The Silver Fern

I guess NZR is trying to be "different" but what I will generously call the "jocular" commentary combined with the sub standard production made the entire thing look like an amateur shambles.

"Cringe" is what I think the hip young youth of today call it...

@Windows97 Corey Evans

Every question asked about a player is assumed to be parochial, rhetorical and negative. It's more engaging that way.

Best match of year for Akira but with little support. Thought Tucker was very effective first half. Plummer added a bit when he came on.
Papalii did some good things but the onfield leadership seemed to be the biggest problem. Lost composure everywhere...

@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.

@voodoo

Top class. Always has been though

@Tim said in QF: Blues v Tahs:

@Nepia Just sign up, you lazy fuck.

You're 100% correct here.

@JK Yep. I thought he was great with the limited opportunity he had. Some quality moments. Huge future ahead.

Shitty game.. move along

Have the Blues changed up their attack in the last 2-3 matches? The backs seem to be aligned deeper and there seems to be more forwards doing pick and goes or running lines very close to the breakdown.
As mentioned in the press conference it was working in the first half before the errors/frustration/whatever

@KiwiMurph Good to see Akira get a mention. His work on defence and breakdown was crucial.

@Daffy-Jaffy

Looks like plenty of pace there, in that video

Sullivan was the official Blues player of the match

Because RM and BB showed they can play well when their packs are going backwards, DMac stuggled badly in a low quality game.

As you say, up to him to prove that wrong.

@Duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

It didn’t affect the result but the TMO should be stood down for missing that huge knock on

Other ferners have even gone to the press about it.

'You shouldn't miss something as blatant as that': Why ex-All Black is unhappy with Papalii decision 'You shouldn't miss something as blatant as that': Why ex-All Black is unhappy with Papalii decision

Blues flanker Dalton Papalii was red carded in the 15-3 defeat to the Crusaders early in the second half but the sequence of events after the high shot has left ex-All Black John Kirwan scratching his head.

Blues picked Akira as player of the game too. I think our polls and their choice has lined up a lot this year

Kind of 2 things jump to mind anyway,
1 Shouldn't assume what was said etc, (to be honest I never thought anything of it until read these posts)
2 Hell even a bit of verbals is ok anyway, I mean Gregan's '4 more years" to Kelleher was even enjoyed by other ABs (admittedly because many thought Kelleher was piston wristed gibbon), but hell as my son used to say playing cricket and, if you let verbals worry you it was time to take up knitting..

@Machpants

I'd describe him more as more of a lock that can cover loose forward.

His ball carrying at lock is something the other lock possibilities can't match. Potentially a good bench option too, it would make it easier to carry a specialist openside on the bench

I've been saying for a while that his style of play reminds me of Hemopo

Maybe not this year though

Agh that was a tough watch. So many handling errors. So many stoppages. Highlight of the first 23 mins was the all to rare these days scything run from BB, cutting the defence to shreds. Thought he played well actually, made some good decisions, when to run, when to kick, when to take points. Choat ran/tackled himself to a standstill. Have been impressed with him over the last couple of games, would be interested to see his tackle stats. Suafoa also put in a good shift. And Plummer was pleasantly surprising, is beginning to put his stamp on that 12 Jersey with vision and distribution. That 51m kick was sweet. Roger who? Looked tough going in the heat, and one the Blues will be pleased to get out of the way without serious injury I think. Those vuvuzelas were bloody annoying.