@Chris Risky strategy - but, it looks - additional to all the injuries - he's completely resting Newell and Shalfoon, and he's switching Bower, Hotham, Reece to the bench.

I think the plan from here is just to hopefully make the top 6 and try to have our best team fit and ready to win play-off games away from home.

We're not going to be topping the table.

The Force are very good at bringing teams down to their own level. Crusaders are under a bit of pressure here, should win comfortably, but if it gets tight does the last few results start creeping into the back of the mind?

Looking at those teams, I can easily see the Crusaders dropping this game after a lackluster performance against the Reds.

The Force have been highly competitive this year and that looks to be their strongest team of the season. At home, they won't be easy beats. A must win for the Cantabs, that's for sure.

@Chris-B. said in Force v Crusaders:

Looks a bit like Penney might be surrendering the points in this one.

Coaches might do that when playing a top team away. The Force should be considered a winnable game

Depending on your feelings about the Crusaders its either confidence or arrogance. Lets go with sickening arrogance

@Duluth said in Force v Crusaders:

@Chris-B. said in Force v Crusaders:

Looks a bit like Penney might be surrendering the points in this one.

Coaches might do that when playing a top team away. The Force should be considered a winnable game

Depending on your feelings about the Crusaders its either confidence or arrogance. Lets go with sickening arrogance

I would go with stupidity.

Why not both?

Interested in how Lee goes vs Tizzano

I reckon they're prioritizing the first game in the new stadium as a must win and treating this one as expendable.

Of course, if we don't get a few of our walking wounded back next week, we could easily lose that game.

I would argue that the Crusaders might actually do better playing away from home in the finals. They benefit from stodgy winter weather, which will be mitigated somewhat by playing under the roof.

My mate up in Northland reckons Toby Bell is set for a debut from the bench as Reece is apparently now starting

@Mr-Fish looks like it, I thought him and Reihana have been very equal out there

Fihaki out.

@george33 Thanks George - Just amended my Fantasy team. No doubt he'll play and have an absolute blinder!

@antipodean good luck

@Mr-Fish said in Force v Crusaders:

I would argue that the Crusaders might actually do better playing away from home in the finals. They benefit from stodgy winter weather, which will be mitigated somewhat by playing under the roof.

I don't have much fear of playing away at NZ venues. I don't want to go to Brumbieland.

Aside from Big Tamaiti, who we definitely won't have (and is a major loss), we could go:

Bower, Taylor, Newell, SBarrett, Shalfoon, Grace, Blackadder, Lio-Willie, Hotham, Faingaánuku, Reihana, Havili, Ennor, Reece, Jordan.

Which is, to my mind, our best XV - and almost totally different from this week.

We're better off playing at home, though. But, we won't have much of that this year.

Oli Mathis also in for a debut off the bench (along with Bell)

Good to see Springer back eh @canes4life

@bellsgeorg what a run.

Kemara is really coming into some form

@Bones said in Force v Crusaders:

Good to see Springer back eh @canes4life

Another 5 tries incoming

Force aren't very smart, guys lying all over the show trying to play the ball

Hannah held up by a halfback

Fire-anger-are-nookoo

Have the Force had the ball on attack yet in the Saders half?

I can't decide if Bell has had a haircut or is growing his hair

Man McNicholl is great value for an old bastard.

Unreal finish

@Bones said in Force v Crusaders:

Unreal finish

Fair play Johnny, bravo!

Deft kick by Macca. More often than not those kicks bounce out of bounds.

Old man thumb is a bitch

I do like how both Peach and Tizzano always attack the ball hard when it hits the deck.

Gardner goes the wrong way.

Heck of a try that.

The comeback is on

That was very very nice.

How on earth did Johnny McNicholl score that!

Force a bit flat in the first half but finished strong. Sadly got a bit of white line fever at the end there.

@African-Monkey how good! That's the Johnny we know

Fuck that's rough, Lancaster's career over?

Geez Lomax was in

Aussie commentator "oh he's so strong" about Lomax...as he gets absolutely manhandled by Bell

Crusaders a completely different team after about the 30 minute mark. Where's the fizz?

Came out at a million miles an hour and now look to be on the plane already.

There it is.

Pass from Springer to Hotham was dodgy as