Chiefs v Crusaders

hurricane

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="593365" data-time="1467365983">ou obviously don't watch a lot of rugby do you??</blockquote> Unlike this post If you think the Cantabs 1st 5 put in a good performance tonight then good luck to you.

Bovidae

The Canes and Landers are thanking the Chiefs. It's all on in the NZ conference now!
 
Very impressed with the Chiefs scrum and defence of the lineout drive. The Crusaders would have expected to get some reward there.

Nepia

Good to see Dagg waited until being back with the Crusaders to bust out the stutter step again. Hopefully he ditches it again for the ABs.
 
Worryingly it appears to be spreading to other fleet of foot ABs as BBBR did one as well!

Crucial

Just seen the result. Will have to wait until later to watch. 
Fucken awesome! Needed that. 
Rennie > Blackadder (still) but I guess even the Cantabs would admit that one. What's the head to head record between them?

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="593369" data-time="1467366329">Good to see Dagg waited until being back with the Crusaders to bust out the stutter step again. Hopefully he ditches it again for the ABs. 
Worryingly it appears to be spreading to other fleet of foot ABs as BBBR did one as well!</blockquote>
But did he pull a face while doing it?

Smithy_NZ

Got a 5 day old to look after so couldn't watch. We listened together. How did Dmac go?

hurricane

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smithy_NZ" data-cid="593375" data-time="1467367421">Got a 5 day old to look after so couldn't watch. We listened together. How did Dmac go?</blockquote> He was terrific. Took good options most of the night and single handedly created a try. Which was good to see as some teams had been closing down his options in the last few games before the June break.

Stargazer

Geez, go easy on Mo'unga. He's a rookie in his first season of Super Rugby and he has played very well in most of his games. He did some good things tonight, as well as some bad ones. The same can be said of others, including some Chiefs players.
 
I think the absence of Crotty had a great impact on the Crusaders game. He hardly misses tackles and his communication is essential in their backline. That was clearly lacking tonight.
 
Don't agree with the comments about the officiating being in the Crusaders favour. I refer to Bones' comments above. I think bad calls went either way.
 
I hope to see some repeats of Retallick's goosestep. That had me in stitches! Good to see some Magpies go well tonight, too. Excellent try from Weber!
 
Try of the night for me was Macilai's try though.

antipodean

Good thing Ellis is going OS. He's ruining the Crusaders.

Crucial

To be fair I think Mounga has done really well this season. He's no star at the moment but has guided his team around to a high table position.

mariner4life

Bula! In your face Crusader fans!

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="593374" data-time="1467367368">But did he pull a face while doing it?</blockquote>
Too damn right he did!!! It was a thing of grace and ridiculousness

SammyC

We deserved to get spanked, worst game we've played all season. 
Lately teams have realised that Mackenzie runs the ball a lot and shit him down. Of course Blackadder failed to have a plan for this 
Moaga was terrible under pressure, and fuck you Drummond, kick the fucking ball out and secure the bonus point you thick piece of shit 
Chiefs beat us up physically again and well deserved winners. 
All the whooping and celebrating after some calls reminded me of England, are the same posters who made a big deal of it in the other thread going to mention it here?

Bovidae

There was plenty of lip from both teams. I knew when Read started whinging to the ref that the Chiefs would win.

kiwiinmelb

I was a little surprised by the Crusaders to be honest , Chiefs have had it over them in recent times 
 
And I was expecting them to make a statement here mostly through their forwards

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="593406" data-time="1467406368">
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Moaga was terrible under pressure, and fuck you Drummond, kick the fucking ball out and secure the bonus point you thick piece of shit 
Chiefs beat us up physically again and well deserved winners. 

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</blockquote>
 
It may not be the done thing to talk about contingencies in defeat for sports teams, but - Jesus Christ - that play was straight out of Anton Oliver's play book. That bonus point could really come back to haunt us. Overall, though, Ellis, Mo'unga, Havili, Fonotia is not a championship-winning combination.
 
I didn't think we really got beaten up physically - I thought the telling difference was mainly speed. When we broke the line we got fairly easily closed down by the cover defence - when the Chiefs broke the line they had more people with pace to hurt us... and that whenever things looked vaguely promising some fucker with tits for hands would surge up in support.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="593367" data-time="1467366141">
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If you think the Cantabs 1st 5 put in a good performance tonight then good luck to you.
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</blockquote>
 
He wasn't awesome, but he wasn't why the Crusaders lost either. All in all, he's really come on this season - let's put it this way, we'd take him at the Blues

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="593410" data-time="1467409100">
It may not be the done thing to talk about contingencies in defeat for sports teams, but - Jesus Christ - that play was straight out of Anton Oliver's play book. That bonus point could really come back to haunt us. Overall, though, Ellis, Mo'unga, Havili, Fonotia is not a championship-winning combination. 
I didn't think we really got beaten up physically - I thought the telling difference was mainly speed. When we broke the line we got fairly easily closed down by the cover defence - when the Chiefs broke the line they had more people with pace to hurt us... and that whenever things looked vaguely promising some fucker with tits for hands would surge up in support.</blockquote>
 
Fonotia and havilii were dreadful once again. Is it time to put nadolo at centre? He seemed wasted out on the wing at times last night.

SammyC

Also ridiculous to sub taufua so early. Clearly out best player and tupou added fuck all. 
Alaalatoa for franks was also baffling. Need to find a better tighthead backup than useless fat sack of shot

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="593416" data-time="1467411225">
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Fonotia and havilii were dreadful once again. Is it time to put nadolo at centre? He seemed wasted out on the wing at times last night.
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Not sure what the answer is - though Crotty is certainly part of it. Against the Chiefs and the Highlanders, that Mako$ midfield simply isn't going to cut it - though I'm not sure Nadolo at centre is going to add much pace. I'm pretty disappointed that Sean Wainui hasn't made much impression.
 
What's the story with Sione Fifita? Out for the season or just not getting a shot?
 
Subbing Taufua was a complete mystery - maybe he just ran out of gas?.
 
It's annoying to read that apparently all the ball-in-hand dicking about in the middle of the field in the second half wasn't part of the gameplan. I couldn't understand why we weren't plugging the corners and trying to pressure their lineout and clearance - or hoisting more high balls (with a good chase line, of course).

The Silver Fern

Chiefs v Crusaders