Crusaders vs Blues: MATCH THREAD; Sat 11th July

Where goats go to escape
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FujiKiwi
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A Faiane/Ioane midfield might have been able to mix it with a Goodhue/Ennor combo, but I can’t see a Plummer/Ioane doing it. Low on experience, low on firepower.

MacDonald had better be playing some ingenious 4D chess, rope-a-dope game here.
Monkey Magic
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Plummer? Seriously?

Stuff it, in Leon we trust, it's still our yea...Plummer? Come on man.
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Jimmy Smallsteps
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Monkey Magic wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:35 am Plummer? Seriously?

Stuff it, in Leon we trust, it's still our yea...Plummer? Come on man.
An interesting choice. The 10-12 axis will be a bit samey, but they've got some big guns further out.

I'm sure Plummer will be serviceable as he's a good player, but it's a tough ask to mark up against an incumbent All Black centre.
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Ymx
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JPNZ wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:35 am Crusaders Named

15. David Havili
14. Sevu Reece
13. Braydon Ennor
12. Jack Goodhue
11. George Bridge
10. Richie Mo’unga
9. Bryn Hall

8. Whetukamokamo Douglas
7. Tom Christie
6. Tom Sanders
5. Mitchell Dunshea
4. Samuel Whitelock
3. Michael Alaalatoa
2. Codie Taylor (captain)
1. Joe Moody

Reserves:

16. Andrew Makalio
17. George Bower
18. Oliver Jager
19. Quinten Strange
20. Sione Havili
21. Mitch Drummond
22. Fetuli Paea
23. Will Jordan
Thanks. Updated the OP
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JPNZ
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26mm of rain this week (mostly wednesday & yesterday) Fine day today and no more rain forecast before the match. There will be dew though on these cold winter nights. Ground should be decent for an entertaining clash. :thumbup:
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Enzedder
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I drink and I forget things.
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FujiKiwi
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Talismanic Blues player Dan Carter doesn’t need to even take the field. His mana infuses the Blues with spiritual and symbolic power.
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Ali Cadoo
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JPNZ wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:35 am Crusaders Named

8. Whetukamokamo Douglas
7. Tom Christie
6. Tom Sanders
5. Mitchell Dunshea
4. Samuel Whitelock
3. Michael Alaalatoa
2. Codie Taylor (captain)
1. Joe Moody
There's something about a pack that you can sing to the tune of the Beach Boy's 'Kokomo'

Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Michael Alaalatoa... Sam Whitelock, Mitchell Dunshea... come on pretty mama... Whetukamokamoooo...
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FujiKiwi
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Crusaders coach Scott Robertson not over Carter signing with Blues

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... with-blues

Robertson on Carter playing for the Blues franchise:
"It's got right inside my head. I feel shaken to the core."
Robertson on Leon MacDonald as coach:
"He's a good coach, isn't he? This selection of Plummer in the midfield is really messing with me. Is Plummer going to slice Goodhue and Ennor to ribbons in the centres? Or is he going to use his kicking game to exploit David Havili's lack of experience, and make him look like a fool? I don't know! I'm starting to second guess myself. I'm drinking more than I ever have ever since that night before the test match in Argentina in '01."
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JM2K6
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I know Otere Black has been having a good restarted tournament, but Beauden really does seem wasted at fullback. When you've got a guy who has been world class at 10 - yes, he has some flaws to his game, but so what - it seems strange to me to constantly relegate him to a position where he's actually a bit average.

Is this led by the All Blacks? Is the future for NZ going to continue to be BB at 15 with Mo'unga at 10? Even if DMac is available to play 15? Seems like a bad use of resources to me.
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FujiKiwi
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JM2K6 wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:50 am I know Otere Black has been having a good restarted tournament, but Beauden really does seem wasted at fullback. When you've got a guy who has been world class at 10 - yes, he has some flaws to his game, but so what - it seems strange to me to constantly relegate him to a position where he's actually a bit average.

Is this led by the All Blacks? Is the future for NZ going to continue to be BB at 15 with Mo'unga at 10? Even if DMac is available to play 15? Seems like a bad use of resources to me.
I think it's more from Leon MacDonald. The Blues have been such a flaky team for a decade and a half. MacDonald's idea seems to be that the most experienced players need to bring a no-nonsense, no-frills approach, at least to start off with.

For my money, apart from 2016—when he had a stellar year—Barrett's best performances have been from fullback, anyway.
hurinui
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https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/blues ... robertson/

“It didn’t surprise me at all. Leon is a great coach, that’s why I had him in my All Blacks coaching group. I knew he was world class and knew he would turn the team [Blues] around."

So Leon was set to ditch the Blues after just one year at the helm? that's interesting..

On the otherhand.. can you believe the NZRU turned down a Razor, Leon coaching ticket??

I was informed his assistants were shit..
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Auckman
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FujiKiwi wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:25 am Crusaders coach Scott Robertson not over Carter signing with Blues

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... with-blues

Robertson on Carter playing for the Blues franchise:
"It's got right inside my head. I feel shaken to the core."
Robertson on Leon MacDonald as coach:
"He's a good coach, isn't he? This selection of Plummer in the midfield is really messing with me. Is Plummer going to slice Goodhue and Ennor to ribbons in the centres? Or is he going to use his kicking game to exploit David Havili's lack of experience, and make him look like a fool? I don't know! I'm starting to second guess myself. I'm drinking more than I ever have ever since that night before the test match in Argentina in '01."
Robertson is being a cheeky shit there. He knows Plummer is mince-meat at centre if the Crusader backline gets going.
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FujiKiwi
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Sorry I was just kidding around with those quotes. I made them up.

Unfunny whoosh. My bad.
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world class phil
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No TJ Faiane and 3 playmakers in the backline plus Christie starting at 9 with Nock dropping out entirely is puzzling. Ruru is not who you want to be bringing on to chase a match against the Sadists.

Now that everyone has seen Beauden underplay his hand over the previous rounds it's time to let him off the leash. Got a feeling that he will be a lot more visible on Saturday.
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FujiKiwi
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Yeah. The Ruru thing is weird, too. I'm no fan of Nock (Or any of the Blues halfbacks) but Nock had his best ever game the week before the bye.

Strange. I'm starting to rate MacDonald as a coach/selector, so maybe there's a method in the madness?

I just can't get past the Plummer starting thing though. Him against Goodhue is man versus boy stuff.
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Auckman
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Let's go boys!

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FujiKiwi
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Auckman wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 3:46 am Let's go boys!

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😂😂😂. Very good.
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FujiKiwi
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Can any locals give us an insight into the weather and conditions today?
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Sards
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Probably the only match worth watching this weekend.
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Kiwias
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Auckman wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 3:46 am Let's go boys!

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Superb :crazy: :crazy:
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Kiwias
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FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 4:31 am Can any locals give us an insight into the weather and conditions today?
Shamelessly stolen from JPNZ on PR.
Game day! Beautiful winters day in Christchurch. Clear blue sky and plenty of sun. Conditions for July couldn’t be better. It’s currently 13c with 4 hours to kickoff. Will be around 6c at kickoff with a light NW breeze keeping the temp above 6c.
ManhoodObesity
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Sards wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 4:41 am Probably the only match worth watching this weekend.
Yeah mate the other Aoteroa cup game is essentially a dead rubber at this point ( for the Chiefs) but if you enjoy your rugby you would probably watch it

And the Aus cup has just started, that might be worth a gander too
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Ymx
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Very nervous and excited
ManhoodObesity
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Yeah ditto bro...
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Mr Bungle
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Anyone having issues with SkyGo continuous loading wheel?
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Mr Bungle
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Mr Bungle wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:09 am Anyone having issues with SkyGo continuous loading wheel?
Finally loaded but sound only :clap:
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Ymx
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Blues doing well pinning back the saders.
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Sandstorm
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These NH scrum resets are great!
ManhoodObesity
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Akira!!!!!!

Fuck it’s held up
stemoc
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surely a try
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Mr Bungle
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Mr Bungle wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:12 am
Mr Bungle wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:09 am Anyone having issues with SkyGo continuous loading wheel?
Finally loaded but sound only :clap:
Sorted, but not that stable. Takes an age to load. Back to the days of crappy SkyGo?
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FujiKiwi
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Awww ref!
ManhoodObesity
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Can we please pretend I didn’t say Akira Ioane? :oops:
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Sandstorm
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ManhoodObesity wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:14 am Akira!!!!!!

Bryn Hall around his neck
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FujiKiwi
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Yes.
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Sandstorm
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Try Bloos. Their scrum looks solid
ManhoodObesity
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Lovely conversion!
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FujiKiwi
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Oh Otere you legend.
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Ymx
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This is looking ominous
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