[2015 Super Rugby] Crusaders vs. Rebels (Round 1) 13/02/2015

[austingtir]

Rebels will be pretty happy with themselves. Denying a bonus point from them at home is a pretty good outing for them... even if they probably are the Saders bogey side.

Saders not a hope in hell of winning this comp anytime soon. The backline is no better than last year infact its probably worse....

 

[dasNdanger]

All I can say is congrats to the Rebels. Good game overall - just disappointed that the Crusaders didn't capitalize when they had the opportunities to do so.


Aaaaand now I gotta get to sleep - it's 3:30 am here. I'm gonna be good for nothing tomorrow.


das

 

[Rugga-lad]

great win by the Rebels. They really wanted it more.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Commitment in defense for the rebels and the Crusaders a little here and there in attack. So much for my Superbru predictions..

 

[Jaguares]

I can't believe it

 

[smartcooky]

Crusaders just played shuffleball... shuffle the ball to the left, shuffle the ball to the right. No penetration in the backs, no commitment at the tackle zone. They made themselves easy to pick off for the Rebels, who duly obliged.

This is how they have played at the beginning of every season since Blackadder became coach, and it is these dropped games that have so often come back to bite them on the arse when, but for a couple of points, they could have ended up with home games at the sharp end of the season.

 

[Draggs]

Ok, we need public votes from now on.
Apart from InsaneAsylum, who called for the Rebels to win?
Im going to have to go back and delete my Rabble and Farce thread soon.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Big upset for the Saders, expected them to win. Better luck next time and well played Rebels!

 

[Every Time Ref]

So I gather that result was a bit of an upset?!

Was only half-watching but Rebels looked good, especially that 9, the inside centre and Higginbotham. Crusaders didn't make it too difficult for them though, far too lateral. And what the hell was up with keeping Carter on so long?! He looked pretty rusty even before the injury, afterwards it was clear he wasn't at the races so why wasn't he subbed?

 

[nzlizard]

Wow, this Nick Stirzacker looks like a real talent. Great break away try.

Reminds me of an angry pack of gingernuts

Rebels will be pretty happy with themselves. Denying a bonus point from them at home is a pretty good outing for them... even if they probably are the Saders bogey side.

Saders not a hope in hell of winning this comp anytime soon. The backline is no better than last year infact its probably worse....

Agreed, they look lost, no penetration in attack, just run side to side, they been doing this for years and teams read it like a book, the talent in the backline is not enough to make breaks based on this style f play.

The more I see of Carter the more I think its going to be an absolute miracle if he makes the WC.


And the season is started where the last one left off with more ridiculous pedantic refereeing. The day they decided to review calls in game on the big screen was an absolute disaster imo.

Rebels player yellowed for NOTHING!!!

Yeah Carter looking flaky already.

1st card was warranted - blatant attempt to stomp on McCaw, nowhere near the ball, 2nd Rebels yellow was such BS, missed the Saders yellow so can't comment.

IMO they need a new coach, need to inject fresh approach to the team if they want to rise above that semi finalist / runner up spot.

 

[dasNdanger]

R
1st card was warranted - blatant attempt to stomp on McCaw, nowhere near the ball,

When the Saders didn't capitalize on that yellow card I had a feeling it wasn't going to be their game. I really can't quite put my finger on what is wrong with the team other than at times - despite their talent - they remind me of a bunch of tired old men who just want to get to that pint at the end of the game. They just don't seem to have the passion necessary to make the most of their talent, and they lack the sort of team chemistry we saw last year with the 'Tahs Beale and Folau.


das

 

[nickdnz]

It's not at all difficult to work out what is wrong with the Crusaders, nzlizard hit the nail on the head. They just push the ball continuously from side to side. They're not running any particularly creative back plays, and they just done have players who can make use of any space created out wide anyway (with Nadolo out and every other winger actually being a centre or Nafi Tuitavake...). I hope for the love of god Todd Blackadder is replaced after this season (along with Boyd)..

 

[dasNdanger]

It's not at all difficult to work out what is wrong with the Crusaders, nzlizard hit the nail on the head. They just push the ball continuously from side to side. They're not running any particularly creative back plays, and they just done have players who can make use of any space created out wide anyway (with Nadolo out and every other winger actually being a centre or Nafi Tuitavake...). I hope for the love of god Todd Blackadder is replaced after this season (along with Boyd)..

I get that. Their play has been very flat. But I think it's more than that - even flat play can become something different if a team is fired up. The Crusaders just don't seem to have that fire, and that's what I find most frustrating.


das

 

[nzlizard]

When the Saders didn't capitalize on that yellow card I had a feeling it wasn't going to be their game. I really can't quite put my finger on what is wrong with the team other than at times - despite their talent - they remind me of a bunch of tired old men who just want to get to that pint at the end of the game. They just don't seem to have the passion necessary to make the most of their talent, and they lack the sort of team chemistry we saw last year with the 'Tahs Beale and Folau.


das

Didn't they turn down 3-6 points while they were up 1 man as well?

 

[dasNdanger]

Didn't they turn down 3-6 points while they were up 1 man as well?

I think they did...I know they turned down at least one early on. But maybe that was wise - with Carter not at his best and no perfect fit for his boot on the bench, not sure that going for the penalty points is the best option.

das

 

[Gena_ZA]

The underdogs wanted it more, shameful by the Saders

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Good to see things clicked for the Rebels. I still think it could have gone the other way. I think the Crusaders missed 3 penalties and it was silly to leave Carter out there when he was clearly hobbling and grimacing, especially when you had Slade who would have easily slotted in at 10.

Dissapointing about the yellows, I even thought the Crusaders scrum half was hard done by just on half time. Stirzaker has now been banned for an additional match, ruled that he "should have been red carded" despite no contact being made with McCaw. Higginbotham will also face the judiciary for an apparent stamp on McCaw, and McMahon's tackle was simply a good rugby tackle, nothing in it.

While watching the Blues v Chiefs game, one of the Chiefs locks got pinged for not rolling away, and Jimmy Cowan kept slapping him on the head, so clearly you are allowed to slap a player around the ears however don't dare stomp the grass next to Richie McCaw, red card offence apparently!

 

[donmcdazzle]

How Luke Whitelock can continue to start is just beyond me. He offers absolutely zero on either attack or defence.

- - - Updated - - -

Good to see things clicked for the Rebels. I still think it could have gone the other way. I think the Crusaders missed 3 penalties and it was silly to leave Carter out there when he was clearly hobbling and grimacing, especially when you had Slade who would have easily slotted in at 10.

Dissapointing about the yellows, I even thought the Crusaders scrum half was hard done by just on half time. Stirzaker has now been banned for an additional match, ruled that he "should have been red carded" despite no contact being made with McCaw. Higginbotham will also face the judiciary for an apparent stamp on McCaw, and McMahon's tackle was simply a good rugby tackle, nothing in it.

While watching the Blues v Chiefs game, one of the Chiefs locks got pinged for not rolling away, and Jimmy Cowan kept slapping him on the head, so clearly you are allowed to slap a player around the ears however don't dare stomp the grass next to Richie McCaw, red card offence apparently!

I agree with you that the yellow for McMahon was a joke, shouldn't have even been a penalty. The Stirzaker one is harder to defend though, he blatantly stamped on his nuts nowhere near the ball, and even if he missed (which I don't think he did) he was intending to stamp on him.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Thanks crusaders, picked the upset on Superbru, the saders have got a habit of starting the season slow

 

[dasNdanger]

Thanks crusaders, picked the upset on Superbru, the saders have got a habit of starting the season slow

Last year they started off slow and really struggled to find their pace. They did a bit better in '13. My concern is that they're on a downward trend and this year will end up being worse than last. Of course nothing can be determined on just one game, but I'm going to be keeping a close eye (perhaps a more critical eye than in the past) on them the next few weeks.


das