Hilanders .v. Crusaders

Another shocking colour clash as Highlanders lead Crusa ders 27-6 after 47 min

 Wow, didn't see that last half hour coming...well done Saders!

 This was one of the worst games in Super Rugby this year - nearly sent me to sleep.   Surprising final result.

 Crikey that surprised the hell outta me and the Saders !

Ou Maaik, if that game nearly put you to sleep then I question whether rugby is the game for you.
A very entertaining game, even when there were spells with no scoring. Well done Crusaders.

 Watching the replay now & the first half was frenetic. Fantastic try with a kick from A. Smith to Naholo who scores.

 c'mon mike,... that was a very good rugby game

I wasn't expecting such comeback,... many saders' important players missing (though some others like Todd and Tamanivalu could play)

very very important win for the saders, going to boost their self-believe,... crucial to face the next games,... and they have quite an achievable schedule playing 3 aussie teams and the Blues (at home) before their first bye

really impressed with the way Michael Hunt played,... it's reamrkable the maturity showed being 21 years old and having played 39 minutes of Super Rugby before,... when Mo'unga was injured thought there was no hope for tthe saders but Hunt proved me wrong,... fortunately

the forward pack showed they are the best in the competition,... even with the ref stuborn calling penalties against them at scrumtime when they were superior and very clearly the landers were collapsing it

  ...costly missed tackle at the end there by Sopoaga on Tamanivalu that cost the Highlanders the game... and Sopoaga will be our back up 10 at the next RWC lawd help us......that game aside from showing the Crusties have some depth also highlighted how much the Landers are missing the leadership of Ben Smith - he is the lynchpin of that side...and like you said JW great grubber through for Naholo by Aaron Smith for a great try...

OuMaaik, that was a great game of rugby ..... intense, ferocious collisions & culminating with a stirring comeback by the Crusaders . Best game of the round imo.

 seems that Scott Robertson is taking the team in the right direction,... looked strong in the second half though still many imprecissions (as always saders at the beginning of the season) and need some defensive adjustements (2 tries from set pieces),... cleverly used the forward pack's superirity to culminate the comeback

but why Havili? WHY THE HELL HAVILI???????????

to begin with, Dagg has to play at FB,... he's the main playmaker of the team,... and now with a very young and inexperienced flyhalf is fundamental to have him there,... btwin other many things, to relieve pressure from Hunt,...

Havili is a liability on defense,... last season both he and Foinotia were disastrous and let the other teams run freely through the middle of the defense,... happened against the chiefs, against the landers and against canes, the most important games (and losses) of the season,...
where the hell was today Havili when A. Smith kicked to Naholo for the landers' second try????????
And he runs like a beheaded chicken,... no vision at all,... George Bridge in the short time on the field showed ten times more game vision than him

 Don't take me seriously.   I had les than 3 hours sleep last night due to Sevens and cricket in the RS and NZ respectively- followed by Super Rugby - so I did fell asleep at times.