Sharks v Crusaders
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<p><strong>Crusaders</strong>:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3. Owen Franks 4. Scott Barrett 5. Samuel Whitelock 6. Jordan Taufua 7. Matt Todd 8. Kieran Read (c)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">9. Andy Ellis 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. Nemani Nadolo 12. Ryan Crotty 13. Kieron Fonotia 14. Johnny McNicholl 15. David Havili</span></p>
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<p><em><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">Reserves</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Mike Alaalatoa 19. Luke Romano 20. Jimmy Tupou 21. Tim Boys 22. Mitchell Drummond 23. Ben Volavola</span></p> -
6/2 bench is interesting, but a good side. Good to see Barrett get another start in a big game away from home.
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">Sharks</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">1. Tendai Mtawarira (Captain) 2. Franco Marais 3. </span><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">Coenie Oosthuizen 4. Etienne Oosthuizen 5. Stephan Lewies 6. Marcell Coetzee 7. Jean-Luc du Preez 8. Philip van der Walt</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">9. Cobus Reinach 10. Joe Pietersen 11. Lwazi Mvovo 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Paul Jordaan 14. JP Pietersen </span><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">15. Willie le Roux</span></p>
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<p><em><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">Reserves</span></em><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">16. Kyle Cooper 17. Juan Schoeman 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Hyron Andrews </span><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">20. Daniel du Preez 21. Michael Claassens </span><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">22. Garth April </span><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">23. Odwa Ndungane</span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="566927" data-time="1458802339">
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<p>6/2 bench is interesting, but a good side. Good to see Barrett get another start in a big game away from home.</p>
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<p>Probably the best we can field at the moment. Toddy seems to be jinxed with outside backs getting injured. I'd like to see him able to choose a 23 with all of Fruean, Wainui, Macilai, Fifita and Dagg fit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'd be inclined to go with 11. Nadolo, 12. Crotty, 13. Wainui, 14.Macilai, 15. Dagg, 22. Fruean, 23. Havili - but, I'd very much like to see what Fifita can do and I need to decide whether Israel is schickered and we should move on to Havili/Volavola at fullback. Also questions as to whether Fruean can play more than 20 minutes - good if he could.</p>
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<p>Nadolo, Crotty, Fruean, Fifita, Havili is a lot more imposing than some of the lightweight outside back combos we've fielded. No secret that I'm a fan of big backs - preferably big, fast and skillful.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="566949" data-time="1458805791">
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<p>Probably the best we can field at the moment. Toddy seems to be jinxed with outside backs getting injured. I'd like to see him able to choose a 23 with all of Fruean, Wainui, Macilai, Fifita and Dagg fit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'd be inclined to go with 11. Nadolo, 12. Crotty, 13. Wainui, 14.Macilai, 15. Dagg, 22. Fruean, 23. Havili - but, I'd very much like to see what Fifita can do and I need to decide whether Israel is schickered and we should move on to Havili/Volavola at fullback. Also questions as to whether Fruean can play more than 20 minutes - good if he could.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nadolo, Crotty, Fruean, Fifita, Havili is a lot more imposing than some of the lightweight outside back combos we've fielded. No secret that I'm a fan of big backs - preferably big, fast and skillful.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fruean played 60-80 minute games for the Magpies last year, so should be able to play at least 60 in Super Rugby. His current injury has nothing to do with his heart (torn pectoral muscle).</span></span></p> -
Chris, I'd like to see more of a 12. Havili 13. Crotty. <br><br>
As for Fruean, it's no secret that I prefer him on the wing than the midfield. -
<p>When you see Macilai he seems to be doing everything right, but was on the bench last week and now out of the 23, certainly not going to help him well and truly find his feet at this level.</p>
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<p>Odd rotation?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="566979" data-time="1458810482">
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<p>Chris, I'd like to see more of a 12. Havili 13. Crotty.</p>
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<p>Bingo. That's future of the Crusaders backline right thurr</p> -
Richie's had a bit of a shocker in the 1st half. Missed a couple of fairly easy penalties and then threw a very wild cut out pass that was easily intercepted for a Sharks try. <br><br>
Sharks are very abrasive in the tackle and there are some really solid collisions out there. But their set piece is being dealt to by the Saders. We aren't playing too bad although we have rushed the play a little which has resulted in errors.<br><br>
7-7 HT -
Richie misses another relatively straight forward kick. <br><br>
After the restart we start passing wide and Crotty spills and Sharks runaway to score another try -
F me the Crusaders back line is shit. The only player who would probably make NZ plays for Fiji. Depressing.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="567496" data-time="1459009196"><p>F me the Crusaders back line is shit. The only player who would probably make NZ plays for Fiji. Depressing.</p></blockquote>
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Haven't been watching Havili? <br><br>
Try time. All with backs -
Try awarded and then the big screen replay shows Fonotia just in touch. Try disallowed.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="567497" data-time="1459009902"><p>
Haven't been watching Havili? <br><br>
Try time. All with backs</p></blockquote>
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Havili should be in the midfield. He is not a 15. And as you might know I am not a Fonatia fan. The crusaders attack revolves around Nadolo scoring tries out of nothing. And that's about it. -
<p>Well-deserved win to the Crusaders.</p>
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<p>Crotty didn't seem right since that early injury in the game; couldn't be subbed off because they only had 2 backs on the bench. </p>
<p>Mo'unga looked nervous from the start. I guess this being his first overseas tour played a role in his poor kicking?</p>
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<p>Nadolo played very well, so did Read, Whitelock, Taufua, Barrett, Franks.</p>
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<p>I can't believe how many high tackles against the Crusaders went unpunished. That yellow card for Havili was harsh. Wacko Jaco was shit, and so were his ARs.</p> -
<p>How weird is it Beauden has a brother 2 metres tall and 112 kgs but they look so similar </p>
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Really happy with that win. Total domination all over, apart from 2 runaway tries the Sharks never looked like scoring.<br><br>
Mouaga was a bit shit, was almost the second game he's cost us with bad kicking, likewise fonotia whom I thought had turned a corner last week.<br><br>
On the breakdown show during the week Ian jones did a segment highlighting the crusaders defence. We have the best tackle percentage and are the best at hitting teams behind the gain line.<br><br>
Again last night it was awesome, we are happy to play field position and defend. As long as we deny teams the chance to play that helter skelter broken field play we are gonna be pretty hard to beat playing that way. Plus our set piece is the best in the comp<br><br>
Franks, Barrett, whitelock and read all lead the defensive effort superbly.<br><br>
Good to see crotty play the whole game. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567522" data-time="1459028270">
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<p>How weird is it Beauden has a brother 2 metres tall and 112 kgs but they look so similar </p>
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<p>Beauden is a pretty big unit too. 6' 2" and must by close to a a hundy?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="567526" data-time="1459029205">
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<p>Beauden is a pretty big unit too. 6' 2" and must by close to a a hundy?</p>
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<p>Shhh, Broden is the new Conrad Smith, we have years to discuss how small and tiny he is to come. ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567559" data-time="1459038102">
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<p>Shhh, Broden is the new Conrad Smith, we have years to discuss how small and tiny he is to come. ;)</p>
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<p>Yeah, funny how small Smith was for someone who was 6"1' and 95kgs :)</p>
<p>I guess it's because he was pretty skinny when he burst on the scene for Wellington.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="567562" data-time="1459039534">
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<p>Yeah, funny how small Smith was for someone who was 6"1' and 95kgs :)</p>
<p>I guess it's because he was pretty skinny when he burst on the scene for Wellington.</p>
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<p>I remember hearing how he had to work hard to keep size on , opposite problem others have, </p>
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<p>one of the few that may walk around lighter when he retires </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567559" data-time="1459038102">
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<p>Shhh, Broden is the new Conrad Smith, we have years to discuss how small and tiny he is to come. ;)</p>
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<p>that discussion has to happen soon about Damian Mckenzie , or has it already happened ?</p>
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<p>is he too small to be an allblack ? that would be worth a thread on its own </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567593" data-time="1459056856">
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<p>that discussion has to happen soon about Damian Mckenzie , or has it already happened ?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>is he too small to be an allblack ? that would be worth a thread on its own </p>
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<p>Don't we only have the discussion when the players aren't actually that small - like with Ben Smith and Conrad Smith, but not Aaron Smith - to use the Smiths as an example. ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="567523" data-time="1459028428"><p>
Really happy with that win. Total domination all over, apart from 2 runaway tries the Sharks never looked like scoring.<br><br>
Mouaga was a bit shit, was almost the second game he's cost us with bad kicking, likewise fonotia whom I thought had turned a corner last week.<br><br>
On the breakdown show during the week Ian jones did a segment highlighting the crusaders defence. We have the best tackle percentage and are the best at hitting teams behind the gain line.<br><br>
Again last night it was awesome, we are happy to play field position and defend. As long as we deny teams the chance to play that helter skelter broken field play we are gonna be pretty hard to beat playing that way. Plus our set piece is the best in the comp<br><br>
Franks, Barrett, whitelock and read all lead the defensive effort superbly.<br><br>
Good to see crotty play the whole game.</p></blockquote>
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If we can just learn how to score tries with mountains of possession and territory we will take out the competition...<br><br>
I agree that the rest of our game is top-notch. <br><br>
I'm hoping Dagg comes back and rips it up and that McKenzie has the goods. -
Weird but enjoyable game.<br><br>
Just watched the recording on My Star. Missed 10 minutes because of all the bloody injuries. (Coincidentally there was a replay on when I was watching so only had to wait 30min to see the last part of the game.)<br><br>
Peyper. Wow. What a train smash. I bet the Sharks are as pissed off with him as the Saders are. Worst I've seen from him. The AR giving the yellow was on acid too.<br><br>
Felt the Shark who took out Whitelock in the lineout - around the neck! - needed a break not just a penalty, i just havent settled on a red or yellow.<br><br>
I liked what the Saders were trying to do, but their skills coach has a job this week. How much dropped ball was there? Even Mrs boo was getting angry at it. Found it weird the Comms going on and on and on about how exemplary they were with their handling but it was their dropsies stopping them from taking that game by 30.<br><br>
Good win to the Flatlanders. -
<p>Thing is Boo, I've seen a lot of that type of handling in games in Durban so I'm prepared to give the players the benefit of the doubt. Comms alluded to that being the case too, something to do with humidity</p>
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<p><span style="text-align:right;">Crusaders were good though, all things considered, and the Sharks just kept kicking the ball back. Can't even remember them spinning it. Even in the last 3 minutes when they needed a try they spun it, then kicked it again</span></p>
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<p><span style="text-align:right;">Andy Ellis negated the old lineout after the siren very cleverly - thought Peyper was going to ruin that too, but he didn't</span></p>
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<p><span style="text-align:right;">Any win in SA is a good win</span></p> -
It looked a very humid night out there and the commentators called the ball soap at one stage.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="567504" data-time="1459012131"><p>Crockett single handedly turned the scrum battle around. And not in a good way</p></blockquote>
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Watched a replay last night and the first penalty was a clear one against Crockett. Put his hand on the ground. The second one however I thought was wrong. The Sharks tighthead bored in on the angle terribly and then his flanker starts marching in on the angle likewise.
