Match thread

Stargazer

This game might start at 3.00pm!!

The time of 3.30pm comes from the schedule on the NZR website and their earlier media release, but the Crusaders media release and graphic with the team naming and the Sky Sport schedule both seem to indicate the game starts at 3.00pm!

Tim

No mention of this game so far from the Blues. Get it together.

Tim

Blues social media putting out some relevant content today:

Tim

Is there going to be a replay on Sky Sport Now?

Chris B.

According to a Facebook post - Crusader U20 34 - Blues U20 24.

Tim

@chris-b Watched the first 20 odd minutes. Blues have a big pack and a big scrum, but a bit inaccurate. 4 consecutive scrum penalties on Crusaders' try line, resulting in a penalty try.

Tim

Crusaders lock Zach Gallagher is a big boy.

Chris B.

@tim Me too - switched across to watch the Big Boys.

Liked my short look at Ollie Lewis at 10 for the Crusader kids. Looked like a solider version of Tyler Bleyendall out there.

Tim

Finished watching the first half - like the Blues SRA team, Blues U20 have a big and pretty effective pack, but have issues with when to transition from hitting the ball up to using it wider. Both teams can fall into a trap where they go wide as almost a last resort.

Tim

Northland boy Allan Craig looked promising in the 1st half.

Tim

Blues starting XV:

alt text

Tim

Grindley (13) made a nice outside break from set-piece, put didn't look to put his outsides away. About a 40% chance of a try if he had have passed.

Tim

Blues scrum was completely dominant. After 48 minutes they had 6 scrum penalties and none against.

Tim

Crusaders 7 (Sacred Heart) is probably the pick of their forwards.

Stargazer

Clip with all the highlights, not just those of the Blues: