Highlanders v Crusaders

[Kiwiwomble]

Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin â€" Saturday 29 June, 7.35pm.
1. Tony Woodcock (122)
2. Andrew Hore â€" captain (138)
3. Ma’afu Fia (21)
4. Brad Thorn (104)
5. Josh Bekhuis (68)
6. Jarrad Hoeata (44)
7. Elliot Dixon (13)
8. Mose Tuiali’i (74)
9. Fumiaki Tanaka (11)
10. Colin Slade (44)
11. Hosea Gear - vice-captain (99)
12. Shaun Treeby (23)
13. Tamati Ellison (74)
14. Kade Poki (39)
15. Ben Smith (69)
Reserves
16. Liam Coltman (10)
17. Bronson Murray (42)
18. Jake Paringatai (7)
19. TJ Ioane (10)
20. Aaron Smith (41)
21. Lima Sopoaga (15)
22. Ma’a Nonu (132)



pretty happy with the first 15 names...not happy to see Paraniggatai back and Murray has played well the last couple fo games (i can be fair Darwin ) but where is whoppa? he played in the southland 15 last week...

 

[dasNdanger]

Well...I'm here...so where the *@#% is everyone else??!


das

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Surely that scrum penalty should have gone to the Highlanders?
No doubt that the Crusaders had the dominant scrum but the first offence was the Crusaders 9 going offside/going for the ball while it was still in...

 

[dasNdanger]

Hard to say...(mainly because I wasn't looking at the screen at the time )...but overall this seems to be a very messy game. Messy as in some nastiness going on between teams.

Meanwhile, nice try, Crusaders! This may be an interesting game if the Highlanders keep up the pace.



das

 

[dasNdanger]

Well, the 'Saders where bound and determined to start this half off right - and it pays off.

das

 

[Haysie]

How was that Ellis charge-down a 22, rather than a 5m scrum? :huh:

 

[austingtir]

His punt kicking aside Dagg is the most overrated 15 we have ever seen.

Name me a first choice fullback for the AB's that wouldnt of stopped gear with that much space for that try. Imo that was a pathetic attempt to tackle him.

 

[dasNdanger]

Nonu, what a dumb*^$# thing to do.


das

 

[austingtir]

Nonu, what a dumb*^$# thing to do.


das

It isnt just him i swear as soon as Hore, A. Smith and Nonu put that highlanders jersey on they become the most retarded players ever.

Im sorry but the amount of times I have seen teams score this year off a stupid A Smith decision is ridiculous.

 

[austingtir]

That was an absolute class tackle on Gear by Carter!!!

 

[dasNdanger]

It isnt just him i swear as soon as Hore, A. Smith and Nonu put that highlanders jersey on they become the most retarded players ever.

Im sorry but the amount of times I have seen teams score this year off a stupid A Smith decision is ridiculous.

And it's what may have cost them this game, as well as others.

I probably didn't need to get up at 3:30 am for this one, but at least I got a kick out of how much J Marshall was enjoying the game.


das

 

[tenpm]

Scotty Stevenson was pretty hilarious. "Ben Smith - he's so elusive, he could probably beat the Mad Butcher's meat"

Although speaking of Ben Smith, he didn't have the greatest of games tonight...

 

[dasNdanger]

Scotty Stevenson was pretty hilarious. "Ben Smith - he's so elusive, he could probably beat the Mad Butcher's meat"

Although speaking of Ben Smith, he didn't have the greatest of games tonight...

But Dan Carter did! *pokey-pokes admartian wif a sharp, pointy stick*


das

 

[smartcooky]

Holy **** Ma'a Nonu

What is it going to take to make players realise that picking up the ball carrier below the hips, turning him upside down and dropping him on his shoulders is not an option!!

What a dumb fvck!!!

 

[Larksea]

Nonu has to be the worst super rugby player in history lol

gotta get to the point where you have to ask is he really good for/in the All Blacks? or is being in a class team just making him look good?

I'm sure there are some stats to back it up. he's only won like 5-6 games in 3 years or something cray like that.

The highlanders were going fine till he came on. Treeby is actually looking pretty good, good to see him actually make a few passes, great runner with great intensity.

highlight of the game was Carter bringing Hosea Gear straight down one on one in full flight TWICE. man I could watch those tackles over and over you could do a lecture on tackling from the footage, a 10 bringing down one of the games most powerful runners. Carter had a pretty epic game all round. Will make the crusaders very tough come finals if he is on fire.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i'm very dissappointed nonu has picked up and ban....i would much rather have seen Joesph om breakfast TV this morning or in the ODT declaring he was out of the squad for being an idiot

I hope he gave Nonu the hair dryer! is there a rule you have to leave the field if you get Red? i would have dragged him back out onto the sideline and made him watch....and point out everything was his fault.

(still very much deserves a big ban by the way)

I honestly cant think of anyone to have played for the highlanders i dislike more, there have been plenty of loosers...but generally they all wanted to play and quite often the loosers were the ones to play the best....Nonu just acts like he doesn't want or need to play Super rugby and though if he got a ban he could have a few weeks off

 

[Larksea]

what is Nonu going to do next year? Will any super rugby side have him? Only teams he has not played for are the Chiefs and Crusaders and it's unlikely either of those sides will want him - he will basically have to stay at the highlanders now. no idea what his contract is though it doesn't seem like contracts mean much to Nonu anyway. Heck Treeby would be a better more consistent player week in week out than Nonu.

Ellison will be the one who will be hard to replace, such a classy player and he has matured so well.

 

[Larksea]

just to make things even more hilarious Nonu has been given another off field yellow card for a tackle on Dan Carter

and hoeata has to face up to sanzar after his 3rd yellow of the season.

Honestly if I were highlanders coach I'd dump both of them from the squad.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...oeatas-facial-its-the-way-he-plays-says-Ellis

even has Joseph trying to deflect onto walsh, the gloss is well and truely worn thin for Jamie Joseph. Attracted all this talent to the highlanders and has absolutely nothing to show for it.

 

[Adakins]

This is one reason I dislike Nonu. I really want to see him replace in the All Black squad which I doubt is gonna happen with Conrad going on sabbatical later this year. They need to groom a new centre in the rugby championship and end of year tour and hopefully the new guy makes the AB's coach forget about Nonu.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

his contract at the highlanders is up at the end of the season...so with the ban...now