said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

    The big question is whether TJP is fit, as then they have a selection decision to make.

    So my question above was answered, and it wasn't what most of us would have expected.

    Ironically, if TJP wasn't injured in the 1st test vs England I don't think Ratima gets the opportunity to show the difference a quick pass makes compared to Christie.

    True, but the fact it happened does give me more confidence in the coaching team.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham

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    boobooB

    As I've said Joubert's decisions favoured France, although as has been said I recall only the one shot at goal on the aecond half (that missed).

    But that was pretty much had down to how the ABs backed off the offside line.

    They were determined not to concede a penalty. And rightly didn't.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Rugby Matches blues crusaders
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    Windows97W

    @His-Bobness said in SF: Crusaders (Good) v Blues (Evil):

    Now that I think about the Blues’ shellacking this morning, I was struck by the Sky interview with Beauden Barrett ahead of the game. Asked about the game day ritual he sounded exceedingly chilled - talking about a nice lie-in and the extra space granted by being away from home and the kids. There was time for a leisurely breakfast and catchup with the US Open on TV before a team chat around lunch. Maybe this was their way of not being overawed by the occasion. But from what we saw on the field the result was they came on so ‘underawed’ and mentally unprepared they had no answer for the Crusaders’ intensity.

    That sounds like BB's intensity for the last 3 years regardless of who he's playing for tbh.

    "Clown's in a minefield" was headline put out by one journo which gave me a good laugh.

    The Blues were just beaten soundly at every contact area in the game, lacked physical intensity to match or mental fortitude to dig in and fight in the trench's and instead went for the miracle off-loads just gifting the ball back to the Crusaders.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland

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    CatograndeC

    @MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    @MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

    Whew thank goodness the good guys won and secured their standard newly found and expected to be short lived, mid table finish

    Anything above the wooden spoon is mid table.

    I like your ambition

    Scotland > England

    Enjoy the moment

    It’s lasted a few years now. The Calcutta cup is awesome !

    I can just about remember!

  • ACT CrusaderA

    T20 World Cup - Blackcaps vs England

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    ACT CrusaderA

    @MN5 said in T20 World Cup - Blackcaps vs England:

    @ACT-Crusader said in T20 World Cup - Blackcaps vs England:

    @Crucial said in T20 World Cup - Blackcaps vs England:

    @ACT-Crusader said in T20 World Cup - Blackcaps vs England:

    That was still a pretty decent chase. If Kane even went 40 from 30 and had 10 deliveries to one of our more aggressive batsmen, who knows…

    That was actually a good partnership 91 runs at a 150 SR (even with Kane sandbagging)

    We really needed Neesh or Mitchell to stay in which would have given either another 10-15 balls and a chance to hit a few big shots.
    GP also choked up when the wickets started falling and only struck at 100 after KW was dismissed.

    The thing with Neesh and Mitchell was when they came in and we were very much up against it so they were under pressure. I still think we would’ve come up short if they went their standard strike rates for an extra over.

    Anyway hopefully a few lessons learned for both bat and ball.

    Yeah but by the very nature of T20 as a format shouldn’t they be used to that ?

    When Neesh came in there were 5 overs to go and we needed 61 to win. So not a lot of time and 12+ RR required. After 4 balls if you haven’t hit a couple of boundaries (on what was a slowing pitch), then you are in a bit of pain for the next over etc. If the required RR is under the 2 runs a ball then I just think the pressure is quite different.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    SF - Canterbury vs BOP

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    P

    @KiwiMurph said in SF - Canterbury vs BOP:

    It's a shame Poihipi isn't a starting 12 in Super. Class player.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    QF - Canterbury vs Northland

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    Canes4lifeC

    @ACT-Crusader said in QF - Canterbury vs Northland:

    @Canes4life said in QF - Canterbury vs Northland:

    So close Northland. Canterbury are definitely beatable.

    I think what this season has highlighted are that there are certain teams that play a way that trouble others.

    I don’t think there is too much between the 8 teams that made the playoffs.

    Yeah it feels like any of the top 8 can knock one another off on their day, it's about timing your run to the finals and making sure your players aren't gassed when they get there.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Hadlee-Chappell ODI 1.0 + 2.0 + dead rubber

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    MN5M

    @nostrildamus said in Hadlee-Chappell ODI 1.0 + 2.0 + dead rubber:

    nb I didn't know his childhood nickname was "Bungalow"-that's a good one!

    Nikhil Anand  /  Nov 24, 2015  /  Cricket Facts 14 Captivating facts about Sir Ian Botham - The Best English All-Rounder 14 Captivating facts about Sir Ian Botham - The Best English All-Rounder

    14 Captivating facts about Sir Ian Botham - The Best English All-Rounder: Sir Ian Botham, the former England captain, is perhaps one of the greatest all-r

    Love Beefy. An absolute legend.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    All Blacks v Pumas 1

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    MiketheSnowM

    @pakman said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

    @KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

    @Kirwan said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

    Pretty funny justifications going on here for Taylor. How many Tests does it take to learn to take a half step and throw it down the middle?

    Was kinda important.

    If there is any accountability left in selection he’d be gone. Stunk up the joint for 35 minutes.

    Also - wasn't it an all Crusaders tight 5 when he came on (and wasn't that the point)?

    Problem maybe Kiwi refs letting them get away with such for years?

    This

    And 'line ball' passes

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Pick the score AB vs Boer v2.0

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    BonesB

    @booboo said in Pick the score AB vs Boer v2.0:

    @Bones said in Pick the score AB vs Boer v2.0:

    @booboo I believe he probably has nigh in 0% say.

    I blame auto correct "fiance's" appeared as "France's" ... read again

    Same answer. Brexit n all

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Pumas v Wallabies 2

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    boobooB

    Watched the remainder just now.

    I maintain there was fuck all between the teams and to be honest the Ockers were probably more creative and looked more likely to score.

    Obviously the better team (the one who scored more points being the the one who conceded less points) won.

    But not sure you can point the blame at Rennie because his team looked more likely to score more and concede less.

    Happy if the Aussies toss him pre RWC though.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Maori rugby Quizzes

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    ACT CrusaderA

    @Tim said in Maori rugby Quizzes:

    @ACT-Crusader He was so much better than the locks they picked.

    In hindsight, no doubt.

    I guess with a Lions match the selectors would tend to go with what they know. It wasn’t until that 2017 NPC that Hemopo really came into his own and got on the radar for higher honours.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    AB Quizzes (Wingers + others)

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    ACT CrusaderA

    Since 2000 AB quizzes
    For reference there have been 292 tests/games that the All Blacks have officially played since 2000 (includes last Bledisloe match

    Bonus Question - Which two players have started together as both a 1st 5 and a 2nd 5?

    Dan Carter and Stephen Donald

    The Carter/Donald combo started in the 2009 loss to the Boks in Hamilton.
    The Donald/Carter combo started in the 2008 win against the Wallabies in Hong Kong

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Wallabies v Pumas I

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    barbarianB

    It's a feeling I haven't had in a while as a Wallaby fan: to be happy with a comfortable win, but feeling we played a bit below our best. We left at least three tries on the park. JOC bombed one, Nic White didn't realise the law around grounding on the post pad had changed (unforgiveable), and a few times we lost our cool with numbers out wide.

    But our general play around the park was as good as it's been in a long time. Defended well, secured our own ruck ball, created space and then exploited it with simple catch-and-pass. Our 10-12-13 is the best it's looked since the Foley-Giteau-AAC axis at the 2015 World Cup.

    Sets up our NH tour really nicely. Not sure how undermanned we will be but that England game looks very enticing.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    All Blacks vs Pumas I

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    M

    Can't really do anything with this fucking vertigo, so I had this still on the sky recorded. 2 points that came up later in the year confirmed

    ABs attacking shape was fucking non existent, just individual brilliance made most of the tries. As mentioned above set piece was shit, but HEY we've got individual brilliance George bridge has no positive impact, he is such a pathetic thing to have as an all black 11. That's lomu's Jersey FFS.

    Also TJ was rather good, aside from his desperate desire to take every penalty quickly. Conversely DMac was a fucking idiot, with no control, crap passing (first 6 mins, 3 passes to ground), and an ability to either pass to someone in a much poorer position, or run himself into a worse position.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Springboks v Pumas 2 - 21 August

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    BonesB

    @smuts said in Springboks v Pumas 2 - 21 August:

    @bones it’s all relative… I’ll show myself out.

    Subliminal...so the ref is related to one or many green jersey wearers? 😉

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November

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    P

    @Tim said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300176709/tri-nations-how-many-all-blacks-make-team-of-the-tournament

    Chaparro was monstered by Tupou. LH has to be Moody, or failing him, Slipper.

    Think I'd take Alemanno OR Phillip, matched with Whitelock.

    And hard to go past Matera as fetcher.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November

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    P

    @pakman said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

    @PecoTrain said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

    @Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

    The thing which frustrates me is this is the same-old, same-old.

    The problems we saw from 2017 onward are still there and it shows against a team which can out-muscle and out-discipline us. The strategy doesn't seem to have changed much either - go down the blind, spin it into the midfield where the likes of BB can exploit the gaps and fast counter attacks. That and occasional shit kicks and poor discipline.

    Bullshit - the problem is that we don't try to build pressure on the opposition before running the ball. Seeing a gap early and exploiting it is a fantastic skill but running into it only to get smashed by the opposition and turnover the ball multiple times SHOULDN'T be part of the game plan.

    I don't blame Foster for all of this as he's inherited a lot of the problems and you have to give him credit for some good stuff like making the lineout drive a potent weapon and actually trying to bring some continuity to team selection. But he really needs to have a good, hard look at his tactics, his team plan/style of play development and, above all, get the players heads right, both individually and collectively.

    And I can't fault Cane either for his on-field attitude. Sure, he's still learning and some of his decisions aren't good, but he's giving 120% and is at least focussing on controlling the team and the game. Do Senior players like Sam Whitelock, Nugget and Beauden Barrett need to step up and get more involved both on and off the field?

    I blame Foster and his coaching team - we have brilliant individuals that don't play well as a team and seem to have lost a lot of confidence in the space of a few weeks. Playing people out of position just compounds that. Our handling errors and lack of awareness during the game (Whitelock offloading to Lomax where Lomax just watches the ball go past him as an example) makes me question what the players are doing during training because they don't seem that familiar with how each other plays in the pitch.

    I'm unsure Cane and Ardie can play well as a unit - I assume Foster subbed Frizell because of discipline warnings rather than Ardie as Frizell/Sotutu played well together versus Australia while I wouldn't have even noticed Ardie on the pitch if it wasn't for a late turnover.

    And Ardie leads on to the real issue in the team - our mix of experience. Our senior players put in their shifts and generally play very well (Whitelock/Nugget/Moody/Coles/Beauden/Cane) but its the guys that are the next step down and have 20+ tests experience that are really struggling.

    Jordie had a poor game, ALB was pretty anonymous, Goodhue did enough to be an average 12 today, Mo'unga was ordinary today, Ardie was ordinary, Tuipulotu was anonymous. And the majority of their subs don't look much better - they generally turn in average at best performances. Reiko's performances starting or off the bench are error ridden. Taylor is likely as good as Coles. Add in TJs performance last week and it looks awful.

    As our senior guys start hanging up their boots, what will the next generation look like? At the moment it looks like we need a major shift to younger players because unless things improve, we will end up with a glut of journeymen.

    Enough ranting....

    This post is well worth rereading.

    In my defence, I was much more optimistic in those days and thought Fozzie and his coaching team could do enough to get results if a few of the players stood up.

    In hindsight I still think my point around Cane and Ardie stands - they are both trying to play a roaming loose forward role, Cane predominantly on defence and Ardie predominantly on turnovers/attack but they don't work well with any of the 6's as a loose unit. And of the two, I'd drop Cane - his workrate is phenomenal but he "just" tackles players versus either attacking the ball or providing a good platform for another player to attack the ball in the tackle. And Fozzie (and probably our options at 8 and 6) have no idea how to get Cane/Ardie/another working well other than playing SB as an extra lock and shoring up the tight 5 because they will be doing a lot of work on defence without the pressure at tackle time. But Fosters one defining decision when he started was making Cane captain so he can't change that now, particularly given the options (Whitelock...)

    Basically, Fozzie still doesn't know how he wants the team to play other than to play some free flowing rugby and win or what he's looking for in the players (well he might, but they've all retired and the chances of finding the next McCaw, Carter, Kaino, Nonu, Conrad Smith, and younger versions of Aaron Smith, Sam Whitlock and BBBR in next years Super Rugby are pretty low) he has and the result is under performance.

    Or maybe this post should just be buried again until post-RWC.

  • ACT CrusaderA

    Bledisloe Four: Brisbane, 7 November

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    NepiaN

    @NTA said in Bledisloe Four: Brisbane, 7 November:

    @Nepia said in Bledisloe Four: Brisbane, 7 November:

    I don't think those fans exist (Australians maybe?)

    Only as good as your last 2 Tests, boys. 😎

    We've got the Foster * that we can lay on the table through this dark, dark time.

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