Highlanders V Crusaders Round 2 (2012)

[kiap]

The Desso GrassMaster turf technology. Used by the home stadiums of the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and a few others. Wasps and London Irish and a couple of other rugby sides in the Aviva premiership play on it in the UK, along with plenty of premier league soccer sides (surface leaves Wembley and Millenium for dead).

 

[teach]

What a first home game! Amazing game. I was there with one of my boys in the stand behind the posts. It's called "the zoo". $12 for a ticket. R18. No assigned seats. First in first served. Aisles packed with dancing scarfies. Great atmosphere. I thought it topped the RWC games I saw there for sheer noise and excitement.
I dared to dream a win at half time, but in that second half I thought "here we go, Crusaders are going to lift it up a notch".
Looking forward to the Waratahs next week. Hope they can handle the noise because it is bloody loud inside.
The best thing was walking back to the car in the pouring rain, after having sat down in shirtsleeves to watch the game. Beats a freezing night on the terraces any day.

 

[Ruggo]

I bet you were shitting yourself at the end with the debarcle over the time clock. That was a really gutsy win by the clan and honestly I think they will munch the Tahs next weekend. Over the TV that atmosphere sounded everybit as exciting as you described.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Teach if your guys put in that kind of effort against any of the Aussie teams (from what I've seen thus far) then you'll be wiping them off the park. I could feel the intensity just watching it on the TV, was happy enough my guys were still hanging on & in the game by half time.

 

[teach]

Yeah, I hope so. If I don't head south for some fly fishing I might take the boy along to see how the 'tahs go.
Looks like we are getting more depth so we can have the rotational options that teams like the crusaders have enjoyed. Just hoping we don't run out of fit players like last year.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The Desso GrassMaster turf technology.

Thanks for the video and the link.
They must have modernised Lambeau Field - it used to have broken heating pipes at one end so that it would ice up while at the other end the pipes would just produce a melted slush: Favre loved it!
There must be more sun in Dunedin than Wales - I have only been to Dunedin in winter

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Aisles packed with dancing scarfies.

More chicks than blokes among the scarfies based on what I saw: whats going on?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I think they will munch the Tahs next weekend. Over the TV that atmosphere sounded everybit as exciting as you described.

That Tahs might play better indoors

 

[teach]

Dunedin is a university town. Don't need to give the students an excuse to party hard. Especially when it is an intense match up like Canterbury vs Otago. Don't think there was more chicks than blokes. I would have put it about 60:40.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

60chicks:40 blokes or the other way round.......just thinking of coming over for the Tahs

 

[teach]

Sadly the the stands were around 40% full of drunken 18-25yr old girls. My 15yr old boy found it quite entertaining. As it is indoors, some were not wearing very much. Hopefully that won't upset you too much.
Do you not normally get a lot of female spectators where you are?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Not scantily clad uni students - some looked like pretty good sorts

 

[Blue]

Back to the game I think the SA and Aus teams have their work cut out against these two teams and the Chiefs this year. They are playing at a pace that makes the Aus and SA games seem like they are looking for parking.

 

[Hawko]

Back to the game I think the SA and Aus teams have their work cut out against these two teams and the Chiefs this year. They are playing at a pace that makes the Aus and SA games seem like they are looking for parking.

That's how it looks, but we'll know for sure next weekend. I know the Kiwi's and Saffers think the Aussie franchise is pretty easy but we are yet to see any cross-franchise games in the Oz conference.

Based on how well the Canes have gone in SA and the fact that I tipped them for the spoon before the comp started, maybe the SA teams aren't all that terrific. This week with the Blues touring, the Canes vs the Force and the Waratahs vs the Highlanders we might get a better line on the franchise relativities. So far, its all in the realm of speculation.

 

[Dan54]

I agree Hawko, much to early to write of teams from anywhere, I not at all sure that anyone thinks Aussie conference looks easy, may be disappointed if they do. This comp is not won in first 2 weeks.

 

[teach]

I agree as well. Look how good the highlanders were at week 3 last year. A lack of depth and injuries then took their toll. I am not sure how good the reserves are either. There were a lot of injuries in the pre-season games. The scrum coach had to come on and play off the bench in one of them. But since he is ex AB Kees Meuws, it wasn't too much of an issue. I do note that he also played in the Highlanders development squad game against Canterbury so they may have some issues with depth at Prop and are preparing him for more guest spots. But to have a wily old campaigner like him coming off the bench is not necessarily a bad thing either if he does get the call up.

 

[Ruggo]

Bloody good game.

I think that is the busiest I have seen that Nandolo play. He made errors but I liked the way he went looking for work. Saders have really got the best out of him and it is paying off.