Like clueless kittens with no claws. The Crusaders are moving the ball from side to side albiet it bit lateral and not direct and getting bundled out. Auckland Blues looking strong to start the season with 2 wins, best start in many a year- another 4 tries for 5 points. 10 out of 10 season start
The Crusaders had a very poor game - especially their forwards were really not up to standard and their backline was putrid. Whenever they got tackled they lost the ball and their defence was putrid to say the least. Dagg on the wing was a bad experiment as well.
They were comprehsively outplayed by the Blues. When somebody asked earlier who would win the nw Zealand conference I said the Crusaders - but on tonights performance they look very much like thw wooden spoon team,
I think their real problem was their tight 5 and their poor defence.- unless this improve drastically they are going to lose a lot of matches this year.
My new rating for the conference winners are the Blues - they are I am sure the best performance team in the New Zealand conference thus far.
Initially Crusaders was expected to dominate the collisions and eventually come away with the positive result, that clearly wasn't the case. Crusaders was ineffective when trying to make a clean break, they made 0 linebreaks thats well accomplished by the Blues defending. Isreal Dagg had a reasonably ordinary performance on the wing, however hes more suitable at fullback where his shows his true capability. Blues lineouts wasn't very well co-ordinated they lost 5 of their own throws, if they can improve on that aspect and continue to keep the composure i believe they can increase their chances of making it to the playoffs. Weepu's goal kicking wasn't accurate, his kicking percentage is 55% which is unacceptable at this stage especially when missing at 30 or 22 metres out. Rene Ranger was prominent, man of the match IMO.
Statistics
Possession - Blues 49 - Crusaders 51
LineBreaks - Blues 4 - Crusaders 0
Scrums wins Blues - 7 - Crusaders 5
Offloads - Blues 14 - Crusaders 6
Run metres - Blues 407m - Crusaders 467m
Tackles missed - Blues 8 - Crusaders 13
Turnovers - Blues - 14 - Crusaders 15
Penalties conceded - Blues 7 - Crusaders 11
Kicks - Blues - 23 - Crusaders 16
Only the first game of the season, and the second for the Blues. Wouldn't overreact based on just one or two games - the cream always rises to the top. Crusaders have a lot of class players, they will improve.
Blues look awesome, but it is a long season. Injuries, fatigue, better game planning by opponents will all play a factor as the season goes on
crusties look like sour milk rather than cream. But yes oi its early days. Dagg must go to 15. Their backline lacks punch and carter is not looking anything special. On this form the crusties would not make the play offs.
I see the hurricanes lost to the reds.Reds lack a bit of match fitness as they faded in the second half. Also need Genia back. Cooper looks very ordinary right now.
it is still early days yet and the crusaders will make the finals mark my words, but the only thing that has changed is the blues are now also serious contenders for the NZ confernce winners with the chiefs and crusaders.
crusaders usually lose a match or two in their first three matches, thats been the trend for the last 5 years and in 2011 they also lost their first match against the blues as well, but the warning bells have got to be ringing in the crusaders camp after such a comprehensive beatdown.
the bye the crusaders had for the first two weeks didnt help either, i mean geez what was that all about??? every team has had one spXV level game under their belt and some aussie teams have two.
last weeks bye should have been given to one of the aussie teams to have played in rnd1.
i think some folks here need to do their McCaw homework, cos McCaw hasnt played for the crusaders in their opening 5 weeks for the last two years, so this is nothinf new to them, but they do need to do better.
blues were well deserved winners, they have massive forwards who are evry mobile and massive backs who are super quick.
even though the crusaders were smashed for a 6, the picture this beating paints isnt one of the crusaders being weak, but the NZ conference being strong.
i would be surprised if any team in SA/OZ can beat the blues/crusaders.chiefs this year, any losses those teams accumulte to the conferences of our SANZAR bros will be huge upsets IMO.
congrats to the blues and kirwan for a well earned victory.
saSUE thinks the nz conference is so strong but its early days. Blues have weak lineout and goal kicking was poor. Crusaders look weaker than ever before. Hurricanes beaten by Reds.
nz oaks must be concerned when the ab debacle against Englandd is also considered. But if saSUE is correct nz is at the peak of its form. We shall see.
I usually am not perturbed by a loss of a match early in the Super 15. However, the loss can be accepted - but the way the Stormers and the Crusaders lost their first games is indeed as far as I am concerned of particular importance. Both teams showed zero fighting spirit and both deserve not to have a point on the log as yet.
Are you revising yr finals selection again not so clevermike after only one game as - recently you posted:
I would agree wit Sasue that the top spot is likely to be contested between the Crusaders and th Chiefs - with my own feeling that ultimately the Crusaders will end up on top. As such - my forecast as to standings is as follows:-
1 Crusaders
2 Chiefs
3 Blues
4 Hurricanes
5 Highlanders
Previous to that you were picking the Hurricanes but i think you'd be much wiser just to stick with the Almighty Chiefs and be done with all the flip flopping...
As far as i can see the Crusaders have been jinxed this year due to their sponsorship deal with Qantas an Arstralian airline - doubt wether sasu will be happy about that deal either.
Brycy
I have already in another posting indicated that I was wrong by putting the Crusaders in top spot in the Bew Zeaand Conference and said that based on their performance yesterday that they are likely to be 4th on the log in the NZ Conference. Sorry to say - but I think based on performances thus far I think the situation thus far inicates the following order:-
1 Blues
2 Chiefs
3 Highlanders
4 Crusaders
5 Hurricanes
I think this is BlackAdders last season as coach
Robbie Deans may also be fired after the Lions series, so perhaps Deans will take over the Crusaders after the Lions season.
Crusaders are renowned for starting slowly at the start of the season, but the hammering they got this morning is not acceptable for the most succesful team in SuperX history
not so clevermike before week one you had the Hurricanes to win.
Week 2 Crusaders to win
Week 3 Blues to win
Week 4 ?
Week 5 ?
Well you really play the field not so clever mike .
