Crusaders team to play the Cheetahs:

1 Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock (C), 6. Jordan Taufua, 7. Matt Todd (VC), 8. Kieran Read
9 Bryn Hall, 10.Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge , 12. Ryan Crotty (VC), 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David Havili

RESERVES
16 Andrew Makalio, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Manasa Mataele

This is Matt Todd's 100th Super Rugby game (last week was his 100th for the Crusaders, which includes a game v England).

That's pretty close to being the number one lineup for the Crusaders isn't it. (Dagg excepted)

@Crucial said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

That's pretty close to being the number one lineup for the Crusaders isn't it. (Dagg excepted)

Was going to say Ioane on the bench ... but for who?

Also have been a long time fan of Funnell so I'd have him at 16 ... but am unaware of Makalio's abilities.

@booboo said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

@Crucial said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

That's pretty close to being the number one lineup for the Crusaders isn't it. (Dagg excepted)

Was going to say Ioane on the bench ... but for who?

Also have been a long time fan of Funnell so I'd have him at 16 ... but am unaware of Makalio's abilities.

From Saders 2017 thread ...

@Chris-B. said in Crusaders 2017:

In the paper today that Funnell's wife is due to have a baby, so he's staying home

A-hah!

I think they'd have Digby Ioane on one wing, Dagg at fullback, Funnell and Havili (or Bridge) on the bench. Maybe Jed Brown ahead of Pete Samu, but maybe not.

Doubt Brown would edge Samu on the bench.

a) Samu has performed outstandingly this season
b) Samu is the perfect hybrid of 6, 7 and 8

Loving me some bridge on the wing. A great first season to date. An upgraded version of mcnicol.

@Billy-Tell Was just thinking the same thing. McNicholl also broke very easily; injured all the time.

Good first half from the Crusaders, but my God, what are these commentators a whingers. You don't give a try because it's so sad to disallow it. Forward pass is forward pass. Geez.

Crusaders lead 22-7 at halftime.

Cheetahs prop was very unlucky to have his pass judged forward just before half time, would have been a great try. I thought it was back from the hand.

Petersen on the wing playing very well for the Cheetahs.

Bridge playing the house down for the Crusaders. I wonder how Johnny McNichol is enjoying playing in some dreary Welsh backwater?

Stupid brain explosion from Sam Whitelock earns him a deserved yellow. Hope he won't get cited for that elbow in his opponent's face. The yellow for Hunt was ridiculous though.

Great bonus point win from the Saders; nothing more, nothing less than could be expected against the Cheetahs.

Hunt is a great find. Mo'unga is absolute class.

As has become a habit for me when watching recording it's time to ehinge about officials ...

... how did they miss Matt Todd being taken out for the Cheetahs' try on 20 mins?

Made up for by the no try TMO decision. Looked forward in real time and i was adamant they should go to TMO. But I thought it was back out of the hand in slo mo.

Killer for Cheetahs to have Saders go 75m to score from resultant scrum.

Bridge ain't bad huh?

Sam silly with the elbow but think justice really wasn't served in all of that.

Result of what BOD may refer to as attempted murder: nothing.
Reaction to same: YC

YC was justified but the whole outcome just doesn't seem "right".

As well as Bridge, how fucking good has Havili been this season? Completely different player from last now. Accurate and can be relied upon to always beat the first couple of tackles.

@Bones said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

As well as Bridge, how fucking good has Havili been this season? Completely different player from last now. Accurate and can be relied upon to always beat the first couple of tackles.

I think the changes in the coaching staff are having a big impact on both individual players and the squad as a whole. The players seem to have much more fun playing, look more confident, more focused. We'll have to wait and see how that works out in the more difficult games against the Canes and Chiefs, but they look a lot better than previous seasons.

The defence looks more much urgent and aggressive this year.

The backs are collectively a lot more threatening than just "get the ball to Nadolo".

Havili's probably benefiting from having Leon teach him how to play fullback - and playing fullback rather than second five. Drummond and Mo'unga have both improved. Goodhue is an upgrade on Fonotia. Bridge an upgrade on McNicholl. Tanamivalu offering something not dissimilar to Nadolo - though I didn't like the look of that hand flying at that Cheetah's neck after the whistle - careless and lazy. Seta might be the one under threat from Ioane's return?

Dumb play by Sammy Whitelock with the use of the elbow - he may hear more about that.

Cheetahs were pretty entertaining and dangerous with ball in hand especially in the first half. Their outside backs are pretty poor defenders, though. Hampered also by a lack of bench depth? I would miss them more than the Kings.

The cheetahs no try for forward pass was stupid. Clearly went back out of hand watching a slo mo replay at about a 30 degree camera angle ....... like the TMO. Ruling on forward passes by a TMO using a 30 degree camera angle is clearly a waste of everyone's time.

Although, I actually don't like the modem forward pass rules/interpretations as it's counter intuitive to see a pass not go behind the passer in a sport which a fundamental rule is you must pass backwards. But them the rules.

@Rapido said in Cheetahs v Crusaders:

The cheetahs no try for forward pass was stupid. Clearly went back out of hand watching a slo mo replay at about a 30 degree camera angle ....... like the TMO. Ruling on forward passes by a TMO using a 30 degree camera angle is clearly a waste of everyone's time.

Although, I actually don't like the modem forward pass rules/interpretations as it's counter intuitive to see a pass not go behind the passer in a sport which a fundamental rule is you must pass backwards. But them the rules.

I agree with your verdict, but not your reasoning. It was stupid, and a pity for the cheetahs and home fans, who lost a 14 point swing.

It was never about the pass direction, which was fine. The TMO was looking at how the ball bobbled forward at the last second after being released, before being gathered by the try scorer. He guessed, based on an unsighted viewing angle, that the passing player had somehow knocked it forward with his last touch
....when in actual fact, he passed it backwards into the shoulder of the try scorer, who then caught it in front of the passing place.
I t was clear with a slow mo view. Although, it would have been better with another angle.
poor officiating