there are a number of very impressive young backs for the crusaders. Goodhue, Havili, Bridge, mo'unga, Hunt etc... pretty impressive bunch of players.
very interesting game, I think there is very little between these sides. The chiefs haven't been playing well for a while but must have improved a lot for this game as the way they have been playing they wouldn't have been a threat to the crusaders out scored the crusaders 4 trys to 3 and really it was just a bit of game management at times and some kicks at goal that should have been made which were the difference. Hindsight is 20/20 but it was clearly a mistake for Cruden to do the kicking when McKenzie has been knocking them over so well. I think Losing Sam and Beaver to HIA from the same position cost us too. TNW is a good player but in big games his defense isn't good enough at 13, Donald has been absolutely brilliant on defense and when he went off the crusaders started to make some inroads and it directly led to 1 try. I was critical of Leitch last week and again this week he wasn't very effective and actually gave away some critical penalties that cost us, and again Messam was very good when he came on, that play where he buried himself in the back of the scrum pulled the ball straight out and passed it to Cruden for a try was something else. IMO a trademark of Messams game is he is at his best when he starts and plays the full 80. he builds into games and in the final 15-20 when oppositions tire that is when he hits his straps. Hes not at his best off the bench and if you take him off early you are not getting him at his best. its an aspect of his game the AB selectors never used to his/their advantage.
Crusaders are now in the Box Seat to take the overall #1 spot, and they absolutely deserve it.
mo'unga was superb. The way he has been playing All Black selection has kinda become a matter of when rather than if.
The chiefs will be disappointed but also on a positive note I think they showed on another day with a bit more luck and application they can beat the Crusaders. Another positive note is that they are back on the improve, heck if this had actually been a home game that may have been enough. Chiefs have sacrificed a lot to have this game in neutral ground but what a spectacle it was. The locals were loving it. At the same time chiefs vs. Crusaders would probably near sell out in Hamilton and give them a much better chance of winning it.
