Scott Barrett had a great game.

How did they leave Sam Cane on the bench last week. Dumbest selection of all time.

Forgot how much I love watching Northland play. Can’t wait for the rest of the season.

Those that talk negatively about NZ provincial rugby ( and individual teams ) don’t understand how great this competition continues to be for NZ rugby - the jewel in the crown. The talent on display is amazing.

But a bit tired of reading articles from hack journalists and listening to ex rugby players acting as commentators who don’t know the players from the opposition team and have no passion for the game they are watching. The comments about Northland before, and after the game on the radio and in print lack any insight into our team.

I guess that’s why this forum is great .

This has been coming for some time. We keep being told that we can play rugby without the ball. Kicking it away. The Wallabies showed that keeping the ball in hand is what matters. Some of our tight forwards struggle with their hands. Tonight they lost the contact as well.

Read has been quality. Captains knock.

@Entertainer15 disagree. We lost it in the forwards an with poor tactical kicking. Their forwards created go forward, won their lineouts and they were tactically miles ahead.

Next World Cup will be more challenging.

Our Junior rugby teams have been beaten up recent years by sides with big forward packs. Development of our tight 5 depth and loose forwards that can win contact will be our challenge. We always have great footballers but size matters as the game gets tighter and defence dominates.

It’s a complete overkill. Franks tried to clean out, made contact with head. Yes red card but accidental, and some coaching on technique required. Unfortunate that refs missed it but with so much happening on field this will happen. No problem with judiciary giving a couple of weeks for accidental contact. It’s not tiddly winks and sometimes stuff happens. This doesn’t make the Crusaders dirty. It does mean any players involved need to take note and work to improve technique.

@booboo yes, those two drop goals were under advantage. Opportunity missed. Reads decision to take 3 when we needed a try to be able to win game. Those last few minutes when we had guys everywhere - in pods, out of pods, running lines, standing still - but we went side to side with nothing happening. Those endless box kicks which left us defending in our own half. Those 3 instances in the second half with running front foot attack ball and the player chose to grubber. In each case we hand the ball over. Something is wrong with our mindset.

The coaches should give themselves an uppercut as well. Aaron Smiths selection and performance for these two important Irish tests didnt work. The first you understand the second?

@taniwharugby is Wiseguy playing as well?

@pakman said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@No-Quarter said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@Bones said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@taniwharugby said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

@mariner4life same laws of physics apply

Does it though? What's the law for a knock on...I don't recall it being the same wording as a forward pass.

The law says that if a player knocks it forward he has to catch it again before it hits the ground to avoid a knock on. Kicking it or slapping it back is not a valid way of stopping it being a knock on. And in this case even after he tried to slap it back, the ball still travelled forwards.

The refs absolutely bottled a pretty simple decision.

FFS!!! FFS!!! The law is that if a player loses control of ball and it hits ground forward of point he lost control it's a knock on. END OF. That ball travelled two metres forward after Strange's 'knock back'. There's a handy lineout marking which shows that clearly.

If we have TMOs they need to know the Laws (is that TOO much to ask?) and be prepared to overrule ref on findings of fact -- i.e. that the ball travelled forward.

As for Ben O'Keefe that's two incorrect game changing decisions in three weeks.

NZ Ref Body should show him a yellow, and he ought to sit out the next round.

Saders ought to buy him a watch for his contribution to their SRA crown..

.

Not so sure with your logic:

Strange juggled the ball, but last action was to push it back with his hands. Due to momentum the ball may have travelled forward slightly but ended up well behind him.

The problem I have with your logic is that if someone was to push the ball backwards in the same position but it travelled or rolled 10 metres back then you would be saying it was not a knock on.

So I think that with the way they rule re momentum and hands directing the ball backwards then this call was correct and consistent with laws as currently applied. Great reffing and use of review system because it looked like a knock on but technology and application of laws meant it wasn’t.

@antipodean said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

The culture at the Crusaders must be superb. Average players content to work on their basic skills and do their core roles.

Chiefs have been very unlucky, but losses are a cancer. They're not well served by All Blacks playing like headless . Webber and DMac should be watching the North vs South on tv.

Just not sure they are average. Winners is a better description.

@sparky said in Hurricanes v Blues:

Liking the form of both Dalton Papali'i and Ardie Savea.

Soon after half time Dalton missed a straight one on one with Laumape. Hurricanes surged onto attack and scored. He has to be better than that.

@Gunner Agreed. Like to see Administrator’s take some action. Pull the teams from the competition. Fine the clubs. This stuff wouldn’t happen if the culture didn’t allow it to happen.

@Steven-Harris Josh’s injuries have stopped his momentum, but he was good again tonight.

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:

As much as I have wanted the Blues to get across the line this evening ..I have got to question how much some really do know about the game of rugby ...the one area where the Crusaders have dominated has been in the high kick stakes..the Blues have been completely overshadowed in this aspect...the much maligned George Bridge has put so much pressure on the receiver from high kicks ...the Blues have failed to negate this area..and their own high kick when it really mattered , unfortunately fell by the wayside ..both Christie and Barrett at crucial times put kicks out on the full...to me the turning point was the charge down of Blacks kick ..and the subsequent short kick off from Mo’unga , the Blues had fallen asleep and you could see the momentum change ,some great individual performances , but big match players come up with big moments ..on that aspect ..The Crusaders Take the chocolates ..it was great to watch a game that I really feel the Blues are now relevant again..you know when a Canterbury crowd goes silent for long periods means you have them under the pump..to blame this evenings official is joke..game management when it really mattered was the difference..

Well said that man.

Crusaders all class. Clinical when it matters.

NB: George Bridges has been awesome.

@Stargazer That is cool!

The good thing about this for any new coach is that you start with a blank page.