Crusaders, 8th straight win,........ and counting

resounding win,....... yeah, I know, they were the reds,........ but the saders made it so easy,.......... proving they can live without Nadolo,.......
they are ticking all the boxes,........ Blackadder assuming the defense duties while Tabai Matson switching to the attacking role and the arriving of Mooar to be in charge of the backs (to keep Hewett at the helm of the forwards was a must after his last years' great work ) seems to be the changes the current saders needed to become a champion side (though in 2014 and 2011 they deserved to win),........ being their improvement in defense what better marks IMO the difference from last years ,....... the defense effort they are putting this year is probably going to give them the 8th title,......... and if they win next weekend against the landers they will surely get it (huge match worth to watch),.....

Both Macilai and Taufua were outstanding,...... Taufua was huge,..... his running from one side of the field to the other to tackle that reds young center reflected the hard work he always brings,........ very complete match,...... the ice on the cake came with the dummying for his try,........ he's knocking loudly on the AB's door

Macilai had also a very complete game,..... apart from the 3 tries (saders targeted Feauai-Sautia's side succesfully), was superb on defense,....... 

Mo'unga could be an AB contender in 1-2 years,....... or we can have a surprise sooner

 funny how so many people discarded them from the beggining

 Congrats to the Saders, they showed they have a very balanced game & can win even with stars out & unknown replacements filling in. 
Next few weeks will tell us more, out of the next 6 games they should win at least 3:
Week   who they play12  Highlanders (tough game 50/50 as to who will win)13 Tahs (Tahs are improving but saders should win)14 Blues (Saders should win)15   Chiefs (Chiefs will find a way to win)16 Rebs (saders will win)17 Canes (50/50)
Games against the highlanders, Chiefs and Canes will give us the true picture. Where are all the weak SA teams? I don't see them on the schedule for the Saders

crusaders are in a fantastic position at the moment, sitting on top of not just the NZ and austrlasian conference, but the overall ladder and they are one of the few teams to have only played 9 games as opposed to 10 like many others.

- saders have been for the last few seasons very slow starters by their standards, in the first 9 games of the past super rugby seasons, the saders had won,,,
2015 - 4
2014 - 6
2013 - 5
2012 - 6
2011 - 6
they made the finals all those times, bar last year when SANZAR legally robbed them and gave the stormers their finals spot under the welfare handout for poo teams law.
but this season the saders have won 8 from 9 with their one loss coming in rnd 1 to the cheifs.

- the rest of the saders season is going to be tough, theyre facing the landers this weekend who will be riding high after dismantling the chiefs, and the rest of their fixtures is pretty tough...
crusaders remaining opponents for 2016 in order
highlanders, waratahs, blues, cheifs, rebels, hurricanes.
the june test series will really test the saders mettle with a lot of players going awol, but the depth they have shows theyre more than up for the challenge.

- how freaking good is jordan tafua??? i dont know if theres a better forward in super rugby at getting over the advantage line.
powerful ball carrier and bone crunching defence. he reminds me of jerry collins v2.0.

- ive been real impressed with scott barret too who IMO is All Black material.
saders ability to roatate their locks and lose nothing has always beem strong for the last few years, but 2016 has set that bar even higher now.

- great to see dagg in great form, wouldnt be surprised in the slightest to see him get recalled for the ABs.

- moody, taylor and franks, what an awesome frontrow to have.
moody has IMO already done enough to earnt the loosehead incu.mbent spot for the ABs and taylor is going to be keeping coles honest for a long long time.

 Standings in the conference after round 11

New Zealand

PosLogo &TeamPWDL-/+BPPts1Crusaders98011305372Chiefs108021045373Highlanders10703824324Hurricanes10604767315Blues951312325ll

But But when you take into account the Ozzie teams Brumbies are no. 2 with 25 points & Chief, Landers & Canes are fighting for a wild card.
Saders are looking good because they have played one less game than the Chiefs & the Chiefs have a bye this weekend.

I'll come out and say it. NZ rugby is sitting very pretty at the moment. The rest of us have some serious catching up to do. 

 Bluebok
Try to remember that test rugby has nothing to do with S18. For all the negatives about our franchises there is still a chance if Coetzee gets his selections and game-plan right. After losing to Japan in the RWC we all know how close the Boks went against the Kiwis.

I remember Blackadder copping a lot of criticism last year. Has all been forgiven? Crusaders have been nothing if not incredibly cohesive and well balanced this year.



  

 Denny were it not for NZ indiscretions leading to a lop sided penalty count the boks wouldnt have come close ,even the rain helped them .The Saders ha ve decided to forego their traditional slow start this year .Ominous .

@oimatey,

"I remember Blackadder copping a lot of criticism last year. Has all been forgiven? Crusaders have been nothing if not incredibly cohesive and well balanced this year."

HELL NO!!!

blackadder has got to go, he should have been kicked 4 seasons ago.

the squad hes had to play with during his 8 years as crusaders coach and hes won zero titles??? its absolutely mind boggling.

he managed to remain this long as coach only because hes a legend in christchuruch. had he done the right thing by the club, he would have left sooner.
i dont blame him for sticking around as long as he did though, im sure he had aspirations to one day coach the All Blacks, and his best bet was doing it through the saders.

hes now got the formula right, but its too little too late. not even a super rugby title in 2016 would make his crusaders coaching tenure a success.

Denny, I don't agree. We are a long way off the pace in Super Rugby, just as the Boks have been a long way off the pace against the AB's. Seriously, just have a look at the stats for SA Super Rugby Teams vs NZ Super Rugby Teams for the last couple of years. They read just as badly for us as the Bok vs AB stats for the last couple of years. So we pushed them close in the WRC semi's? That is high pressure knockout rugby. Anything can happen in such games...just ask the French! 
Look, I will forever support our teams over those of any country, but the reality is this. The New Zealand rugby pool is much stronger than ours...even if you take into account the SA players that have left our shores for greener pastures. 
In fact, I am going to starts another thread to prove my point.