Crusaders v Reds 9/03/25

[TSR]

Gee - tough game to watch. Especially when I’ve been looking forward to it all weekend.

I actually think we didn’t defend that bad given the constant stream of opportunities and field position we gifted to the Crusaders.

But extremely wasteful in attack. It looks great when it works but we must have been blowing 6-7 opportunities for every 1 we got to work. And kept at it despite that fact it clearly wasn’t working, even from our own end. There were times there (and lots of them) when we just had to choose to recycle possession and play another phase or 5 rather than trying to convert with a 50/50. Seems counterintuitive to work so hard on improving ball retention at the breakdown only to constantly give it up in general play.

Set peice was also a disappointment.

I’m all for having a crack but it needs to be on the back of strong fundamentals and being respectful of possession. The Reds showed neither today.

 

[Hawko]

Missing his kicking massively, HMP is only chewing off about 20m at a time, same issues as Edmed

Last night it was Creighton getting 20m, Except on one occasion when he got good distance but it didn't go out.
Its an Australian Rugby characteristic.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

The Reds also rocked up thinking they could play like they were the All Blacks vs Namibia - no hard stuff, flinging everything around and we’ll score at will. So dumb.

Yeah they seemed unkeen on basic exit plays.

Gave up watching after the Reds dropped the ball for the 27th time. Dry track, perfectly sunny day ffs

also fffs Reds, 1st half, sun directly in the Cantabs eyes, stick a speccy kick or two up, surely a better option than running ball in hand along your own 22

 

[PhilClinton]

Even before the injuries and the fact most of these guys would have been keeping one eye on the cyclone for the past week, you knew this would be a hard one to win.

In terms of games to drop, I’m okay with it. Just can’t repeat that shit back at home. We definitely need some backline players to return.

 

[The Engine Room]

Gee - tough game to watch. Especially when I’ve been looking forward to it all weekend.

I actually think we didn’t defend that bad given the constant stream of opportunities and field position we gifted to the Crusaders.

But extremely wasteful in attack. It looks great when it works but we must have been blowing 6-7 opportunities for every 1 we got to work. And kept at it despite that fact it clearly wasn’t working, even from our own end. There were times there (and lots of them) when we just had to choose to recycle possession and play another phase or 5 rather than trying to convert with a 50/50. Seems counterintuitive to work so hard on improving ball retention at the breakdown only to constantly give it up in general play.

Set peice was also a disappointment.

I’m all for having a crack but it needs to be on the back of strong fundamentals and being respectful of possession. The Reds showed neither today.

Agree with all you said. It was all a bit immature and amateur-ish for mine. Set piece is a concern. Seems to me that the gap between OZ and NZ teams is still significant.

 

[TSR]

Agree with all you said. It was all a bit immature and amateur-ish for mine. Set piece is a concern. Seems to me that the gap between OZ and NZ teams is still significant.

I’m not convinced of the last bit.

The Reds were playing an All Black front row and, while De Lutiis is a promising talent he is 3 games into his Super Rugby career. I thought we improved as the game went on.

Our lineout needs to do better. I’ll say that we should be able to fix that but it is just my opinion until we actually do. But I’d be disappointed if we weren’t one of the better lineouts by end of year.

Around the field physically I thought we matched the Kiwis pretty well. We broke plenty of tackles and when we had a set defence line we mostly matched them. That’s a real contrast to last year.

But decision wise we were really impatient and as a result the Kiwis got way too many cheap metres and far too much easy field position. Similiar to the Force game there were a decent share of forced errors but way too many unforced ones. Is that a Kiwi v Aussie thing. I’m not sure it is.

 

[Shiggins]

Haha, you obviously don't know how advantage works do you shiggins??

I do. the reds don't. they stopped playing instead of cleaning out

that rule should be changed anyway. it's a knock on if the opposition don't have the ball after the knock on the whistle should go. why play advantage to a team without the ball ?

 

[Tomikin]

Im watching a reply so, im behind.. but Reece can go fuck himself .. wife beating wanker .. 17 - 7 on my reply

 

[Tomikin]

The Reds are still playing the same game they played last year, do the same shit get the same result.. Im not sure whats going on...

 

[Tomikin]

This is an actually fluffybunny of a game..

 

[Strewthcobber]

This was tied for the second most points a team has ever given up to a Rob Penney coached team - over 36 matches.

The Reds also hold first place, 45-12 loss in 2020

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

This was tied for the second most points a team has ever given up to a Rob Penney coached team - over 36 matches.

The Reds also hold first place, 45-12 loss in 2020

So the Reds need to hire Rob Penney to negate this? Might be available when Les gets the Aus job....

 

[wamberal99]

Agree with all you said. It was all a bit immature and amateur-ish for mine. Set piece is a concern. Seems to me that the gap between OZ and NZ teams is still significant.

Did you watch the Brumbies?

 

[Ignoto]

Considering I've been "trapped" with a 4 and 2 year old since Thursday and no power / water since Saturday (thankfully restored an hour ago).

Do I lean into the self-flagellation and watch this game or let Alfred whip any memory of it occurring?

 

[JRugby2]

Considering I've been "trapped" with a 4 and 2 year old since Thursday and no power / water since Saturday (thankfully restored an hour ago).

Do I lean into the self-flagellation and watch this game or let Alfred whip any memory of it occurring?

For someone with the reds logo as their picture, I’m not sure this the game I’d get the lower ribs removed for.

 

[The Engine Room]

Considering I've been "trapped" with a 4 and 2 year old since Thursday and no power / water since Saturday (thankfully restored an hour ago).

Do I lean into the self-flagellation and watch this game or let Alfred whip any memory of it occurring?

Treat yourself!! ...and let us know you thoughts. I watched it again last night and I may have been abit harsh on initial review but it was a very disappointing performance in many ways and shows that the Reds still have a way to go.

 

[Major Tom]

D

Considering I've been "trapped" with a 4 and 2 year old since Thursday and no power / water since Saturday (thankfully restored an hour ago).

Do I lean into the self-flagellation and watch this game or let Alfred whip any memory of it occurring?

I have no power and missed it. I just wanna know how De Luttis went against Williams at scrum time? And if Goldsbrough looked sharp?

 

[Adam84]

D

I have no power and missed it. I just wanna know how De Luttis went against Williams at scrum time? And if Goldsbrough looked sharp?

De Luttis was schooled initially, but started to hold his own after about the 3rd or 4th scrum.
Goldbrough only really had one opportunity with the ball in hand and had a decent run, wasn't offered much opportunity to shine.

 

[Adam84]

Considering I've been "trapped" with a 4 and 2 year old since Thursday and no power / water since Saturday (thankfully restored an hour ago).

Do I lean into the self-flagellation and watch this game or let Alfred whip any memory of it occurring?

i turned it off and went out and stared at the rising floodwaters about 30min's in to achieve some zen.. if that's any indicator

 

[Major Tom]

De Luttis was schooled initially, but started to hold his own after about the 3rd or 4th scrum.
Goldbrough only really had one opportunity with the ball in hand and had a decent run, wasn't offered much opportunity to shine.

Thanks mate. That’s a very good front row that he was up against so happy with that.