@Chris said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Chester-Draws The game plan under Blackadder was flawed and easy to shutdown it was too predictable plus he failed to motivate the AB's like Razor does.That's why we never won titles under him.We had no 2nd or 3rd options under pressure.We would have failed to win titles with the whole AB squad under Blackadder.

But Todd was a good steady hand on the tiller.
As honest as the day is long.
A toiler.
A team man.
A hard man.
A farmer.
And most of all a proud Cantabrian.

Under Blackadder we did commit less to the breakdown.

There were some quality sides that defeated us during those years (except the Waratahs team, thanks Joubert...) but poor tactics and selections will be a hallmark of the Blackadder era.

I will say that he did some very good stuff as well. He did get the team up during the earthquake period. He help develop a few young players into ABs.

@Frank Great but a game plan of not committing enough numbers to the breakdown and going from side to side to go around teams or force the players to come in to defend to go wide ,Does not work when the opposition use a drift defence and commit numbers to the breakdown.Game plan Fuked. no alternative gameplans just keep sticking to the one that is not working.Todd was a great bloke honest player but that doesn't always equate to a great tactical Brain.

@Chris
Ha ha - I was being sarcastic.
I had very low regard for Todd B's coaching ability.

The Hurricanes' pectoral pair are in the selection mix for their side's semifinal showdown in Christchurch.

Centre Matt Proctor injured a pectoral (chest) muscle against the Sharks on June 2, while lock Sam Lousi has not played this year after undergoing surgery on a torn pectoral muscle in pre-season.

Both played Wellington club rugby last weekend and Hurricanes assistant coach Carlos Spencer said they were being considered for selection against the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Loose forward Vaea Fifita will definitely be back for the semifinal after serving his three-week suspension for a high shot against the Sharks.

Winger Wes Goosen is expected to be out after aggravating his hamstring injury against the Bulls. 

Chase Tiatia may be available to fill that void after missing the quarterfinal with a calf injury. Otherwise it will likely be Salesi Rayasi who is given the chance. 

@Frank said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Chris
Ha ha - I was being sarcastic.
I had very low regard for Todd B's coaching ability.

Well played. Any sarcasm was completely lost on me ! I just thought it was genuine drivel from a Cantab wanking on about Toddy hahaha

@Stargazer Would Lousi be eligible though? I remember in 2016 when Messam returned to the Chiefs after the failed sevens campaign he wasn't eligible to play in the QF because there was some kind of minimum amount of games. Though because Lousi was injured, it might be different.

@Yeetyaah I think Messam's ineligibility had to do with the fact that he had played sevens and came back mid-season. Lousi has been injured and has been contracted to the Canes from the start; he got injured during preseason.

Edit: see this article

Messam was a late addition to the Chiefs' squad this month, after missing selection in the Olympics sevens team. Because he was not part of the original squad of 40, to be eligible for finals matches he had to be in the country from April 1, which he was, but also play four regular season matches. He played two, against the Reds and Highlanders.

I thought Toddy was an excellent forwards coach, but struggled as a head coach. I'd happily see him coaching forwards at any level, he oversaw the development some great forwards.

@Frank You got me :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

@Stargazer Ah so he wasn't in the original Chiefs squad and was seen as a late signing. Fair enough.

The Crusaders are massive favourites for this game and the title. Lots of battlers in that Canes squad, but the gulf in the quality of the tight forwards is enormous.

I wonder if Razor is practising any new moves to include in his victory breakdance once the Crusaders pick up their third title?

@sparky subtle

@sparky presumptuous but justified. If we manage to pull this off I will be shocked

@sparky said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

The Crusaders are massive favourites for this game and the title. Lots of battlers in that Canes squad, but the gulf in the quality of the tight forwards is enormous.

I wonder if Razor is practising any new moves to include in his victory breakdance once the Crusaders pick up their third title?

All going well he'll do this one, take it from me this is a real crowd pleaser provided you're sober enough to pull it off.

Neutral refs for both games.

Nic Berry the ref for this one. He's been pretty good this year - hopefully more of the same this weekend.

"There's a lot of champion mindsets here with Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock, so that's a big advantage for us," O'Gara said.

ROG hits the nail on the head. It is the mindset that is the big advantage for the Crusaders. Their minds are minds of champions. That's the champion mindset.

@sparky said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

The Crusaders are massive favourites for this game and the title. Lots of battlers in that Canes squad, but the gulf in the quality of the tight forwards is enormous.

I wonder if Razor is practising any new moves to include in his victory breakdance once the Crusaders pick up their third title?

@Chester-Draws said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Semi Final 1: Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

The old saying where "forwards win you matches and backs dictate by how much" will most likely determine this scoreline.

It's a stupid saying.

The Crusaders had a magnificent forward pack through the Blackadder years yet didn't win titles because their backs couldn't capitalise on the ball they were given.

We only had Sonny Bill for one of those Blackadder years. I suspect McCaw and Carter had long injury spells during that era also

Fuck this. Canes are going to smoke the saders.

However... I have some conditions...

Entire crusaders squad to have a mare
Every 50/50 (even 70/30) chance goes the Canes way.
Fifita wakes up on Sat morning and suddenly realises he does enjoy hitting rucks and shifting bodies - goes on to deliver on new self image
BB gets 2 intercept tries
JB makes it through the game without having to make a defensive decision
Ben Lam starts smashing fools on D

In the bag!!