Super Rugby: Chiefs v Crusaders (24/05/13)

[TRF Mr Fish]

From Fairfax NZ:

Israel Dagg has worked his way back into the Crusaders' starting line-up, but Robbie Fruean has been dropped to the bench for the second time this season.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made five changes to his side for their Friday-night clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton, a match-up between the top two teams in the New Zealand Super Rugby conference.

Dagg, who was on the bench for the Crusaders' last two wins over the Brumbies and the Blues will play at fullback, meaning a move for Tom Taylor to second five-eighth, with Ryan Crotty bumping out one to centre and Fruean moving to the reserves.

Codie Taylor has been named to start in the problem hooker position after stalwart Corey Flynn injured a hamstring in the warm-up to the Crusaders' 23-3 win over the Blues, and replacement Ben Funnell was injured late in the match.

Funnell has been named on the bench but bracketed with Taranaki's Laurence Corlett, who was brought in as cover earlier in the week.

Meanwhile Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made two changes to his starting XV and three to the bench.

Big Ben Tameifuna comes in at tighthead prop for Ben Afeaki who is out with a calf strain.

Patrick Osborne starts on the right wing with Lelia Masaga dropping to a bench that has been boosted by the return of All Blacks openside flanker Sam Cane. Toby Smith gets the back-up prop role in the reserves.

Crusaders: Wyatt Crockett, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Matt Todd, Kieran Read (c), Andy Ellis, Dan Carter, Zac Guildford, Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty, Tom Marshall, Israel Dagg. Reserves: Ben Funnell/Laurence Corlett, Dominic Bird, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veianu.

Chiefs: Robbie Robinson, Patrick Osborne, Charlie Ngatai, Bundee Aki, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Matt Vant Leven, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (c), Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Dan Waenga, Lelia Masaga.

This will be a huge game and will go some way to deciding who will top the NZ conference (though these teams will play again in the regular season in a month or so). I think most people will back the Crusaders to win this one - I'll be very happy if the Chiefs can escape with a win, of course, but the Crusaders have been playing better recently. I'm actually glad Fruean has been benched, he's one of the more threatening players in the Crusaders team. If it's a dry field in the Waikato then the Chiefs will be happy, otherwise the dual combination of Carter/Taylor should be very useful for the Crusaders.

 

[Larksea]

almost don't want to watch, crusaders looking strong recently, chiefs are on a role and just doing enough to win game after game now they play twice in three weeks.

Dropping fruen is interesting but he hasn't really been consistent enough and does go missing. Crusaders still have the firepower to go with the fantastic pack, tom marshal has been in good form, as is Taylor.

I was happy to see Matt Vant Leven outplay Victor Vito but I don't like his chances against Kieran Read. Latimer seems to have established himself as frontline openside ahead of Cane again this year.

More changes in the chiefs frontrow with Afeki out injured from the all blacks training camp will keep toby smith out of the starting lineup again because he can cover tight head from the bench if needed

 

[Amobokoboko]

Big game indeed. I hope the Chiefs can secure a win but it will be a very hard battle.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Kick off

 

[Amobokoboko]

Try Cruden, brilliant stuff.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Try Clarke. Chiefs are leading again

 

[admartian]

Bloody brilliant game.

Robbie Robinson having a blinder.

 

[cyclone101]

This is damn tense!

 

[Amobokoboko]

Try Aki, hell yeah.

 

[cyclone101]

Why take ellis off for heinz? Is heinz any good?

 

[Tekadus7]

Why take ellis off for heinz? Is heinz any good?

Yes he's been very good this season, you could argue he's been better than Ellis

 

[Tekadus7]

My boys! Well done chiefs.

 

[Amobokoboko]

The Chiefs stood up and showed that they are the defending champions. Epic game. Everybody played awesome, especially Big Ben, even with the stupid penalties he gave away. Gooooo Chiefs!!!!!!

 

[austingtir]

I missed the second half... i really thought the crusaders would win this after watching the first half. Both sides were fairly impressive though compared to their previous performances.

Dagg still looked average to me in the first half which is suprising as this was a huge game and you'd expect him to start coming right by now.....

 

[Black_Magic]

But it's a pity the Crusaders were denied the losing bonus, they could need it some day. At least it shows there are no behind the door agreements between NZ teams

 

[tenpm]

I almost thought that the Chiefs might go for the bonus point try - they were on a roll. But I suppose the safest option was the best one, there.

Chiefs holding off the Crusaders camping in their 5m line was a real turning point. That was the Crusaders' chance to win the game, and they didn't look like the same team from then on.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Good win for the Chiefs, gutted it out and well deserved

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Awesome result for the Chiefs - great to see their defence back up where it was last year. They've only conceded three tries in their last three games (fewer than the matches against both the Rebels and the Sharks on their own!), which is excellent. Cruden once again outplayed Dan Carter (not that I'd suggest he'd be my starting AB 10 or anything), but otherwise the Chiefs really just performed well as a team, without there being many stand outs. With Anscombe, Nanai-Williams and Horrell still to return, they should only improve come the next block of matches.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

What was with the jersey

 

[Adakins]

The jersey was worn for charity waikids, being auctioned off after the game.
Awesome win for the Chiefs, watching the game now. very tight game. I agree that Cruden outplayed Carter but I still would have Carter as my starting 10.