Highlanders v Crusaders
Paradoxically I warmed more to my team in that scoreboard hiding game. Went into this one with that same forlorn hope you'd have when the blackcaps would play Australia in a onedayer 15 years ago. Not expecting a win at all.
Crusaders backs vs Landers? Fucking 2 levels down apart from the halfback. So to be in it so long was good.
By fuck that Highlanders winger is going to be dead to me for a long time. That was the bit. That's what deflated the team most, Jesus Christ man, that one's going to cost a lot of hat-tricks.
Frizell's cool. Nugget was great. Parkinson impresses. Whoever the forwards coach is, he's got them over performing.
It as a good game for 70 minutes.
That "obviously offside" stipulation is great. Really get to see team's with space off rucks.
Crusaders are good. Best in the land (again) and lots of depth.
Good win crusaders, good game Landers
(Select Walden please, unless his water carriage is too good to ignore, of course)
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
We had nothing to loose, hardly lots the game did it
That's completely not in the spirit of hating on a player.
If it had been McKay I would've been loading my spittle gun though.
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Not sure I've seen a game where the score less reflected the closeness.
Last 10-15 minutes the Landers were very disappointing. Shame because it was a great contest up until that point.
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Not sure I've seen a game where the score less reflected the closeness.
Last 10-15 minutes the Landers were very disappointing. Shame because it was a great contest up until that point.
Two injuries in the first half will contribute to that
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Not sure I've seen a game where the score less reflected the closeness.
Last 10-15 minutes the Landers were very disappointing. Shame because it was a great contest up until that point.
No doubt they deserved the win, but 40-20 reads like a humping. The Landers were a missed touch finder off a penalty away from having an attacking line out near halfway down 6 with less than 10mins to go - small margins make the difference hey.
@Siam said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Bones a bit harsh, they did a lot of tackling in the 2nd half. Looked more like fatigue than commitment.
Paradoxically I warmed more to my team in that scoreboard hiding game. Went into this one with that same forlorn hope you'd have when the blackcaps would play Aus in a onedayer 15 years ago. Not expecting a win at all.
Crusaders backs vs Landers? Fucking 2 levels down apart from the halfback so to be in it so long was good.
By fuck
By fuck that Highlanders winger is going to be dead to me for a long time. That was the bit. That's what deflated the team most, Jesus Christ man, that one's going to cost a lot of hattricks.
Frizzell's cool. Nugget was great. Parkinson impresses. Whoever the forwards coach is, he's got them overperforming.
Good game for 70 minutes.
That "obviously offside" stipulation is great. Really get to see team's with space off rucks.
Crusaders are good. Best in the land (again) and lots of depth.
Good win crusaders, good game Landers
(Walden please, unless his water carriage is too good to ignore, of course)
Did you just praise mark Hammett?
@Kiwiwomble the way they change around these days I honestly wasn't sure. But, if the cap fits, he's got average playing very good
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Not sure I've seen a game where the score less reflected the closeness.
Last 10-15 minutes the Landers were very disappointing. Shame because it was a great contest up until that point.
No doubt they deserved the win, but 40-20 reads like a humping. The Landers were a missed touch finder off a penalty away from having an attacking line out near halfway down 6 with less than 10mins to go - small margins make the difference hey.
Don’t disagree. Landers down a couple of personnel and a couple of good bench players for the Saders upping the tempo also made a difference when a few of the Landers forwards were feeling the pinch in the last quarter.
@Siam said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
By fuck that Highlanders winger is going to be dead to me for a long time. That was the bit. That's what deflated the team most, Jesus Christ man, that one's going to cost a lot of hattricks.
Dixon, the captain, who ignored a massive overlap outside him for a certain try - is a hooker.
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Jordan another step closer to the ABs.
He was great tonight wasn't he? Great acceleration, mistake free, solid defense
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Jordan another step closer to the ABs.
It's weird, he just doesn't seem or look a flashy player, but just gets so much right. Very Smith like I guess.
@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Bones don't you mean very Mitch Hunt like?
Fair bit of work to do to reach god status yet.
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Punivai failed his HIA do assume we’ll see yet another back next week
...I did see naholo is in dunners...just saying
WAIIII! SAKEEEE! NAHOOOO! LOOOO! 
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
We all agreed this new comp didn’t reeeaaalllyyy count, didn’t we?
I went through "Generation H" at the canes, which drove me to the Highlanders. Then "Generation H" hits the landers - I'm determined to not let it drive me off, but these years are meant to be written off. I just hope it hasn't infected Mauger too much.
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Jordan another step closer to the ABs.
Drums are certainly beating all over the place.
@Kiwiwomble no team in NZ super rugby history got decimated like the Landers last off season. That was always going to a 2 year plus rebuild and any wins with this roster was always a bonus I thought, in February.
What I mean is this season and next don't reeeaallly count mate?
@sparky said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Man of Match for me was Will Jordan. All class with a hunger for hard work.
Just as easily could have picked Codie Taylor too. Impressive tonight.
Really looking forward to next weeks game v the Blues
@Siam said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris-B 10 bucks says the team tailor already has his suit measurements ?
Done deal already.
Think that more of an issue will be who the ABs next opponents are
@Jailbreak7 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Siam said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris-B 10 bucks says the team tailor already has his suit measurements ?
Done deal already.
Think that more of an issue will be who the ABs next opponents are
Next opponent, each other!
Isn’t it disgusting that the Crusaders have been able to take advantage of a player like Will Jordan. Further evidence of the nail in the coffin of Super Rugby.
@Jailbreak7 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@sparky said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Man of Match for me was Will Jordan. All class with a hunger for hard work.
Just as easily could have picked Codie Taylor too. Impressive tonight.
Really looking forward to next weeks game v the Blues
How was his pace chasing that Jordan kick?!!!
@Old-Samurai-Jack very much a work in progress.
I’d love to see a 12-Havili 13-Goodhue combo tried.
Jordan at fullback and then Ennor, Reece, Bridge, Fai fighting it out for the wings and bench option.
@Old-Samurai-Jack yeah I really liked him on the wing last year and I think Goodhue is an ok 12, but an excellent centre.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Nobody has said it yet. Ennor is not a centers arsehole. Poor distribution skills, drifts sideways on attack, doesn't have the defensive nous of the position. Great player but just not a center.
Wasn't he part of the very dangerous 2017 U20 midfield with Orbyn Leger? That suggests the raw ingredients are there. However, we're not lacking in midfield options so maybe his future is on the wing