[2017 Super Rugby] Round 4: Crusaders vs. Blues (17/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: AMI Stadium
Time: 08:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Radsy]

If the Blues start Piers Francis at flyhalf, I could see an upset. Certainly they could find a better fullback than Collins as well, no? Pulu is a poor game manager, can't pair him with the clueless West any longer. Rieko has been very shy since the Rebels game, understandably, given his age.

10) Francis 11) Ranger 12)Moala (SBW) 13)Rieko Iaone 14) Duffie 15)Nanai

 

[The Jones Boy]

Crusaders give the Blues a bloody nose and then the Highlanders get a win to root the Blues back at the bottom of the table again.

 

[Radsy]

15 David Havili, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Jed Brown, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Sean Wainui

That's a pretty toothless back line. Iaone now out as well, breaking a finger at practice. Enough to get them past the Blues?

 

[smartcooky]

Another unbelievable comeback from the 'Saders.

Down 5-21 at half time... they come back to win 33-24 with four unanswered second half tries.

 

[SomeOke]

I feel bad for the Blues, the Saders would have never gotten into the game without mauling them to shreds.
I enjoyed the game but having started neutral I was disappointed that the Crusaders clutched it.

To be fair the Crusaders back line was completely gutted.

 

[galumay]

Another unbelievable comeback from the 'Saders.

Down 5-21 at half time... they come back to win 33-24 with four unanswered second half tries.

Yep, you would want to be about 40 points up at oranges to have any confidence you would hold on for a win!!

 

[Larksea]

George Moala the shining light again for the blues.

But the game was dominated by that 2nd half crusaders forward effort. Sam Whitelock was brilliant at the lineouts and restarts. Drummond was impressive off the bench, hunts goal kicking was good. But how good has Whetu Douglas been for the crusaders this year? His kinda never give up never surrender approach and his team first play style has kinda been the hallmark of the crusaders effort so far. He has almost become the crusaders standard bearer. Read has to come back at some point but how can you deny Douglas? Wonder if he will get some time at 6 when Read is back as reward for his performances. I think hes been the crusaders standout loosie.

 

[mkersyshull]

As a Northampton Saints fan how was Francis' game at 10? (And any other general info from people in the know?)

 

[Larksea]

he didn't have a great game IMO. he did a few good things in the first half. In the 2nd he struggled, and at one point the frustration really got to him and he exploded after knocking a ball on in goal and other blues players had to restrain him and calm him down...

He is a good player, at the end of last season the last 3 rounds or so the blues were arguably the strongest team in the comp and Francis was surprising everyone with how he was going at 12. And hes been good at counties. I wouldn't judge him from this game thats for sure...

 

[The Jones Boy]

The Blues are back to struggling again.
We lack quality and experience in the tight forwards.

 

[Larksea]

i think there is a point to that even though the blues tight 5 is very strong on paper. I don't think the balance is quite right. They will get better and will have an edge on a lot of teams. But the Crusaders tight 5 is pretty brutal.