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Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Chris Pollock
Assistant Referees: Jonathon White & Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
TMO: Ben Skeen
Politics.Real litmus test for The Blues here.
If they want to be a quality team this season, they'll need to win on friday night.
I was going to write that a respectable loss would be sufficient, but that is loser talk, and I heard enough of that last year coming from Pat Lam.
I'll be interested in how the 2 Knights are going to dismantle the Crusaders attack.
The Blues did a good job last week on defence against a Hurricanes team that now plays a "Crusaders-lite" style of play under Hammett, but they will need to step it up again on friday.
Interesting too, will be how the Crusaders go.
They are a team expected to win with the number of All Blacks they have, yet have not won a ***le since '08 despite having (roughly) the same number of All Blacks the whole time.
In my opinion, Blackadder was elevated to coaching at this level without any real pedigree, and is out of his depth. He was chosen over Rob Penney (who has proven success with Canterbury).
I heard Phil Gifford (noted NZ rugby writer, and unabashed Canterbury & Blackadder cheerleader) state on the radio that Blackadder didn't take the Canterbury NPC/ITM job as he wanted to prove himself with Tasman first (which he really didn't). But then he goes and takes the Crusaders job without proving himself at Canterbury??
Seems like Gifford was trying to paint Blackadder as this altruistic nice guy.
But surely he should have actually WON something before getting promoted to such a role??
In the meantime, Rob Penney has been lost to overseas now.
Blackadder has survived solely on the pedigree of his players.
His coaching must be called into question given the ***le drought the Crusaders have had. Perhaps his only saving grace was (ironically) the Canterbury earthquake.
Ian Foster aside, no other coach has been given the lee-way for so little success over such a long period of time.
Real litmus test for The Blues here.
If they want to be a quality team this season, they'll need to win on friday night.
I was going to write that a respectable loss would be sufficient, but that is loser talk, and I heard enough of that last year coming from Pat Lam.
I'll be interested in how the 2 Knights are going to dismantle the Crusaders attack.
The Blues did a good job last week on defence against a Hurricanes team that now plays a "Crusaders-lite" style of play under Hammett, but they will need to step it up again on friday.
Interesting too, will be how the Crusaders go.
They are a team expected to win with the number of All Blacks they have, yet have not won a ***le since '08 despite having (roughly) the same number of All Blacks the whole time.
In my opinion, Blackadder was elevated to coaching at this level without any real pedigree, and is out of his depth. He was chosen over Rob Penney (who has proven success with Canterbury).
I heard Phil Gifford (noted NZ rugby writer, and unabashed Canterbury & Blackadder cheerleader) state on the radio that Blackadder didn't take the Canterbury NPC/ITM job as he wanted to prove himself with Tasman first (which he really didn't). But then he goes and takes the Crusaders job without proving himself at Canterbury??
Seems like Gifford was trying to paint Blackadder as this altruistic nice guy.
But surely he should have actually WON something before getting promoted to such a role??
In the meantime, Rob Penney has been lost to overseas now.
Blackadder has survived solely on the pedigree of his players.
His coaching must be called into question given the ***le drought the Crusaders have had. Perhaps his only saving grace was (ironically) the Canterbury earthquake.
Ian Foster aside, no other coach has been given the lee-way for so little success over such a long period of time.
I expect a somewhat different approach from the Crusaders with extra flair and keeping the ball in hand.
Now take them playing a Canes/Blues/Cheetahs style of rugby, add their defensive capabilities and quality players...
They might be a devastating side in 2013
I think Taylor is probably a safer option on defence, which could be what the Crusaders need against this sizeable Blues team.