I am expecting a similar team to the QF. In the forwards, Parker moves to no.8 in place of Sititi and Finau at 6. Boshier into the reserves. For the backs, Roe to replace Tahuriorangi and either Coombes-Fabling or Carter on the right wing. The no.23 jersey could be one of those two or Foketi.
Brown out with concussion.
Crusaders team to face the Chiefs:
Finlay Brewis
Codie Taylor (VC)
Fletcher Newell
Antonio Shalfoon
Jamie Hannah
Ethan Blackadder
Leicester Fainga’anuku
Christian Lio‑Willie
Noah Hotham
Taha Kemara
Sevu Reece
David Havili (C)
Braydon Ennor
Chay Fihaki
Johnny McNicholl
Reserves: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. Jack Sexton 18. George Bower 19. Tahlor Cahill 20. Dom Gardiner 21. Kyle Preston 22. Rivez Reihana 23. Macca Springer
@KiwiMurph said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Brown has been good. Big game for Foketi. Hopefully Carter reaches the start line this week
Liked the look of Brown for Manawatu last year, and he certainly stepped up tp super level quite well hasn't he?
By the powers it hard to pick a winner in this game as a neutral. I am mightily impressed with Chiefs this year, but the Crusaders are finishing so strong, and if someone doesn't tie up Havili/Reece, you think it could be very hard for Chiefs.
@Tim said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Will be interested to see how Jacobson handles Fainga'anuku.
@Tim said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Will be interested to see how Jacobson handles Fainga'anuku.
Big target for Parker.
@Dan54 said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
By the powers it hard to pick a winner in this game as a neutral.
Crusaders have to be favourites
They havent lost a playoff game in 10 years
They have beaten the Chiefs twice this year
Interestingly the two games vs Chiefs were 1) in February and 2) under the roof so a winters night game will be a different look and feel.
@KiwiMurph Both times without McKenzie too - and as we all know he's a liability in pressure games, so the Crusaders should walk it in.
@ACT-Crusader Angus Gardiner
@george33 said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Angus Gardiner
Not the Australian ref: Angus "World Rugby Referee of the Year in 2018" Gardner?
Or Angus Gardiner, the 38 game Crusader, now their General Manager?
Would be funny if it was the latter..
@nostrildamus Gardner.
@ACT-Crusader said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Who’s the
hometown patsy that will do everything in their power to get the Chiefs a winref?
Ben Othief
sorry he was the one who did it the other way
Something to happy about with either result
Crusaders losing would be good, but the Chiefs constantly failing in the knock phase is very funny
TAB saying Chiefs $1.50, Crusaders $2.50.
Sounds about right - it's very hard to win away and the Chiefs should have comfortably beaten us in the last round robin match.
That being said - it's definitely a winnable game with Newell back and Brewis and Bower in the prop rotation. Last time the Chiefs pack was dominant - their only change is Sititi gone and Parker and Boshier moving up.
We have Brewis starting for Bower, who replaces Calder on the bench - and Cahill replacing Jack. Starting pack marginally weaker, but bench significantly stronger, I think.
On balance, our backs aren't as good due to the absence of Jordan, but he wasn't a significant factor in that game.
@mariner4life said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
NZ forwards and stutter step carries. Name a more iconic duo
Jacobson and conceding breakdown penalties
@Steven-Harris said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Side entry Jacobson strikes again , this guy should be nowhere near an All Black team
It wasn't even sneaky, it was slow and blatant.
Worth noting the Crusaders 7 was about 5 seconds too late arriving
<yuck>Fihaki has really been building nicely lately and his decision making is generally on point</yuck>
Genuine question ... is the scrum half allowed to be off their feet and play the ball out the back of a breakdown?
Saders scrummy clearly on his knees trying to fish the ball out. Is that not playing the ball off your feet?
@MajorPom said in SF: Chiefs v Crusaders:
Genuine question ... is the scrum half allowed to be off their feet and play the ball out the back of a breakdown?
Saders scrumming clearly on his knees trying to fish the ball out. Is that not plain the ball off your feet?
That's a good question... there seems to be a lot of questionable rules around getting the ball out of the scrum under the whole "continuity of play" excuse
