Super Rugby Pacific

[convoluted]

'Was' might be kinder.
Yes, there was one game back then when he'd been so dodgy for the first 20 minutes that the board was calling for him to be yanked there and then just a quarter into the contest.

[Gumboot]

Bit of a weird coincidence from the Semis: both games were 20-7 at HT, and neither winning team scored in the second half.

[Dan54]

I wonder if Grace has done enough recently to make the ABs squad. And I wonder if Sowakula's played his way out of contention.

Reckon he would of done enough even before last night, as I don't really see anyone getting in or out of team on one game.

Yeah that's what I meant, his form's continued to improve over the past few games. Sotutu's timing his run nicely as well.

[Guy Smiley]

Reckon he would of done enough even before last night, as I don't really see anyone getting in or out of team on one game.

Yeah that's what I meant, his form's continued to improve over the past few games. Sotutu's timing his run nicely as well.

Grace plays 8 really well... so if Foster selects him it'll be at 6.

[Kiwias]

Yeah that's what I meant, his form's continued to improve over the past few games. Sotutu's timing his run nicely as well.

Grace plays 8 really well... so if Foster selects him it'll be at 6.

Of course, 8 is carved in stone.

[Gumboot]

The teams have been named for the Final.


Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta

Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Luke Romano, 20-James Tucker/Dalton Papalii, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-Zarn Sullivan


Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan

Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-George Bridge

[OomStruisbaai]

Australia threatened to jump ship.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wall ... c14760a63b

[Guy Smiley]

The teams have been named for the Final.


Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta

Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Luke Romano, 20-James Tucker/Dalton Papalii, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-Zarn Sullivan


Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan

Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-George Bridge

I know most here will want to see the Crusaders lose. I can deal with that... as a Crusaders fan the tears of my enemies are a sweet, sweet delight that adds a touch of caramel to my evening coffee.

A Blues win wouldn't upset me, they've played some great rugby this year... so long as I don't have to watch Beauden Barrett raising his arms in triumph claiming hero status for one minute of decency after 79 minutes of mediocrity, that is.

There are some intriguing match ups across the park for this.

The front rows seem pretty even with the strengths in one side balanced by the weak spots. I think Laulala is too good for Bower, but the balance shifts the other way on the other side. Eklund and Taylor will be interesting to watch, Taylor has been quieter this year than last but he faded towards the end of the NH tour after playing a lot of rugby. Eklund has been electric at times but he's prone to the odd brainfart.

The backrow battle should be epic. Both teams missing their best loosie with more than adequate replacements coming in. I think the Saders edge this as they're more of a unit. Akira is too much of a spectator at times... lurking for the chance to use space.

Halves are adv Saders. Hall has been good this year, he's smartened his play up a notch. Christie's good but he meerkats too much. Mo'unga is a genuine 10 and belongs there.

Havili and Goodhue up against RTS and Rieko... I think Razor will be looking to nullify that power and speed the Blues have and those two are just the players to do it.

Telea is probably the pick of the 4 wingers for my money, he's incredibly damaging when he's got the ball and Fainga'anuku will have his hands full with him. Reece will pop up and do damage but he'll be closely marked as well. Jordan's the best 15 we've seen in years and he'll drift into first receiver a bit depending on field position. It'll be fascinating to see how they go about using the back three on both sides, I'd like to see Perofeta do the same for the Blues.


Finally... points difference this season...

Blues
For 472 Against 284 +/- 188

Saders
For 470 Against 268 +/- 202

Balls on the line here... I reckon that points record tells the story. Both teams can inflict damage quickly. There isn't much in it between them in attack... but I reckon the Saders have a more organised defensive game and that can carry them to a win. I reckon there won't be much more than a score in it... perhaps 10 points at the most.

[Enzedder]

I see that the Aussies are doing a South Africa and threatening to pack up their ball and go home if they don't get more money.

At present though, each country keeps what they can negotiate and NZ earns about 3 times what Oz does so they have a bit of sympathy. On the other hand, if their product isn't attractive enough to earn the extra $, how is that our fault?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... t-nz-teams

[Guy Smiley]

I see that the Aussies are doing a South Africa and threatening to pack up their ball and go home if they don't get more money.

At present though, each country keeps what they can negotiate and NZ earns about 3 times what Oz does so they have a bit of sympathy. On the other hand, if their product isn't attractive enough to earn the extra $, how is that our fault?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... t-nz-teams

Collective butthurt.

It's weird to watch it play out. The country that usually assumes the power pose in relations between the two is reduced to second fiddle in Rugby and they just don't deal well with it... right from the grass roots up. Read their supporters' comments anywhere, it's not so much a trend as it is their brand.

[Gumboot]

A Blues win wouldn't upset me, they've played some great rugby this year... so long as I don't have to watch Beauden Barrett raising his arms in triumph claiming hero status for one minute of decency after 79 minutes of mediocrity, that is.

[Gumboot]

Kick off's not far away now. Looks like the weather could be a big factor.

[Guy Smiley]

10 minutes until kick off.

[convoluted]

Our anthem has always been a dirge.
A most apt rendition.

[convoluted]

Akira made two successive saves there.
And he now looks the part with the new razor cuts.

[JM2K6]

Both the commentary and refereeing of this high tackle by Goodhue are both insane.

[Biffer]

Both the commentary and refereeing of this high tackle by Goodhue are both insane.

Aussie and NZ rugby authorities are going to be sued into bankruptcy at some point in the future.

[Big Nipper]

Both the commentary and refereeing of this high tackle by Goodhue are both insane.

Aussie and NZ rugby authorities are going to be sued into bankruptcy at some point in the future.

I cannot believe what I am watching. They are gambling with the lives of their assets. Pathetic

[convoluted]

And plus the sizzling opening quarter got deflated by those two sets of endless replay loops checking the tackle.

Make it waist level and below and be done with it. Much safer for the players, and will open the game up with offloads.

[Kiwias]

RMo slots a penalty and the good guys lead 6 - 0

[Biffer]

Blues line out is just dreadful, to the point of being hilarious

[Gumboot]

Eklund's lineout throwing...

[Gumboot]

Saders ahead 13-0 at HT.

[Guy Smiley]

So far so good…

Bit different for the Saders to play so ‘proactively’… usually the stats tell you they’re absorbing and countering, but they’re bossing this.

Man shaming.

He beasting.

(Both TMOnreferrals should have been cards for mine. Both called by Nick Berry, BTW)

[Jb1981]

That late try has given the Crusaders the score one their dominance deserved - although it could have been so much more.

Tactics wise, I don’t know what the Blues can change (besides creating a functional line out). They have been so dominated I don’t think we have seen their tactics.

The Blues are still dangerous though and 13 isn’t out of sight yet.

[Ymx]

We really need Cullen Grace for the ABs. A bad omission

[Kiwias]

We really need Cullen Grace for the ABs. A bad omission

He has done everything he can to be chosen.

[convoluted]

For someone touted as an All Black captain, that was unseemly by Papali'i when he was given a poor pass that he dropped.
Scowling in the direction of the culprit then turning and venting 'F***' is not the way to deal with a team-mates' slip up.

[Gumboot]

We really need Cullen Grace for the ABs. A bad omission

Yep, hope he gets a call up at some stage this year.

[Jb1981]

When has a line out misfired this badly?

[Kiwias]

When has a line out misfired this badly?

2005 Lions 1st test springs to mind.

[Kiwias]

Superb defense by the Crusaders again

[Guy Smiley]

Superb defense by the Crusaders again

Errrrr

[Kiwias]

Superb defense by the Crusaders again

My try

[Gumboot]

Leicester's defence... dear oh dear.

[Kiwias]

Havili replaced but he was superb

[JM2K6]

"Christie has been superb today"

Genuinely think he was dreadful up until the try he scored.

[Jb1981]

Nervous clock watching time.

[Jb1981]

"Christie has been superb today"

Genuinely think he was dreadful up until the try he scored.

Tom Christie has been.

The turnover was very important.

[Blackmac]

Openside gets the turnover and spills it as he tries to lift it and gets a penalty.