RugbyRebels

A shame the TMO was an ESOL student but ultimately won't really matter. I'd dare say the Crusaders are unstoppable from this point.

After being screwed around for years by Hansen the Hutt, I don't begrudge Todd one bit for going to Japan to earn some big cash during the RC. But Christ on a bike how fantastic would it be to see him take his rightful place as the test openside.

Oh joy, we get to play the Saders in Christchurch again...

Looks like a humdinger in Sydney right now. I suspected this would be a good match. Tahs with the narrow lead heading into the final 1/4.

Well done, Tah's. No all-NZ final possible now.

Lions-Jags just kicked off...

Jags storming back in the second half, 27-23 after 55 mins. It was 24-9 at the break . . .

Vamos Jaguares!!

& it was all Lions for the rest of the game. 40-23 it finishes. That's going to be a tough semi-final for the Tahs in Jo'burg.

According to fb I made this joke one year ago today. & it's still funny!

What do you call 15 Kiwis sitting around the TV watching the Super Rugby playoffs?
The Auckland Blues

If there's an upset from hereon in I'd be very surprised. Home factor is going to be huge. We just saw the 4 host teams win the quarters...

That and his tackling. I thought he was the Chiefs' main culprit in losing the game:



Chiefs first-five Damian McKenzie needs to make "better choices" with his passing, says All Blacks selector Grant Fox.
The mercurial pivot threw another costly intercept pass to give the Hurricanes an early advantage in their quarter-final at Westpac Stadium on Friday and Fox recognises it's become a concerning habit that needs to be quelled.
"The cutout passes aren’t helpful," Fox told Jim Kayes and Andrew Gourdie on Radio LIVE's Sunday Sport.
Crusaders coach likens Crotty to All Blacks great
Highlanders rue poor discipline
"There a time and a place for them, but there have been too many intercepts passes this season, including in a test or two.
"He just needs to perhaps make better choices. At times, there's a player outside him and the better play is just to hit him, let that guy carry, set another phase and then go again."
McKenzie threw an ambitious wide pass in the opening minute of the contest that was picked off by Hurricanes winger Julian Savea, who then ran it in under the black dot to get his side off to the ideal start.
The Hurricanes ultimately won the contest 32-31 to put an end to the Chiefs 2018 title aspirations.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/20 ... enzie.html

You do realise that you are posting links to NZ news sites to people that actually live in NZ don't you?

High praise indeed:



Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has compared second-five Ryan Crotty to All Blacks great Conrad Smith, after another impressive outing.

The 29-year-old starred for the defending Super Rugby champions in their quarter-final win over the Sharks on Saturday.

Robertson praised Crotty's ability to be able to shift from second-five to centre and likened his defence to that of Smith.

"[There's] the ability for Crotty to go to centre, because he's such a good reader of defence," he told RadioLIVE. "That's a Conrad Smith style - he's just got time, he can read it before it happens.

"He's smart, he's really smart - and he loves the game.

"The bigger the game, the better he is, and he's got an ability to commentate on the field, he's got the ability to call it as it is, and his experience and ability to get other people in the right place and make the right decision.


https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/20 ... smith.html

What an insight. Thanks. I would never have found that if you were employed.

Anyone predicting an upset?

The Crusaders got the work out they wanted against the Sharks but know all too well their Super Rugby nemeses lie in wait in the semi-finals.

New Zealand's two powerhouse clubs will clash next week when the Hurricanes travel to meet the defending champions in Christchurch.

The Hurricanes are the only team who can claim to have the measure of the red and black machine in recent times, having won eight of their past 12 meetings.



https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/20 ... canes.html

Crusaders by 18

I'll stick my neck out and say the Canes by a point again. Stranger things have happened and they're certainly capable of it.

Crusaders pack will march over their opposites, Todd will continue to demonstrate that he's the best openside in the country and Mo'unga will out-perform B.Barrett. Laumape will probably send Crotty from the field with his first carry.

Not too interested in the other semifinal as they're just playing for the silver medal.

Mo'unga will be well up for this. Todd will send A. Savea to France via Japan.

Laumape will probably send Crotty from the field with his first carry.


What exactly does that mean?

Laumape hits the defensive line like a run-away train full of Osmium. Crotty has an unfortunate history of being easily injured. One is lining up against the other. It doesn't bode well for Crotty's health.

zer0 wrote:Laumape hits the defensive line like a run-away train full of Osmium. Crotty has an unfortunate history of being easily injured. One is lining up against the other. It doesn't bode well for Crotty's health.

Oh, thanks for the clarification. I kind of figured that's what you meant, but it just didn't seem consistent with the other comments about the Saders basically being set to smash the Canes. You're probably right about that as well, tho the Canes are the second best team in the comp this year and certainly in with a chance.

Heres a bold prediction, by the time of the Japan WC Mo'unga will be the starting 10 for the AB's, Beauden will be the utility cover on the bench covering 10 and 15.

Mo'unga at first five and B.Barrett at fullback would be my preference, but I'm not holding my breath on it happening. Plus Goodhue at centre.

BLam will be starting 11 and Damian McKenzie will be one of the official ball boys.

zer0 wrote:Mo'unga at first five and B.Barrett at fullback would be my preference, but I'm not holding my breath on it happening. Plus Goodhue at centre.

Goodhue is a bloody class player but then else would you expect from a god fearing Taniwha farmerboy!