Tahs vs Saders,

[austingtir]

Man that was a try all day by the saders. You could even see the ball on the line theres no way you go 20meters in a rolling maul and go over the line like that and its not a try.

WTF!!

- - - Updated - - -

Now if the refs are consistent this should be a DOUBLE YELLOW. Not that I agree with it but thats what it should be!

Number 2 lifted and punched afterwards but number 4 over the top is who turned him upside down. Under the rules as they've been reffed all year both of these guys should be gone.

But this is a Tahs game at home so..... It just aint going to happen.

 

[Kiwi_]

1 red and 1 yellow.. Dumped horizontally, lucky Whitelock had an arm free to break the fall. Rugby officiating is so full of calamitous inconsistencies.

Edit; Awful pass from Carter, awful hands from Slade..

 

[austingtir]

Im sorry guys but I am so over Carter he is past it end of story.

If I was Hansen Id be starting murmerings about this now and suggest in the media Sopoaga might get his place. The guy needs a rocket up his backside at the minimum.

 

[MotherRucker1]

The difference between us and the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders is that we aren't running on to the ball, there are very few switch passes or anything unexpected that the opposition truly wouldn't see coming. This is especially difficult to get in front on the score sheet when a defense rushes up and we're just stationary, flat and unimaginative. From one side to the other - it has been our problem for YEARS now, only this year it has been the worst I have seen it. We also don't have that punch in midfield. We got away with it a few years back because Robbie Fruean was there, and SBW for awhile. But now we don't have him. And we don't have a Ma'a Nonu. There are too many skinny white dudes offering the same thing. Nadolo alone as our major threat is not good enough.

Just on that dump tackle, I'm sorry but that hooker should have been red carded. Not sure on the technicalities of the laws, I couldn't really care tbh, but Skelton should have been yellowed as well.

 

[Kiwi_]

I'm happy with Barrett, Slade and Sopoaga.

But they will take Dan because of his experience. Sopoaga can have some really poor games sometimes, the Brumbies comes to mind, but honestly sometimes I wonder about him under pressure and if he can make the step up to AB level, either way I think we should give him a run come RC, because he will be a 3rd string in the future..

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Once again carter McCaw, Read crotty & franks produce an inept performing . Steve Hansen must start putting pressure on his all blacks to perform . Slade off injured but he was having a shocker . Much over rated player ! Biased referring . Tahs getting away with offside play with their rush defend .

 

[MotherRucker1]

WTF!!!!? Seriously, that should be another red card?

'Tahs have been the better team, but two players should not have the luxury of still being on the park.

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Tahs 4 is a dirty player! Ref question was clearly looking to protect him

 

[MotherRucker1]

And again....

Sorry, but I don't have any respect for this Tahs performance if that's their strategy. People accuse McCaw of being a cheater, yet he's had to have a career of putting up with this bull****.

 

[austingtir]

Oh yeah so skelton now knows he can basically just run around the field shoulder charging every **** left right and center! To be fair they were pretty pathetic efforts by a man of his size though.

Im beginning to wonder if he's related to Richard Loe somehow.

 

[MotherRucker1]

The hell is up with those Australian commentators? He was "going for Carter?" .. him, I guess they mistook Carter for McCaw's spine. Funny that.

 

[austingtir]

The hell is up with those Australian commentators? He was "going for Carter?" .. him, I guess they mistook Carter for McCaw's spine. Funny that.

Yeah Phill Kearns this is actually pretty mild for him... im sure he's been giving the Tahs home ref's some loving or something to get all these calls they seem to get.....

 

[MotherRucker1]

Try time!! We're back in it. Now just imagine if we had started this way, and the 'Tahs earlier indiscretions had been dealt with properly.

 

[Kiwi_]

Sad the Crusaders lost this. Absolute dirty foul play from the Tahs, had a gutsful of refs, never any consistency.

 

[MotherRucker1]

Damn! haha, that sucks. Let one slip again - but to be honest, the 'Tahs have been the better side tonight. Losing the lineout towards the end, before the 'Tahs last try was crucial. But what was even more crucial for us was our general approach to the game all night. Even once the moment swung back to us, our tackling has not been good enough, nor fierce enough. Our line speed off the mark when defending was left wanting, and had no rigor in the tackles like we did a few years back. Colin Slade in the first half was disappointing in his defensive efforts, and that was before the injury.

Yes Dan Carter is rusty, but he became more comfortable when at first receiver. I think part of the problem is him playing 12. He has a history of playing there I know, but he is simply looks better this season when he has been at his more familiar position. I know that creates a dilemma with Slade.

Our attack obviously is not good enough for this competition, and it's concerning we haven't made any efforts (it appears) to change it in recent weeks. I've covered this time and time again, so I won't cover it again at length. Next season, imo, we need to invest in a new backline coaching team, somebody aggressive and bustling in the midfield who can compliment Crotty, and produce a few techniques that are unexpected and unique. Almost every other team has these things, we do not. We have actually scored plenty of tries this year, it's just that our general movement around the park is very predictable. In terms of what we'll do for number 10 I have no clue - no Slade, Carter or Taylor. Paging Otere Black....

Tahs were the better team, but I won't comment on their ill-discipline. Kearns goes on about us holding players back, yet two members of that NSW side should have been red carded. End of story.

 

[easy2288]

A few comments.

1) This is how TAHS played the whole season. Used the huge elephants Forwards to play dirty especially No 4 and No 8.
2) Another disappointing display from CRUSADERS. Not shocking but was expecting it as Crusaders has been terrible the whole season including the last 3 seasons
3) More important. There are 9 ABS in the starting line out and 7 are normally 1st team starters. A big concern for the Rugby World Cup

Finally no way Crusaders can make it to the playoff!!!

 

[MotherRucker1]

I'm not that concerned from an All Blacks perspective tbh. It's not as if we're suddenly only shocking this year. This has been the worst, sure, but we've had issues previously - even last year when we made the final. You can have the most star studded 15 in the world, but unless you've got a defensive structure that NAILS those tackles like I'm watching the Highlanders do right now, and an attacking pattern that keeps teams guessing, then forget it.

 

[austingtir]

Im not concerned about the AB's in the Saders in the least (other than Carter).

This is purely a result of how the Crusaders are being coached if Robbie Deans was running this team no way in hell they'd lose to this Tahs team. He'd make better acqusitions in the off season and instill better decision making and the attack would atleast have some direction and variance.


Is Matt Todd injured? It seems odd I havent seen him in ages he should of been playing that last 20 if he's fit.

 

[MotherRucker1]

Pretty sure he was on the bench.

 

[Kiwi_]

Crusaders unlucky to not have try allowed when over the line and player pulled ruck down-No Yellow Card for Pro foul?
Latu and Skelton-Rules are clear, go beyond horizontal and dump its a Red card. Not even looking at the punch thrown by Latu after.
Skelton deliberate smash into McCaw-No Yellow?
Skelton 2mins later...Shoulder with no arms to player on ground-No Yellow.
NSW pushed the offside limit all night, McCaw made one 50/50 call and is Yellow carded.

Honestly, I think McCaw is going too be picked on in the world cup. What the f**k is going on with the refereeing?