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

Oh unlucky....

Pretty awful string of plays from Hotham and Reihana, pedestrian stuff.

said in Force v Crusaders:

Interested in how Lee goes vs Tizzano

Underwhelming

First win at home for the Force.

AUA$5M losses per year buy you a lot of journeymen and has beens.

@Tim said in Force v Crusaders:

a lot of journeymen and has beens.

The Crusaders?

@KiwiMurph Just as long as them and their Chiefs equivalents don't make the ABs

said in Force v Crusaders:

@KiwiMurph Just as long as them and their Chiefs equivalents don't make the ABs

Last year you had four Chiefs blindside flankers in the ABs. All of them were absolute shit

Great comeback from the Force. Surprised at the Crusaders fading like they did on one of the more cooler nights we've had. Robertson makes a difference at 9, he's got a very good running game, and yes it gets overdone a bit, but the high ball is a strength for the Force. The balance of the side is looking a lot better for maybe a late finals push (optimistic I know).

Two of the more maligned Crusaders players Gardiner and Letiu off the bench were good I thought. McNicholl should have been dragged off earlier as he could barely walk from about 55 onwards.