Crusaders v Reds Prelim 1
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Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
Radio (can't remember if ABC or MMM Rush Hour) had Genia and Horwill playing, A. Finger in serious doubt. No mention of Mike Harris.
Someone mentioned that CFS played for Souths last weekend. That'd make Shipperley and Morahan the starting wings with Ioane and Davies out, Lucas likely at fullback, Taps and CFS in the centres with Lance on the bench if A. Finger and Harris are out. No idea who the other back reserve would be unless Link goes a 5/2 split with Frisby covering 9, wing, fullback.
Someone mentioned that CFS played for Souths last weekend. That'd make Shipperley and Morahan the starting wings with Ioane and Davies out, Lucas likely at fullback, Taps and CFS in the centres with Lance on the bench if A. Finger and Harris are out. No idea who the other back reserve would be unless Link goes a 5/2 split with Frisby covering 9, wing, fullback.
No4918
John Hipwell (52)
Really hoping that at least one of Harris and Fainga'a are fit. Would play either at 12 over Taps currently and move him to the bench and drop Butler.
1. Holmes
2. Fainga'a
3. Slipper
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Quirk
7. Gill
8. Schatz
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Morahan
12. Tapuai
13. CFS
14. Shipperley
15. Lucas
16. Hanson
17. Anae
18. ODonoghue
19. Samo
20. Butler
21. Frisby
22. Lance
1. Holmes
2. Fainga'a
3. Slipper
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Quirk
7. Gill
8. Schatz
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Morahan
12. Tapuai
13. CFS
14. Shipperley
15. Lucas
16. Hanson
17. Anae
18. ODonoghue
19. Samo
20. Butler
21. Frisby
22. Lance
AngrySeahorse
Peter Sullivan (51)
If McCaw wasn't playing I certainly would not use his absence as an excuse for losing the game. We have this bloke called Matt Todd & he's done a very good job this year.
Lets see, RD15 we were beaten by the Chiefs. RD16 we only just dragged our arses over the line against the Tahs. RD17 Bye (horrendous Bye week that no one enjoys). RD18 40-12 over the Clan (not much to crow about given the Clan have had a poor year). RD19 45-15 over the Chiefs, & 25-17 against the Canes.
When I look at our recent games & hear so many Rugby commentators & friends go on about the so-called form of the Saders I wonder whether we are actually watching the same team? Maybe I'm a hard marker but for mine the only decent game we've played recently was the Chiefs win. I was very optimistic we could beat anyone if we played like that. Then I was promptly brought back to earth the following week when the Canes turned up to play & was actually pretty unlucky not to have won that game.
If we rock up as we did against the Chiefs in the 45-15 game we will beat anyone. TBH I'm not so much worried about what any potential threats may come from the opposition - I'm more concerned about my own teams "good game - average/bad game" sew saw that seems to be going on.
As far as the Reds go I find the Tahs v Reds game a bit of a hard one to read given there were a few players out from both sides. Reds defence however was very good. In addition I would say the Reds good form in NZ can cancel out any perceived home advantage that the Saders may have had.
No clear favourite for mine. Very much on a knife edge & hopefully the game lives up to the hype.
Lets see, RD15 we were beaten by the Chiefs. RD16 we only just dragged our arses over the line against the Tahs. RD17 Bye (horrendous Bye week that no one enjoys). RD18 40-12 over the Clan (not much to crow about given the Clan have had a poor year). RD19 45-15 over the Chiefs, & 25-17 against the Canes.
When I look at our recent games & hear so many Rugby commentators & friends go on about the so-called form of the Saders I wonder whether we are actually watching the same team? Maybe I'm a hard marker but for mine the only decent game we've played recently was the Chiefs win. I was very optimistic we could beat anyone if we played like that. Then I was promptly brought back to earth the following week when the Canes turned up to play & was actually pretty unlucky not to have won that game.
If we rock up as we did against the Chiefs in the 45-15 game we will beat anyone. TBH I'm not so much worried about what any potential threats may come from the opposition - I'm more concerned about my own teams "good game - average/bad game" sew saw that seems to be going on.
As far as the Reds go I find the Tahs v Reds game a bit of a hard one to read given there were a few players out from both sides. Reds defence however was very good. In addition I would say the Reds good form in NZ can cancel out any perceived home advantage that the Saders may have had.
No clear favourite for mine. Very much on a knife edge & hopefully the game lives up to the hype.
Scoey
Tony Shaw (54)
It is a curious one AngrySeahorse for most of the reasons you mention. I remember watching the Saders/Chiefs game and thinking that the Saders would've demolished the B&I Lions in that game. Then when I confidently tipped them to smack the Canes it was a somewhat nervous 70-75min game to watch. But on the whole, the Saders just 'know' how to do finals. If any of the other 5 teams could rank who they wanted to play, the Saders would be at the bottom of their lists.
Having said that though, if the Saders ranked who they wanted to play out of the other top 6 teams, I get the feeling that the Reds would be close to the bottom of their list with the way the Reds like to get up for Kiwi teams and in particular, the ChCh lads.
In the cold light of the day, I expect that the Crusaders will be too strong, but I won't be a bit surprised if they get knocked over. Love finals footy!
Having said that though, if the Saders ranked who they wanted to play out of the other top 6 teams, I get the feeling that the Reds would be close to the bottom of their list with the way the Reds like to get up for Kiwi teams and in particular, the ChCh lads.
In the cold light of the day, I expect that the Crusaders will be too strong, but I won't be a bit surprised if they get knocked over. Love finals footy!
AngrySeahorse
Peter Sullivan (51)
Brisbok
Cyril Towers (30)
Regarding the form team at the moment, if you look at the win/loss record over the last few weeks of the competition only, the Crusaders are the only team to win their last 4 games:
Chiefs - W L W B W
Bulls - L W W W W
Brumbies - L B B W W W L
Crusaders - W W W W L
Reds - W B B W L L W
Cheetahs - B W L L W W
Maybe they weren't convincing in some of those games, but it would be hard to argue that any of the other 5 teams is in better form than them at the moment.
Chiefs - W L W B W
Bulls - L W W W W
Brumbies - L B B W W W L
Crusaders - W W W W L
Reds - W B B W L L W
Cheetahs - B W L L W W
Maybe they weren't convincing in some of those games, but it would be hard to argue that any of the other 5 teams is in better form than them at the moment.
Disappointed no-one could do this for the Saders like Sidbarret did for the Cheetahs!
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/the-cheetahs-what-to-expect-vs-the-brumbies/
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/the-cheetahs-what-to-expect-vs-the-brumbies/
FrankLind
Colin Windon (37)
Luke Romano might be out.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8925426/Luke-Romano-touch-and-go-to-make-playoff-cut
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8925426/Luke-Romano-touch-and-go-to-make-playoff-cut
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
My heart says RED RED RED nut the head says LOOK OUT HERE COME THE SADERS
Can just never back any team than the Reds - so Reds it is by 2
Can just never back any team than the Reds - so Reds it is by 2
emuarse
Chilla Wilson (44)
I'd say Crusader supporters would be saying exactly the opposite (but with more spelling errors)
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
AngrySeahorse
They absolutely demolished the Chiefs but I agree the Hurricanes game was a bit shaky. I think the Crusaders are renowned because when it all 'clicks' (which seems to happen more often with them than with other teams) they can absolutely dismantle a squad. I think the game against the Stormers is a good example of this. Saw the strength in the Stormers squad (line out) and saw the weakness within that (Bekker taking vast majority of the balls and being their strongest jumper by a large margin) and absolutely shredded the Stormers game plan. More so than any other team I think the 'Saders can stop you from playing the football you want to play and impose themselves upon you. They also punish teams for mistakes more efficiently and brutally than any other team I can think of.
FrankLind
That's pretty huge. Romano has to be one of the best locks in the world right now and is just great at everything. The Romano/Whitelock pairing has been pretty devastating this year.
They absolutely demolished the Chiefs but I agree the Hurricanes game was a bit shaky. I think the Crusaders are renowned because when it all 'clicks' (which seems to happen more often with them than with other teams) they can absolutely dismantle a squad. I think the game against the Stormers is a good example of this. Saw the strength in the Stormers squad (line out) and saw the weakness within that (Bekker taking vast majority of the balls and being their strongest jumper by a large margin) and absolutely shredded the Stormers game plan. More so than any other team I think the 'Saders can stop you from playing the football you want to play and impose themselves upon you. They also punish teams for mistakes more efficiently and brutally than any other team I can think of.
FrankLind
That's pretty huge. Romano has to be one of the best locks in the world right now and is just great at everything. The Romano/Whitelock pairing has been pretty devastating this year.
Grandmaster Flash
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Horwill, Genia back. Lance at 12, CFS on wing... Interesting.
Reds Team: Holmes, S.Fainga'a, Slipper, Simmons, Horwill, Quirk, Gill, Schatz, Genia, Cooper, Feauai-Sautia, Lance, Tapuai, Shipperley, Lucas
Bench: Anae, Owen, O’Donoghue, Samo, Robinson, Frisby, Morahan
Reds Team: Holmes, S.Fainga'a, Slipper, Simmons, Horwill, Quirk, Gill, Schatz, Genia, Cooper, Feauai-Sautia, Lance, Tapuai, Shipperley, Lucas
Bench: Anae, Owen, O’Donoghue, Samo, Robinson, Frisby, Morahan
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
Reds team announced:
I'd like to CFS make a name for himself in this match but I'm starting to feel like a broken record stuck on repeat.
Lance at 12 has me feeling pretty uneasy but I understand why he's there. Gonna be a long end to the week waiting for this one...
I'd like to CFS make a name for himself in this match but I'm starting to feel like a broken record stuck on repeat.
Lance at 12 has me feeling pretty uneasy but I understand why he's there. Gonna be a long end to the week waiting for this one...
redstragic
Alan Cameron (40)
Is Toua injured? Have not heard of him in months.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
Not sure if his HS are acting up again but honestly after the beginning of this year I wouldn't trust him in a match like this.
hammertimethere
Trevor Allan (34)
Saders
1. Crockett
2. Flynn
3. Franks
4. Romano
5. White lock
6. Whitelock
7.Todd
8. Read
9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Guilford
12. Taylor
13. Crotty
14. Marshall
15. Dagg
1. Crockett
2. Flynn
3. Franks
4. Romano
5. White lock
6. Whitelock
7.Todd
8. Read
9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Guilford
12. Taylor
13. Crotty
14. Marshall
15. Dagg
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