Ex NZ Herald. Comments after the Crusties wee chiefies game.
C'mon Justin, I'm not a Crusaders lad but how many tries may they have scored if the Chiefs hadn't so regularly infringed?
Yes, they're definitely not the team of a few years back but few Kiwi ones are as the player exodus to the yen or euro has drained experience/talent a bit faster than it has been replaced.
"C'mon Justin, I'm not a Crusaders lad but how many tries may they have scored if the Chiefs hadn't so regularly infringed? Yes, they're definitely not the team of a few years back but few Kiwi ones are as the player exodus to the yen or euro has drained experience/talent a bit faster than it has been replaced."
Absolutely agree here. Every time the Crusaders looked like breaking the line they found a forearm around their necks. The ref was so focussed on the breakdown that he forgot where his cards for dangerous play were.
Sensible - 02:42 PM Monday, 24 Feb 2014TomH"C'mon Justin, I'm not a Crusaders lad but how many tries may they have scored if the Chiefs hadn't so regularly infringed? Yes, they're definitely not the team of a few years back but few Kiwi ones are as the player exodus to the yen or euro has drained experience/talent a bit faster than it has been replaced."
I agree. Why did the ref throw away his yellow card in the second half. He had carded 2 Crusaders for killing the ball and one Chief but in the second half his only response to McCaw when questioning him was that the Crusaders infringements were cynical. Which I guess the Chiefs were not cynical when they killed the ball in 3 rucks on their own try line.(Who was the ref is tyhe question?)
True the Crusaders did not play well. The Chiefs were lucky they didn't play wel. My one question is that if that was all the Chiefs could muster against a poor playing Crusaders they will be in for a few beatings in the future.
Mind you Justin the Crusaders lost by the same number of points as the Blues did eh!
Yes, but what did you think of Marshall off the Bench for the Blues? Has he got it, or what? I reckon he has it in spades.
The refs were poor in both games with many crucial infringements not getting picked up and costing teams dearly and Ive never taken the start of the Crusaders Super season seriously anyway. They are the opposite of the Highlanders who always start with a hiss and a roar then inevitably fade where as the Crusaders are always in the hunt. Get rid of Hammet!
"C'mon Justin, I'm not a Crusaders lad but how many tries may they have scored if the Chiefs hadn't so regularly infringed? Yes, they're definitely not the team of a few years back but few Kiwi ones are as the player exodus to the yen or euro has drained experience/talent a bit faster than it has been replaced."
booooohoooo cry bro cry. Truth is you didn't play well enough. Both teams infringe as much as each other (A TYPICAL KIWI RESPPONSE WHEN THE OPPOSITION IS BEING ROBBED BLIND BY THE REF). Final thing is crusaders didn't play well enough to take the ref out of it.(wHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE REF OUT OF IT A RIGHT THINKING PEROSN WOULD ARGUE)
Its like the other Stuff columnist whinging that not many Chiefs would make the Crusaders side and how could the Crusaders lose to a team that was 'weaker' on paper than the crusaders.
What a load of tosh.
From a Chiefs fan.(WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED)
Just not good enough from the Blues.
Ominious signs so far.... getting whipped by the Chiefs and Waratahs pre-season, and also losing to the Canes, and now losing to the Highlanders.
Where is the game plan? I just can't see any trace of one! it all appears to be helter-skelter, individual "try and break the line" type stuff. There appears to be no cohesion at all.
The lineout was poor (though still better than the Highlanders funnily enough), scrum average, and the backline don't seem to have any moves sorted out at all?!
What the heck is going on?!?(A KIWI LAMENT! PLEASE VISIT SA RUGBY.COM!!)
On Benji.. I say; lets just pay him at 1st five.
He has a bit of Carlos about him, and with the type of helter-skelter game that the Blues are playing; we may as well get someone in who actually creates stuff.
Face facts; Blues have nothing to lose.
If they play like that again on friday they will get 40 points put on them.
Just poor.
And where are the ABs? that is just weak that they aren't playing.
Sends alarm bells ringing about Nonu if that is his level of commitment.
If Piutau can play, why can't Nonu, Mealamu and Woodcock?
Poor display of commitment to the team that welcomed them back after their holidays
"So after week one, New Zealand's two most successful franchises, the Crusaders and Blues, have work to do, while the two-time defending champs look not to have missed a beat in the off season."
The blues haven't been successful in over a decade now...
"C'mon Justin, I'm not a Crusaders lad but how many tries may they have scored if the Chiefs hadn't so regularly infringed? Yes, they're definitely not the team of a few years back but few Kiwi ones are as the player exodus to the yen or euro has drained experience/talent a bit faster than it has been replaced."
I am not sure the Chief's infringed any more than the Crusaders did but one could argue the Chiefs should have had a penalty try when Whitelock deliberatly got in the way of the ball coming back for a big Ben special? plus one of the penalties was awarded when Tyler Bleyendaal clearly dropped the ball first - so the ref didnt do the Cheif's too many favours either!
Also, I wish people would understand that even though Tyler Bleyendaal mised 6 kicks at goal that doesnt mean they could have scored 18 points - it doesnt work like that. had he kicked the first one then Crusaders would get 3 points, the re-start would be at halfway (and not the 22) and the game dynamics change and quite possibly he may not have had another shot at goal!(mISSING SIX KICKS AT GOAL MEANS ZIP TO A KIWI. a INFINGING SIDE AFTER A MISSED GOAL KICK WOULD NEVER INFRINGE AGAIN- HAHAHAHAHAHA)
I was furious with the Crusaders on Friday night. I'm a Christchurch lad and will always follow them with a passion but they were awful. I must make mention of the Chiefs though - to guts it out and defend as they did with so many players injured, cramping, bloodied and concussed shows they are a champion team who are very gelled. (WAIT TILLTHE SHARKS GET HOLD OF THE WEE CHIEFIES - OUCH!!)
But in regards to the Crusaders lack of ability to put it over the line - the last couple of seasons have had me wondering if the sentimentality of having Todd Blackadder as coach is costing us the chance to win. Of course Todd has the great respect of most Cantabrians for his leadership and team-man mantras of his playing days.
I know they've gone very close to getting a championship - pipped last 2 years in tight semi finals in Hamilton as well as the Brisbane final of 2011 being a 'Bridge Too Far'. But that lack of killer instinct so synonymous with past Crusaders teams seems to be lacking. Too lateral on attack and not enough midfield in-passing and straightening.
I hope they lift their game a lot in the coming weeks and months. Marathon not a sprint!
Bang on with your assessment but I thought last year that maybe its time Blackadder stood aside...its not all his fault but the players look and play like they need a fresh face at training!
OAKS BLAME THE CENTRAL CONTRACTING SYSTEM. THEY COULDNT KEEP LOADING THE CRUSTIES FOREVER. AFTER THE CHIEFS MAYBE ITS THE HIGHLANDERS TURN?
Beeno will his finger on the pulse of nz rugby. That pulse rate goes up alarmingly when they have to have the manne from SA.Bwahahahahaha haha
