Unreal finish
Force
Match thread
Crusaders
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
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.
First win at home for the Force.
AUA$5M losses per year buy you a lot of journeymen and has beens.
@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.
@African-Monkey agree on Nicholl, he should have come off earlier, his 2nd half was poor he slowed down alot of the attack.
@vonniebee said in Force v Crusaders:
@African-Monkey agree on Nicholl, he should have come off earlier, his 2nd half was poor he slowed down alot of the attack.
Should have had a YC for the cheap knees to the ribs on the second Force try
said in Force v Crusaders:
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
Just immortalising one of my best posts:
Actually got a bit excited at this game.
Usually not like that at all; cool, calm, analytical.
Thought the saders actually went quite well.
Great effort by the force to run them down after giving them a 20 pt start.
Force saved their dumb shit for the start of the game this time, usually its at the end, when it really matters.
The referee heavily favoured the team in possession, which i'm ok with, but the force kicked all theirs away in the first period and allowed the saders to build lots of momentum, and get points and YCs.
Once force started holding onto the ball the game evened up.
And the saders didn't really even score again.
The Stringer pass to Hotham was definitely forward.
Stringer was just about stationary when he passed it, no forward momentum in that pass.
But the ref was favouring the attacking team, so that's ok.
Force kicked away possession a bit early at the finish, and just invited the saders to have a good crack at them, which they did.
Force D did well tho, didn't even let them into the red zone.
McNicholl still goes pretty good.
He had a nice cuddle with Zac too!
I know it's all about the rugby, and I dont wanna sound like one of those 6N F wits who just show up for a beer and a chit chat with their mates, but the sax player at the half-time break was sooooo cool.
Even Georgie Bower was havin a bit of a jive at the restart; until he realized what he was doing.
@mohikamo said in Force v Crusaders:
Actually got a bit excited at this game.
Usually not like that at all; cool, calm, analytical.Thought the saders actually went quite well.
Great effort by the force to run them down after giving them a 20 pt start.
Force saved their dumb shit for the start of the game this time, usually its at the end, when it really matters.The referee heavily favoured the team in possession, which i'm ok with, but the force kicked all theirs away in the first period and allowed the saders to build lots of momentum, and get points and YCs.
Once force started holding onto the ball the game evened up.
And the saders didn't really even score again.The Stringer pass to Hotham was definitely forward.
Stringer was just about stationary when he passed it, no forward momentum in that pass.
But the ref was favouring the attacking team, so that's ok.Force kicked away possession a bit early at the finish, and just invited the saders to have a good crack at them, which they did.
Force D did well tho, didn't even let them into the red zone.McNicholl still goes pretty good.
He had a nice cuddle with Zac too!I know it's all about the rugby, and I dont wanna sound like one of those 6N F wits who just show up for a beer and a chit chat with their mates, but the sax player at the half-time break was sooooo cool.
Even Georgie Bower was havin a bit of a jive at the restart; until he realized what he was doing.
Yeah was easily the best atmosphere last night. Crowd seemed to be a bit bigger, a bit more pre match entertainment, and when Lomax scored, the place erupted. It really was 'party at the park' which was advertised before the game. Had a few loudmouth Crusaders fans behind me who were very chirpy when 19-0 up, they were much quieter as the night went on. A good night all round.
Bit of a shame for Crusaders, as they now have no chance of top 3 , so they won't have any finals at new stadium.
I think that loss may mean the Crusaders do not make the 6.
5 games left will need to win 3, I don't think we can beat the Canes who we play twice or the Chiefs.
The Blues probably as well unless there is a major shift.
Force or Waratahs could pinch that 6th spot.
The Force have Dura and Waratahs at home both winnable and the Tahs at away all winnable.
The Tahs have Dura away Force home and away all winnable as well.
@Chris said in Force v Crusaders:
I think that loss may mean the Crusaders do not make the 6.
5 games left will need to win 3, I don't think we can beat the Canes who we play twice or the Chiefs.
The Blues probably as well unless there is a major shift.
Force or Waratahs could pinch that 6th spot.
The Force have Dura and Waratahs at home both winnable and the Tahs at away all winnable.
The Tahs have Dura away Force home and away all winnable as well.
Probably depends who comes back from injury and when...
@Chris We won't with the team that played last night - or last week. These points have been gifts to the other contenders.
But, we've got heavy duty reinforcements coming - just a question of whether enough of them arrive in time.
Not sure we'd be good enough to win three play-off games away from home, anyway - but, no-one would want to have to play our top team and find out!
The thing that has changed about the Crusaders is yes, they will always be up there, but when they lose frontline players, they are now big losses. A few years back under Razor's regime, they could lose a few players but it wouldn't make too much of a difference, as their depth was so strong at the time. Now, they lose guys like Jordan, Taylor, Barrett, Newell etc. and the oppositions eyes light up and see a big chance at beating them.
At full strength, they can go all all the way, minus a couple of bigger names these days, their level drops a fair way.
@Mr-Fish said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris said in Force v Crusaders:
I think that loss may mean the Crusaders do not make the 6.
5 games left will need to win 3, I don't think we can beat the Canes who we play twice or the Chiefs.
The Blues probably as well unless there is a major shift.
Force or Waratahs could pinch that 6th spot.
The Force have Dura and Waratahs at home both winnable and the Tahs at away all winnable.
The Tahs have Dura away Force home and away all winnable as well.Probably depends who comes back from injury and when...
Too many top players are 3 weeks away from coming back.
Too late to make a difference.
@Chris-B. said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris We won't with the team that played last night - or last week. These points have been gifts to the other contenders.
But, we've got heavy duty reinforcements coming - just a question of whether enough of them arrive in time.
Not sure we'd be good enough to win three play-off games away from home, anyway - but, no-one would want to have to play our top team and find out!
While being a Canes man Chris, I kind of disappointed for Crusaders supporters, who have been turning up in shit conditions etc, even when team not going well. I certainly thought they deserved some finals to attend in the cover at new stadium.
@Dan54 said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris-B. said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris We won't with the team that played last night - or last week. These points have been gifts to the other contenders.
But, we've got heavy duty reinforcements coming - just a question of whether enough of them arrive in time.
Not sure we'd be good enough to win three play-off games away from home, anyway - but, no-one would want to have to play our top team and find out!
While being a Canes man Chris, I kind of disappointed for Crusaders supporters, who have been turning up in shit conditions etc, even when team not going well. I certainly thought they deserved some finals to attend in the cover at new stadium.
Have the Highlanders played a single home playoff game under the roof since they moved there in 2012? I dont believe so
@KiwiMurph said in Force v Crusaders:
@Dan54 said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris-B. said in Force v Crusaders:
@Chris We won't with the team that played last night - or last week. These points have been gifts to the other contenders.
But, we've got heavy duty reinforcements coming - just a question of whether enough of them arrive in time.
Not sure we'd be good enough to win three play-off games away from home, anyway - but, no-one would want to have to play our top team and find out!
While being a Canes man Chris, I kind of disappointed for Crusaders supporters, who have been turning up in shit conditions etc, even when team not going well. I certainly thought they deserved some finals to attend in the cover at new stadium.
Have the Highlanders played a single home playoff game under the roof since they moved there in 2012? I dont believe so
Played 1 in 2015 against the Chiefs but yes, otherwise, I agree with your point.
@African-Monkey Probably true to a large extent - it was never put to the test with losing Mo'unga for a play-off game. I've pointed out before that there was a huge statistical difference between Razor's win rates with and without Mo'unga.
Enough that you could theorize at least that Richie more than anyone killed Razor's AB coaching career.