@taniwharugby there was a moment right at the start where Todd absolutely ragdolled Smith. Kinda set the tone for the rest of the night.
Super Rugby Final 2018
Match thread
At the game the best moments included nullifying the lineout drive/maul. The crowd gave them heaps every time.
From Stuff: “"We tried the peel around the front, we tried one towards the back, we went straight, pretty much did everything that we could and they were just very good. There is nothing else you can say," a deflated Whiteley said.
@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@machpants yep they were banging on about Kwagga and Marx all week, they nullified both, Marx still muscled up and showed his power but Kwagga may as well have not been there.
Not the first time there have been games where the opposition 7 was so good he was hyped up before the game only to be played out of the game.
Not sure what the final stats were, but at one point the turnover count was 9-0 in favour of the crusaders. Thought that was pretty incredible given Marx's ability over the ball was meant to be a strength.
@sammyc said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@fcc said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc how good was Bedwell-Curtis, underrated and stood up all year. Just a trademark of razor’s coaching, a young bloke given a shot and stands up.
Bloody good, so nice to see a guy like him earn a contract through hard work and toughness. I have my doubts he’d be given the same opportunity at other teams. Probably wouldn’t pass the bench press test or something.
What a weird comment, the Chiefs for (one) example have often brought in little heralded players who have had good seasons.
@nta said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
Watched first 25 minutes. Fuck the Lions are dumb
Not much tactical variation in their game. Works fine until you come against a better forward pack, with greater patience (who also have a great No10 and smooth backline!)
@nepia said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@fcc said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc how good was Bedwell-Curtis, underrated and stood up all year. Just a trademark of razor’s coaching, a young bloke given a shot and stands up.
Bloody good, so nice to see a guy like him earn a contract through hard work and toughness. I have my doubts he’d be given the same opportunity at other teams. Probably wouldn’t pass the bench press test or something.
What a weird comment, the Chiefs for (one) example have often brought in little heralded players who have had good seasons.
Probably the alcohol talking, look at the time I posted. I was probably talking about the blues anyway where I have no doubts my comment applies.
@machpants more the "ja Bru we'll run the same lineout play 3 times in a row. No WAY will they drive us back like the first 2 times!"
@nta said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@machpants more the "ja Bru we'll run the same lineout play 3 times in a row. No WAY will they drive us back like the first 2 times!"
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
The ratings were ridiculous... we had a good laugh at them at the bar last night
@fcc said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc how good was Bedwell-Curtis, underrated and stood up all year. Just a trademark of razor’s coaching, a young bloke given a shot and stands up.
Some of these young blokes like Mo’unga and bridge don’t know how to lose
Bedwell Curtis is 27 wouldn't call him young but played awesome either way.
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
That is simply not true, the Blues have the worst NZ squad with hardly any star players - they're easy to pick out, the Ioane brothers, a broken SBW and an aging Kaino. Not that many of the Blues players are overhyped, it's laughable to suggest that.
Having a shit squad doesn't automatically mean players don't play for the team.
When you have Moody, Crockett, Taylor, Whitelock, Barrett, Tood, Read etc in your team it's a lot easier to stick to a pattern than when you have who ever the fudge make up the Blues pack outside of Ofa and their loose forwards.
@nepia said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
That is simply not true, the Blues have the worst NZ squad with hardly any star players - they're easy to pick out, the Ioane brothers, a broken SBW and an aging Kaino. Not that many of the Blues players are overhyped, it's laughable to suggest that.
Having a shit squad doesn't automatically mean players don't play for the team.
When you have Moody, Crockett, Taylor, Whitelock, Barrett, Tood, Read etc in your team it's a lot easier to stick to a pattern than when you have who ever the fudge make up the Blues pack outside of Ofa and their loose forwards.
Hmm, I read @kev 's post literally "guys that play like stars" instead of "guys that just play for the team". There is a point in that. One of the major problems of the Blues over the years, IMHO, is that they play like a group of individuals, instead of playing like team players. It just doesn't seem to gel for some reason. Tana moving players out of position obviously doesn't help, but there does seem to be something off in the team dynamic as well. This has been discussed in several threads.
And do the Blues really have "hardly any star players"? Even if true, the Blues do have several players of whom it was thought they were going to be stars (had star player potential), but that hasn't materialised or it has faded away. One extreme example is Perofeta, who was hyped up by many Blues fans and media as the third ABs 10 instead of Mo'unga last year. Totally crazy, of course, also a year ago, but he hasn't lived up to last year's hype. Blame Tana if you like, and he may not be a star (yet), but he was definitely overhyped. It (becoming a star) may still happen though, with better coaching and a change of culture.
And where were the guys who have in the ABs environment? Weren't they "stars" (at least at SR level, enough to warrant a AB call-up) at some point? Duffie got enough game time, but has thoroughly disappointed. Pat T , same story. Kaino was a shadow of his former self. Parsons has played for the ABs, also disappointed big time. Pauliasi Manu, Augie Pulu. Also guys who didn't live up to their history.
I thoroughly hope the new assistant coaches can bring positive change, so that players like Black, Perofeta, Clarke, Plummer etc can develop into stars - at least at SR level - and are no longer being wasted and feeling the need to move elsewhere like Naholo, Fekitoa, etc.
@nepia said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
That is simply not true, the Blues have the worst NZ squad with hardly any star players - they're easy to pick out, the Ioane brothers, a broken SBW and an aging Kaino. Not that many of the Blues players are overhyped, it's laughable to suggest that.
Having a shit squad doesn't automatically mean players don't play for the team.
When you have Moody, Crockett, Taylor, Whitelock, Barrett, Tood, Read etc in your team it's a lot easier to stick to a pattern than when you have who ever the fudge make up the Blues pack outside of Ofa and their loose forwards.
I feel like for about the last 5 years preseason talk around the blues has always been about how much better their squad is looking and that this will be the year things turn around.
@stargazer said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@nepia said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
That is simply not true, the Blues have the worst NZ squad with hardly any star players - they're easy to pick out, the Ioane brothers, a broken SBW and an aging Kaino. Not that many of the Blues players are overhyped, it's laughable to suggest that.
Having a shit squad doesn't automatically mean players don't play for the team.
When you have Moody, Crockett, Taylor, Whitelock, Barrett, Tood, Read etc in your team it's a lot easier to stick to a pattern than when you have who ever the fudge make up the Blues pack outside of Ofa and their loose forwards.
Hmm, I read @kev 's post literally "guys that play like stars" instead of "guys that just play for the team". There is a point in that. One of the major problems of the Blues over the years, IMHO, is that they play like a group of individuals, instead of playing like team players. It just doesn't seem to gel for some reason. Tana moving players out of position obviously doesn't help, but there does seem to be something off in the team dynamic as well. This has been discussed in several threads.
And do the Blues really have "hardly any star players"? Even if true, the Blues do have several players of whom it was thought they were going to be stars (had star player potential), but that hasn't materialised or it has faded away. One extreme example is Perofeta, who was hyped up by many Blues fans and media as the third ABs 10 instead of Mo'unga last year. Totally crazy, of course, also a year ago, but he hasn't lived up to last year's hype. Blame Tana if you like, and he may not be a star (yet), but he was definitely overhyped. It (becoming a star) may still happen though, with better coaching and a change of culture.
And where were the guys who have in the ABs environment? Weren't they "stars" (at least at SR level, enough to warrant a AB call-up) at some point? Duffie got enough game time, but has thoroughly disappointed. Pat T , same story. Kaino was a shadow of his former self. Parsons has played for the ABs, also disappointed big time. Pauliasi Manu, Augie Pulu. Also guys who didn't live up to their history.
I thoroughly hope the new assistant coaches can bring positive change, so that players like Black, Perofeta, Clarke, Plummer etc can develop into stars - at least at SR level - and are no longer being wasted and feeling the need to move elsewhere like Naholo, Fekitoa, etc.
Three seasons ago people were hyping Blake Gibson up a lot as well. The Blues have had lots of good young players coming through who haven't really developed.
@hydro11 said in Super Rugby Final 2018
Three seasons ago people were hyping Blake Gibson up a lot as well. The Blues have had lots of good young players coming through who haven't really developed.
Weird comment. He was called up to the AB camp last year. This year he only played 3 games because he was injured.
@duluth said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@hydro11 said in Super Rugby Final 2018
Three seasons ago people were hyping Blake Gibson up a lot as well. The Blues have had lots of good young players coming through who haven't really developed.
Weird comment. He was called up to the AB camp last year. This year he only played 3 games because he was injured.
If anything the Blues need more players like Blake Gibson (well, apart from the tendancy to get injured all the time) - very consistent player.
@tim said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@duluth Nothing brings out groundless, stupid rugby like Blues’ coaches.
Fixed
@stargazer Barely any of those you mentioned are 'stars'. As an one example, Perofeta has never been as hyped up as Mo'unga (and will likely never be as good as Mo'unga going on this years evidence), but even then Perofeta isn't a star, he's just a promising 2nd number 10 for the Blues.
Also, why do you re-bring up Fekitoa when even he admitted he balls'd up his first opportunity at the Blues.
You can't compare Parsons with Codie Taylor just because Parsons has a couple of caps, and Pat T has been a shadow of his former self for reason's that aren't really the Blues fault. Meanwhile the Crusaders pack have two long term AB looseheads, the current starting hooker, a long term tighthead, and three test locks. Just having an AB cap or two is not really comparative.
@cyclops said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@nepia said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@kev said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
@sammyc I would say that the Blues are full of overhyped players. Suggest they would be better of with less guys that plays like stars and more guys that just play for the team. The great thing you see with Crusaders is how hard they work to stay in a team pattern and to get off the ground to get back for their mates. I laughed when I saw the ratings for players in Stuff. They rate based on hero moments. Glad we don’t select the ABs on that.
That is simply not true, the Blues have the worst NZ squad with hardly any star players - they're easy to pick out, the Ioane brothers, a broken SBW and an aging Kaino. Not that many of the Blues players are overhyped, it's laughable to suggest that.
Having a shit squad doesn't automatically mean players don't play for the team.
When you have Moody, Crockett, Taylor, Whitelock, Barrett, Tood, Read etc in your team it's a lot easier to stick to a pattern than when you have who ever the fudge make up the Blues pack outside of Ofa and their loose forwards.
I feel like for about the last 5 years preseason talk around the blues has always been about how much better their squad is looking and that this will be the year things turn around.
Are you talking about the Blues or the Warriors? 
@nepia Completely right. Our team is awful on paper with massive holes in it and I don't know why people continue to say we have plenty of talent when really our side is absolute garbage. We haven't had a proper midfield since god knows when (probably 2003 with Tuitupou and Muliaina) and ended up with Rieko Ioane and Michael Collins there ffs, we constantly hear about our problems at 9 and 10 which don't look like changing either, we haven't had a decent 2nd row since Donnelly and the 2014 version of Pat Tuipulotu, we have ongoing problems at hooker to the point where James Parsons is still number 1 for us as he wouldn't even be 2nd choice at any other NZ team (don't get me started on Leni Apisai), our back 3 is probably the 5th best in this country, we had Murphy Taramai as our starting 7 for most of the year who is barely Mitre 10 cup level, a 95 year old Jerome Kaino at 6 but yeah, other than that, our side is full of superstars that continue to underachieve at this level.
@Cyclops Who has said that rubbish? Stuff writers who probably have less knowledge that people on here?
@african-monkey going into the season even I had some high hopes for a Blues midfield of SBW/Moala. What the hell went wrong there? And it wasn’t injury....
@act-crusader Moala doesn't know how to pass the ball, looked overweight at the start of the season and was found wanting a number of times on defence at centre as he seemed to have lost about 3 yards of pace especially in round 2 against the Chiefs which was one of the worst games I've ever seen him play. Funily enough he started to recapture his 2014-2015 form once he shifted back to the wing before getting injured. The motivation had clearly gone from him as he himself would have realised his ABs days were over.
SBW plays when he wants. When he realised how shit we were he probably decided playing for us wasn't worth it so he'd save himself for the international season instead.
It's a murky old day in CHCH but some of the Crusaders have the shades on and just about cleaned the BP station out of fried shit and pies Hahahahaha
@shark said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
It's a murky old day in CHCH but some of the Crusaders have the shades on and just about cleaned the BP station out of fried shit and pies Hahahahaha
the Silly Sunday in to Mad Monday transition is always the toughest
Just watched "The 1014 Rugby Show" on Sky Sport with an interesting analysis of the Final and the SR season (mainly Crusaders). Very interesting what these guys do. If you missed it, there are replays:
- on the Rugby Channel: tonight (Monday) at 11.30pm
- on Sky Sport 1: Tuesday 9.00am, 9.30pm / Wednesday, 3.00pm
There are probably more replays.
@stargazer said in Super Rugby Final 2018:
Just watched "The 1014 Rugby Show" on Sky Sport with an interesting analysis of the Final and the SR season (mainly Crusaders). Very interesting what these guys do. If you missed it, there are replays:
- on the Rugby Channel: tonight (Monday) at 11.30pm
- on Sky Sport 1: Tuesday 9.00am, 9.30pm / Wednesday, 3.00pm
There are probably more replays.
Really good analysis, particularly around how we are playing so similar to the British lions on defense and when kicking, I also enjoyed the footage of Ryan Crotty organising the defensive line.
Dunno what’s up with the main host and his stupid beanie tho. I’ve always thought the beanies/t shirt combo was a bit wrong.