@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

I just worry he's a specialist wing and maybe with not getting games there as well as at 7, he is going to be good at a couple of positions, without being excellent at any.

It's been years since LF has been a specialist wing. I'm not worried about that at all.

I am excited by how much LF has shown in a short period of time at 7 and how much he might be able to impact the game from the bench.

Ok, well as all I said he not a starting 7 seems we agee?

I don't think we are saying the same thing

I'm realistic enough to realise after fewer than 10 starts at 7 he isn't going to be the starting 7.

However - I would not rule him out as a starting 7 option going forward

I would be open minded and encouraged by what he shown so far.

It's not like NZ rugby has a plethora of quality 7 options right now - there's question marks over almost all these guys.

He provides a point of difference that is exciting and in balanced back row (he seems to pair really well with CLW at 8 ) he can be really effective.

Unless they were injured I am curious why Gibbes subbed both Jacobson and Vaa'i off midway through the 2nd half. That's a lot of experience and your captain/vice captain you are losing.

@brodean said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

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.

I don't think you're watching properly Dan. LF's workrate has been incredible. He is just everywhere right up until the last minute when he kicks the ball into touch. He's a player that I've been highly critical of in the past due to inaccuracy but he seems to have put that away.

Sititi wasn't even the best 8 on the field last night.

The last 15 minutes of that game he spent waiting for the ball out wide while LF and Lio Willie were focused around the breakdown and were heavily involved. This is where the Crusaders won the game by the workrate of these two players in the last 15 minutes. The Crusaders score all the points and the Chiefs score none. Those two guys were into everything for the Crusaders last 2 scores.

A period Chiefs played with no recognized open side flanker.

@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Unless they were injured I am curious why Gibbes subbed both Jacobson and Vaa'i off midway through the 2nd half. That's a lot of experience and your captain/vice captain you are losing.

My thoughts exactly. Which meant playing with no openside. And Ah Khoi seemed full of enthusiasm, but somehow fairly ineffectual.

It was an interesting decision, and one that could have cost them, to give Letiu the ineout throw just after he came on given Taylor was still on. I know they had been struggling on tjeor own throw, but surely Taylor would have been the better option. The lineout was subsequently lost along with a great attacking chance.

@pakman said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

My thoughts exactly. Which meant playing with no openside. And Ah Khoi seemed full of enthusiasm, but somehow fairly ineffectual.

Yep. Sititi was probably the best suited to play openside of the three loosies on the field but that mix didn't work. Lord is usually the lock subbed, not Vaa'i. If that was an experiment I wouldn't want to see it again.

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

I just worry he's a specialist wing and maybe with not getting games there as well as at 7, he is going to be good at a couple of positions, without being excellent at any.

It's been years since LF has been a specialist wing. I'm not worried about that at all.

I am excited by how much LF has shown in a short period of time at 7 and how much he might be able to impact the game from the bench.

And this could be where we see the difference between a coach backing himself to help a player to be better and one who ignores talent.

@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Unless they were injured I am curious why Gibbes subbed both Jacobson and Vaa'i off midway through the 2nd half. That's a lot of experience and your captain/vice captain you are losing.

Think it was simply a case of giving them a bit of a rest in a 'dead rubber' while also asking some of the other guys to see if they can step up.

Chiefs seem a bit banged up to me. Need to be careful with Norris, Vaai, Jacobson, Taukeiaho pre finals in my view. Tupaea, McKenzie and Roe similar. Wonder if a bunch of these are on bench or rested for Blues match. Need to start Cook Savage too. I think Jacomb has floundered a bit when he is the key playmaker this year. So need a plan B if McKenzie not ready to go.

Gibbes has done a fair bit of rotation amongst the hookers, props and loose forwards. Certainly more than the coaches of the other teams in the playoffs. I'm not worried about fatigue. The key will be getting all the key players back in those games. ENS and Narawa could be back against the Blues according to the RTP info.

@pakman said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@brodean said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

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.

I don't think you're watching properly Dan. LF's workrate has been incredible. He is just everywhere right up until the last minute when he kicks the ball into touch. He's a player that I've been highly critical of in the past due to inaccuracy but he seems to have put that away.

Sititi wasn't even the best 8 on the field last night.

The last 15 minutes of that game he spent waiting for the ball out wide while LF and Lio Willie were focused around the breakdown and were heavily involved. This is where the Crusaders won the game by the workrate of these two players in the last 15 minutes. The Crusaders score all the points and the Chiefs score none. Those two guys were into everything for the Crusaders last 2 scores.

A period Chiefs played with no recognized open side flanker.

Parker has started 3 games at openside so I guess they thought he would be good for a quarter.

Besides LF isn't a recognised openside flanker either.

Parker seems a tad slow for 7.

Parker isn't a typical 7 and I wouldn't want him there regularly but he's pretty decent over the ball. Had about eight breakdown turnovers for the year which isn't bad for a 6/8.