Super Rugby 2021

briandebum

Do you reckon the Blues are well coached?

I mean last year was a massive improvement over previous years, so McDonald deserves credit for that. However I feel as though they were out coached by the Highlanders, because on paper they should be the better team.

Maybe Tony Brown is just that good of coach to make up the difference in talent?

One interesting thing is that most of the Blues outstanding players are strike runners. Which is no bad thing, however without Barrett they lack the game management or creativity to be put into space. This would explain why a team which looks so good on paper has relatively underperformed this year.

Caranica

briandebum wrote: »

One interesting thing is that most of the Blues outstanding players are strike runners. Which is no bad thing, however without Barrett they lack the game management or creativity to be put into space. This would explain why a team which looks so good on paper has relatively underperformed this year.

Strike runners but no support. In the second half alone Caleb Clarke had two fantastic breaks but was caught 5m from the line with nobody in support. Contrast that to Crusaders right now, support runners everywhere.

sydthebeat

Our Mike is a very powerful guy

sydthebeat

I still find it mad in some super rugby games that the tanoy will be blasting out music while the games going on.

Mounga taking a pen kick to the corner while hotel california rings out loud

sydthebeat

Cracking game!!!!

Chiefs up 23 - 22

Caranica

sydthebeat wrote: »

Cracking game!!!!

Chiefs up 23 - 22

Second half considerably better than the first. Feels like it's been going on for hours and hours though.

sydthebeat

Some of the scrum half passing by both the starters and the reserves had been shocking

hahashake

Will Gatland be wanted back?

Chiefs 7 & 8 will be in the ABs. Crusaders are a lesser team without Whitelock, having leaders on the field is key. Look at the Blues after Robinson went down injured. Headless.

Squidgy Black

hahashake wrote: »

Will Gatland be wanted back?

Chiefs 7 & 8 will be in the ABs. Crusaders are a lesser team without Whitelock, having leaders on the field is key. Look at the Blues after Robinson went down injured. Headless.

They need to look at switching him to a DOR style role like he has with the Lions and like he had with Wales, and keeping McMillan as the head coach.

To go from losing 10 in a row under Gats and now winning 4 in a row is ridiculous

Locke_Lamora

hahashake wrote: »

Will Gatland be wanted back?

Chiefs 7 & 8 will be in the ABs. Crusaders are a lesser team without Whitelock, having leaders on the field is key. Look at the Blues after Robinson went down injured. Headless.

Big fan of Jacobson, missed the world cup only due to concussions I believe. I'm not sure which position he'll play though, think he's played across the backrow.

Boshier's been solid and effective for a while now, he's just always had a couple of tough players to beat out - Cane (injured), Savea (injured) and Jacobson if the AB coaches see him as a seven.

hahashake

Papalii might be the next cab off the rank at 7, we will see though.

Caranica

Unexpectedly tight game this morning. McKenzie has balls of steel!

PMC83

Loving the Western Force fightback here. Story with handsome Rob? Thought he was named

Digifriendly

Can't find any highlights of Force vs Reds which with the scoreline looks like a thriller. Anyone any links?

Locke_Lamora

Digifriendly wrote: »

Can't find any highlights of Force vs Reds which with the scoreline looks like a thriller. Anyone any links?

Messaged you a link for the full game there.

PMC83

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Messaged you a link for the full game there.

any chance I could get a that link please?

Digifriendly

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Messaged you a link for the full game there.

Many thanks.

Caranica

Spotted this on Facebook

Caranica

Well the red team owned the blue team again Will Jordan on fire. Blues just couldn't finish. Would love to see the turnover stats for the game, even in the first 5 minutes it felt like we'd seen 7 or 8.

But for now, sleep!

swiwi_

One thing that the SH has over the NH at the moment is the application of the rules

1) If you're not clearly onside you're offside.
2) If you are in front of the kicker you must stop and wait to be put onside
3) At the tackle, if you are clearly on the ball and lift, you win the penalty, even if it all happens quickly. If you go past the ball or rest on your hands, you give away a penalty.

IMHO, it makes for much better rugby.

Caranica

They enforce the simple laws like that but at least in Super Rugby Aotearoa they're soft on foul play. Penalties given but few cards. Should have been at least a yellow in this morning's game but ref didn't even look at the replays.

hahashake

Jordan back to his jammy best. As good as it was seeing a full ground, Crusaders really need their new stadium.

Iompair

Caranica wrote: »

They enforce the simple laws like that but at least in Super Rugby Aotearoa they're soft on foul play. Penalties given but few cards. Should have been at least a yellow in this morning's game but ref didn't even look at the replays.

Ref was poor overall in this mornings game, players flying in from all angles at the ruck from both sides and rode the blues hard after they complained about some dubious calls. Definitely had an ego issue.

sydthebeat

were they not planning on doing a 2nd v 3rd in aotearoa this season to see who gets to the final??

that seems to be gone now

hahashake

Maybe that was planned if the trans-Tasman comp didn't work out?

icdg

sydthebeat wrote: »

were they not planning on doing a 2nd v 3rd in aotearoa this season to see who gets to the final??

that seems to be gone now

AU does have that, it’s on Saturday in fact (ACT v WA). I am not sure there was ever room for it in the NZ competition.

sydthebeat

icdg wrote: »

AU does have that, it’s on Saturday in fact (ACT v WA). I am not sure there was ever room for it in the NZ competition.

yeah maybe, just checking back and they did include a 1 v 2 final which they didnt have last season.

hahashake

Chiefs putting out a very 2nd-string/experimental side for the dead rubber against the Blues. If the Crusaders didn't have a bye I wonder whether they would rest so many players because it could end up being very rough for all the debutants.

sydthebeat

NMS making his long awaited SR debut for the highlanders on Friday morning.

sydthebeat

Pablo matera signs for her crusaders just cos you know, he can....

Sheeesh