@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.

The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.

Blues massive underdogs with all the injuries

Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.

@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.

The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.

Blues massive underdogs with all the injuries

Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.

good luck! We're completely underdone; haven't had a preseason, didn't play NPC last year, and so ravaged with injuries it's amazing we can fill the coaches box, let alone field a 23.

Tongue slightly in cheek, though, it'll be a crackign top of the table clash. Can't wait.

Last year after the Crusaders got up, they drew with the Canes and then dropped the game after that. Peaked, but it took its toll I reckon.

Largely unchanged team to be expected, aside from halfbacks.

Might see Lam start, with Tu'inukuafe on the bench?

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

Not a lot of downside for me in this game. The big win was Saturday against the Chiefs. Now there is daylight between the Crusaders/Blues and the rest of the NZ sides.

The only thing in this comp is to get to the final. Ideally hosting it, but get to teh final must be the drive. After that, it's on. So a win would be nice, but more important is winning all the Australian games and building into the finals series.

Blues massive underdogs with all the injuries

Crusaders are also without Matera, Goodhue, Whitelock, Strange, Dunshea, McAlister & Klein.

good luck! We're completely underdone; haven't had a preseason, didn't play NPC last year, and so ravaged with injuries it's amazing we can fill the coaches box, let alone field a 23.

Tongue slightly in cheek, though, it'll be a crackign top of the table clash. Can't wait.

Last year after the Crusaders got up, they drew with the Canes and then dropped the game after that. Peaked, but it took its toll I reckon.

And haven't won in Christchurch since the 20th century. Crusaders to lose

@tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

Largely unchanged team to be expected, aside from halfbacks.

Might see Lam start, with Tu'inukuafe on the bench?

@Nogusta was hinting that Evans would be involved. Would be a massive call to start him so I assume he'll be on the bench

@duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

@tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

Largely unchanged team to be expected, aside from halfbacks.

Might see Lam start, with Tu'inukuafe on the bench?

@Nogusta was hinting that Evans would be involved. Would be a massive call to start him so I assume he'll be on the bench

I wonder if that means they hold RTS for one more week as it would be a big call to start RTS in this game.

@kiwimurph Probably the same with Goodhue for the Crusaders?

@stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:

@kiwimurph Probably the same with Goodhue for the Crusaders?

If either start it will be a positive for the other team, goodhue hasn't played in years, RTS is still very new. The game should be thumping intense, at least I hope so

@machpants I reckon the win against the Chiefs will take it's toll. Crusaders by a thowwwsand

@nzzp go back to sleep

@george33 said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nzzp go back to sleep

so what's your pick then?

If the Blues play to tehir potential, they should win. Haven't been able to say that for some time, feels good. BUT - I'm not confident of our ability to back up two weeks in a row... hence my comment above. If we do, happy days, but if we don't then it's a flat performance and another loss down south.

The last time we were down there we went out to a really solid lead, and Mo'unga absolutely arced up and destroyed us in the last quarter. It was ridiculous. But -- we were dominant up to that point. Reassert that, and don't choke, and we're on ... going to be an absolute cracker.I hope

I feel that the Saders are there for the taking this year, but it won’t be this week.

My feeling is that after that performance against the chiefs, the Blues will get a negative rebound.

I hope that doesn’t happen, but I cant see them beating the Saders.

@gt12 yeah I was hoping Blues would be able to fly under the radar a little bit going into this clash but last weekend put paid to that.

Given Crusaders haven't exactly been on fire lately I can see Razor gearing them up for a huge performance.

Blues will have to clear the mental hurdle of beating the Crusaders which i'm not sure they are quite up to yet (especially in Christchurch).

For Blues to win they'll have to avoid penalties (in general play and at scrum time) that lead to lineout drive opportunities and they'll have to be very tidy under the high ball.

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

@machpants I reckon the win against the Chiefs will take it's toll. Crusaders by a thowwwsand

And 3 games in 8 days followed by an extremely physical game, hopefully the squad refreshes fast.

It will be interesting to see which ref is chosen for this game. O'Keeffe would be the likely person as it can't be Williams or Pickerill (good for everyone). Both teams were very cynical in defending near their goal line in the weekend so we could see more yellow cards.

If the Blues forwards play with the same ferocity as they did against the Chiefs then game on. The scrum battle will be intriguing.

@bovidae said in Crusaders v Blues:

It will be interesting to see which ref is chosen for this game. O'Keeffe would be the likely person as it can't be Williams or Pickerill (good for everyone). Both teams were very cynical in defending near their goal line in the weekend so we could see more yellow cards.

If the Blues forwards play with the same ferocity as they did against the Chiefs then game on. The scrum battle will be intriguing.

If it’s o’Thief then the crusaders have already won.

@kirwan O'Keeffe, Fraser or Doleman are the choices, and one of the latter two could be the ref tomorrow night.

Blues record vs Crusaders (Leon 2019-2021): 24-22, 19–11, 25-8, 43-26, 29-6.

Good chance of breaking the hoodoo this Friday.

@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Blues:

Blues record vs Crusaders (Leon 2019-2021): 24-22, 19–11, 25-8, 43-26, 29-6.

Good chance of breaking the hoodoo this Friday.

Good point, well raised. Blues haven't beaten the Crusaders since they've had a Crusader coach. Tend to struggle against the Chiefs too...