@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

The only downside was listening to the Crusaders cheerleaders in commentary. TJ is so annoying.

I can grin and bare through it usually, and Nisbett and the Aussies, well by grin and bare it I mean complain like a mofo, but TJ and Marshall did my head in this match. They fixated on Havilli, LF, and Hutchinson and wanked on about them all night.

I didn't expect the Chiefs to win this one, was bemused with their favouritism going in, so loss slightly less annoying than it would be otherwise.

@brodean said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Chiefs kinda choked there.

It's what we do best

@booboo said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Bones said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@booboo said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Bones said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

"A good time to score"

As opposed to what Justin?

To be fair, the old adage so often rings true...

Old adage being "Justin Marshall is an idiot"?

If anytime is a good time to score, was it not a good time to score?

My point stands

Even better if it stands either side of halftime.

@Nepia said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

bare

No

x2

@Nepia In line with the quality of the Sky commentary. Wilson was a waste of space as he had no idea that Norris was replaced BEFORE HT.

@SammyC happy to own that one

@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Nepia In line with the quality of the Sky commentary. Wilson was a waste of space as he had no idea that Norris was replaced BEFORE HT.

He has an annoying habit of asking 5 questions at once too

Real credit for Crusaders coaching shifting Leicester to 7/hybrid

With conservative decision making a disease in NZ rugby - good to see some bold moves.

I chuckled at the notion that this would piss off Kellow. Well maybe he should have played better and Crusaders wouldnt have looked like they have a huge Tom Christie sized hole during the first half of the season

As for Mathis - he's 20 years old, tiny and a wing/7 himself.

@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Nepia In line with the quality of the Sky commentary. Wilson was a waste of space as he had no idea that Norris was replaced BEFORE HT.

Who was it that distributed to the backs from that nicked lineout before the Jacomb muff?

@Bones said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Who was it that distributed to the backs from that nicked lineout before the Jacomb muff?

McAlister IIRC.

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can't see Parker playing test rugby again.

Looked to be running in quicksand and missed his defensive assignment on several occasions.

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Real credit for Crusaders coaching shifting Leicester to 7/hybrid

With conservative decision making a disease in NZ rugby - good to see some bold moves.

Well the French did it with LF. Though I can't see him ever starting a test there, though will make for great bench player.
How bloody good is Sititi playing, he was huge tonight!

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Though I can't see him ever starting a test there

I can. Our 7 depth is a paddling pool

@KiwiMurph with him playing well there, I think it has helped a couple of others step up their game as well.

Not sure what the answer is long term but they’ll keep riding the wave whilst they can I guess

Decent game of footy. Not the result i wanted, but jeez rugby is fun.

Death, taxes, and @Nepia whinging if the commentators suggest any Crusader is playing well.

Awesome win, class players dug hard, the Pavlova is a bit of a cauldron.

@Yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

The fall off of Ratima needs to be studied

Agreed. No excuses when you’re behind a forward pack like that either. Think he needs regular starts, perhaps all these bench cameos are messing with him a bit and can’t get into a rhythm.

@Landers92 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

The fall off of Ratima needs to be studied

Agreed. No excuses when you’re behind a forward pack like that either. Think he needs regular starts, perhaps all these bench cameos are messing with him a bit and can’t get into a rhythm.

He's just not as good as Roe at the moment. Coach has no choice.

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can't see Parker playing test rugby again.

Who?

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Real credit for Crusaders coaching shifting Leicester to 7/hybrid

For me he's beginning to make a case of being picked as a specialist 7.

In terms of the loose forwards got to say Jacobson and Blackadder were relatively quiet.

@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can't see Parker playing test rugby again.

Looked to be running in quicksand and missed his defensive assignment on several occasions.

Reuben Thorne lite

@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can't see Parker playing test rugby again.

Looked to be running in quicksand and missed his defensive assignment on several occasions.

Reminds me of Jono Gibbes

@Landers92 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

The fall off of Ratima needs to be studied

Agreed. No excuses when you’re behind a forward pack like that either. Think he needs regular starts, perhaps all these bench cameos are messing with him a bit and can’t get into a rhythm.

His form has been on the slide for 2 years

@Frank said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Can't see Parker playing test rugby again.

Looked to be running in quicksand and missed his defensive assignment on several occasions.

Reuben Thorne lite

That’s Reuben “Bledisloe Cup winning captain after 5 long years of the Aussies having it” Thorne.

At least Thorne hit a ruck or was in the vicinity!

@Canerbry said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Death, taxes, and @Nepia whinging if the commentators suggest any Crusader is playing well.

Awesome win, class players dug hard, the Pavlova is a bit of a cauldron.

Death, taxes, and @canerbry riding in on his stead to defend anything tangentially Cantab related.

Others played well, not just those two particular Crusaders and the one particular Chief.

@Nepia said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

canerbry

Who?

@brodean said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Real credit for Crusaders coaching shifting Leicester to 7/hybrid

For me he's beginning to make a case of being picked as a specialist 7.

He must be getting close to it. If the Saders make a run and win this thing and he continues to play the way he's playing? For mine he's a definite in the game day 23, most likely on he bench for a 6-2 split.

Well done Crusaders, you just can't count out the best Super franchise of all-time even when they're not at their best.

Say what you what about Leicesters positional change, but he is not invisible is he?

Making an impact.

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Though I can't see him ever starting a test there

I can. Our 7 depth is a paddling pool

Paps going but Savea Lakai maybe Casey or old school Jacobson or Blackadder ( ) then of course Leicester.
I may have missed one or two..

Great game of rugby - the best in recent memory.

Chiefs' kicking game let them down hugely. Looked the much better team when territory was on their side. A few blunders off the boot from Hutchinson, Jacomb and Roe towards the end killed their chances.

Sliced clearance aside, another strong performance from Hutchinson. Not sure he'll make that first All Blacks squad of the year (though Tangitau's injury could open the door) but would like to see him go to Africa.

@nostrildamus said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Though I can't see him ever starting a test there

I can. Our 7 depth is a paddling pool

Paps going but Savea Lakai maybe Casey or old school Jacobson or Blackadder ( ) then of course Leicester.
I may have missed one or two..

You are proving my point

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Paps going but Savea Lakai maybe Casey or old school Jacobson or Blackadder ( ) then of course Leicester.
I may have missed one or two..

You are proving my point

I think if Paps was staying and Savea was back to pre-exhausted form it would not look too bad.
I admit I missed Kirifi but I don't really see him as having enough size for tough test rugby. Good super player that he is. Although Lakai and Casey might not be much bigger (how big is Casey?) they look to have more impact at test level to my eyes/

The Saders were better when Preston came in. Hotham has some wheels but his passing is too slow. This is a work on for him.

@TheMojoman agreed I have him in jersey 23 covering wing, centre and 7. I would bring him on where we need him for impact perhaps against the Boks at 7 and move Savea to 8 for the last 25mins. If we lack punch in midfield then he could come in there to provide a point of difference too.

Also kudos to LF, his ball security was absolutely atrocious and he appears to have turned that around completely.

Ok, I admit I not on the LF train at 7. he great in a highlight package, but I still not convinced he prepared to get off ground or turn in defence quick enough for me. Maybe I expect too much from loosies in work rate etc.
Best loosie on field last night with daylight behind was Sititi though, geez he was immense. Though I do say Blackadder was pretty industrious, and none played poorly.

Best wing on the field with daylight behind was Fihaki, he was immense.

@Mr-Fish said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Great game of rugby - the best in recent memory.

Chiefs' kicking game let them down hugely. Looked the much better team when territory was on their side. A few blunders off the boot from Hutchinson, Jacomb and Roe towards the end killed their chances.

Sliced clearance aside, another strong performance from Hutchinson. Not sure he'll make that first All Blacks squad of the year (though Tangitau's injury could open the door) but would like to see him go to Africa.

Though I suspect they will bring Hutchinson through the ABXV program, rather than straight in. he's only had a couple of games at super level, and I be very surprised (regardless what other's think) that they will pick a player without a decent body of work behind them. Looks like he got the makings of a good un though.