Hurricanes vs Crusaders
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Despite the endless praise from the media that this is the best super rugby season in years, it really is indicative of the poor overall quality when this Crusaders team is sitting in the top 2 and have demolished the force and reds who are sitting at 3&4
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Given the disruption the Crusaders had with the injury changes in the first half and 2 YCs going into the last 10 minutes you have got to give them their dues .
For me the Saders were the better team for a good part of this match
Williams and Barrett were massive but i was hugely impressed with lio-Willie and the guy who thought was MOTM Ioane Moananu
This guy has taken his opportunty big time -
@ACT-Crusader said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
I remain unconvinced that this Crusaders side is actually any good in regards to winning this competition. They have some great individuals who won them that game, but their general team play on attack is shit. They did finally show some proper grit on defence, and they are one of the better sides in this comp, but they don't look like an obvious absolute threat to win this competition to me.
I know he’s much maligned but we pretty much lost our way in phase play when Havili went off. That is why we needed another leader on the first line like JOC out there for the remainder of the game. Jordan and Fihaki controlled the back pretty well but that leadership at 10 or 12 is crucial.
Grace was very quiet tonight after a few strong performance.
As a neutral, I actually think the Crusaders are not far off the Drua in terms of guaranteeing entertainment, and purely because of the quality in the backline in the tight five, you might just get away with it, but I suspect when the going gets toughed, such a loose gameplan will fall flat.
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@KiwiInLondon said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Despite the endless praise from the media that this is the best super rugby season in years, it really is indicative of the poor overall quality when this Crusaders team is sitting in the top 2 and have demolished the force and reds who are sitting at 3&4
Force rested all their wallabies and the reds rested wallabies as well and a few players not travelling due to the cyclone that week. 2 well under strength sides. Not a fair reflection of how bad or poor it imo
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@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
I remain unconvinced that this Crusaders side is actually any good in regards to winning this competition. They have some great individuals who won them that game, but their general team play on attack is shit. They did finally show some proper grit on defence, and they are one of the better sides in this comp, but they don't look like an obvious absolute threat to win this competition to me.
They're probably 2nd best by default, as there's a massive cluster or mediocrity, especially with the Blues and Canes being so bad this year.
Reds second best in the comp for mine.
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@KiwiInLondon said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Despite the endless praise from the media that this is the best super rugby season in years, it really is indicative of the poor overall quality when this Crusaders team is sitting in the top 2 and have demolished the force and reds who are sitting at 3&4
Force rested all their wallabies and the reds rested wallabies as well and a few players not travelling due to the cyclone that week. 2 well under strength sides. Not a fair reflection of how bad or poor it imo
Think it’s looking like anything other than a Chiefs Crusaders final?
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@frugby said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
I remain unconvinced that this Crusaders side is actually any good in regards to winning this competition. They have some great individuals who won them that game, but their general team play on attack is shit. They did finally show some proper grit on defence, and they are one of the better sides in this comp, but they don't look like an obvious absolute threat to win this competition to me.
They're probably 2nd best by default, as there's a massive cluster or mediocrity, especially with the Blues and Canes being so bad this year.
Reds second best in the comp for mine.
Can't say I'm convinced by them either. They're 3rd for me. Crusaders still beat then 9 times out of 10.
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Shalfoon flying in no arms. Fucking grub
I think he was offside at every defensive ruck in that passage of play.
Doleman is our version of Murphy with his officiating of the breakdown.
A few of the Crusaders ABs stood up big time while most of the Canes ABs were below par.
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@Bones said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Bring back JGB
Anyone other than Hohepa at 10 would be nice.
Laidlaw with the stupidest comment I’ve ever heard post match when he said ‘I don’t think the change in 10 had much influence on the game in the second half’. WTF is he watching?
Does Hohepa know Laidlaw’s biggest secret or something?
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@KiwiInLondon said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@KiwiInLondon said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Despite the endless praise from the media that this is the best super rugby season in years, it really is indicative of the poor overall quality when this Crusaders team is sitting in the top 2 and have demolished the force and reds who are sitting at 3&4
Force rested all their wallabies and the reds rested wallabies as well and a few players not travelling due to the cyclone that week. 2 well under strength sides. Not a fair reflection of how bad or poor it imo
Think it’s looking like anything other than a Chiefs Crusaders final?
I think if the Reds continue winning and get home field advantage they could beat anyone at home.
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@Bovidae said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@Landers92 said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Shalfoon flying in no arms. Fucking grub
I think he was offside at every defensive ruck in that passage of play.
Doleman is our version of Murphy with his officiating of the breakdown.
A few of the Crusaders ABs stood up big time while most of the Canes ABs were below par.
I thought Lakai was the best player on the park in that second half. He was everywhere. Iose is not a 6 and was massively shown up tonight. Way too loose.
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@sparky said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Scott Barrett was excellent. Hopefully, that shuts down the weird mutterings about the All Blacks Captain's form. He's a top Lock.
They weren't weird mutterings, he admitted himself he wasn't up to standard. He's been anon up until this game. His form was poor. Different from - let's ditch him from ABs
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@sparky said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@Machpants He's been hitting ruck after ruck after ruck because that's been what his coach has asked him to do. Don't blame the workhorse!
With no great effect
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Nah anyone saying Barrett has been good before tonight is delusional.
But he was very good tonight and when he plays like that he’s one of our top locks for sure.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
I thought Lakai was the best player on the park in that second half. He was everywhere. Iose is not a 6 and was massively shown up tonight. Way too loose.
I was referring to Aumua and Love. Both had a chance to make a statement and didn't. Agree on Lakai.
