The Silver Fern

https://fb.watch/kZiX81ZcRk/

@SBW1 said in Crusaders v Waratahs:

He flew out just two days ago from France economy class.

Played one game, already one of the great Crusaders.

@SBW1 That clip is geo-blocked in NZ.

@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.

@nostrildamus The game against the Blues will be interesting for sure. He is still playing his way back into form, would be really happy to see Macca Springer emerge to be of a similar caliber. When looking at a highlights reel of Will Jordan some of his tries are quite freakish.

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@Crucial said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

Watched Stevenson try a few times to try and work out how DMAc had such a huge hole to run into.
Havili totally misread the play and bit in on a forward runner well after the pass out the back from Gatland was made.
I still have no idea what Christie and Ennor were doing charging up out wide as if DMac was going to pass before running.
Really poor defence and good taking advantage of it.

crusaders took the space outside dmac away in the first half, filled there lines with defenders. which will be why christie and ennor rushed up. dummy runnerin close fotced them to take him and make a different destion . good coaching who ever made the change at half time

Good point on them taking up the space out wide but in this case they failed to stay connected. The reason I rewatched is that they created such a huge hole.
Havili wasn't forced to come in, he misread the play IMO although I think RM had two runners coming at him so given his defensive weaknesses maybe Havili thought he had no option. Not a good sign for the ABs and will have been written down by other coaches with glee.
Would have to watch the phases beforehand to work out why the backline D was so out of order. It appeared to be RM, DH, TC, BE. Neither Saders or Chiefs had any wingers in that direction and Burke was MIA for the Saders.

@mikedogz I chuckled when I saw him running. Such a low centre of gravity aye.
Bench firepower unashamedly won that for the Saders. Some really good cameos and nice touches from the likes of Moananu, McLeod and Goodhue. And the subbing of Drummond who was a real handbrake.

@SBW1 if you're on a phone, that button on the right lets you reply to the thread instead of replying to a post..

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@SBW1 said in Reds v Crusaders:

@Chris Has Macca played Super rugby yet?

Yeah he came off the bench in Rd1 & Rd 2 against Chiefs and Highlanders started v Dura and off the bench v Blues.

I finally had a chance to watch this game. Good to see Wrampling have a strong game until he had to leave the field with cramp. I hadn't realised he was still so young, being eligible for the U20s next year too. Gabe Robinson did his NZ U20 chances no harm either.

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Brumbies:

@Canerbry said in Crusaders v Brumbies:

Crusaders play like shit and win, normal service restored in round robin play. I'm a bit disappointed in the Bumboys though, teams either grow another leg playing the Crusaders or spin the wheel picking a squad management 22 strategically and hoping for the best. Given the Crusaders absences you'd think picking the another leg team might have been an opportunity.

But no, look at the scoreboard.

You did see that the whole core of the Brumbies side were rested? They flagged this one as a development game in their season planning by the looks of it.
Dumb decision IMO as they aren't going to get a home semi without beating the Saders and it turned out that they painted themselves into a corner as with the reshuffled (but still strong starting XV) 23 the Saders listed the game would have been there for them to take.
I would find it funny except it did no favours to other NZ teams handing the Saders an easy win.

That seems to be exactly what he means. I think you and @Canerbry are just using different words to say the same thing.

Stating the obvious, but Talea looked good ball in hand again last night. I do wonder about his pace when it comes to higher honours though. I never noticed it before he played for the ABs last year, but he did look a little slowish in the tests he played. I know his brother plays in the midfield, has Mark any experience there or has he always been a Wing?

@Crazy-Horse I think he still has the class, but his lack of pace is now a hindrance and wonder if he is at that point where he is making decisions based on what he used to be able to do, but his mind hasnt quite adjusted to what his body isn't able to do it now...

I said last year I'd be surprised if his window in the ABs hadn't passed him by.

@Crucial Any idea if Alex Harford will feature this year for the Saders?

@Dan54 said in Preseason: Hurricanes v Crusaders:

@Canes4life wouldn't argue with that team at all. I see you were at Levin for the game, did you enjoy it as much as me?

Yeah, I really enjoyed it, beautiful Friday afternoon in the sun watching two good sides go at it, not a bad way to finish a working week.

@kiwi_expat said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:

@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:

Jack Taylor

He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.

He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20. In 2021 he penned a three year deal with the Highlanders. He started in the Southland trial, de Groot played in prior to his return to the All Blacks.

Crazy thing is that this guy isn't even slated for a professional contract until 2024/25.

Highlanders have such a small catchment that they rarely if ever produce homegrown talent. By way of comparison NZ has 5 million people, and 250,000 of them live in the Highlanders region. The Blues have close to 2 Million.

The last few years have been a major turnaround for them, with seven of the NZ U20 squad coming from the Otago Southland Region. Of those seven, five were offered professional Highlanders contracts, and they're the year ahead of Jack Taylor.

He hasn't even cracked the NZ U20 team (though he has represented the NZ U19 size). Based off what we're seeing he's absolutely got the goods to be playing Super Rugby next season, as does Finn Hurley and Will Stodart the other two U19 representatives.

Also loved seeing James Arscott have a ripper of a game today. From memory he missed out on the NZ U20 side a few years ago, and I'm stoked he's making waves. Rohan Wingman is another I've felt slipped under the national radar. Our talent identification down South is really turning this team around.

Yeah I hope Wingham gets a good run with Otago this year. Could have a decent 1-2 punch with Abraham Pole. Then eventually the same with the Highlanders and de Groot. Going to be interesting to see how these young loose forwards are managed and given gametime. Stodart, Withy, Haig and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa all at Otago. While Hayden Michaels who has a fulltime for the Highlanders in 2024 is with Southland. It is quite a group of loosies. Otago also has a bit of a conundrum over its 10/15s with Miller, Hurley, Faleafaga, Ioane, Koroi and Gilbert competing for spots. Does Otago loan say Hurley and Stodart down to Southland to ensure they get gametime? A lot of the young players are focused in those positions, it is important they get a decent run to showcase their skills.