SRA - Blues v Crusaders @ forget about it.

Auckman · Post by **Auckman** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 12:15 pm

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... breakdance

The whole aim of this match for the Blues is to prevent this guy breakdancing on Eden Park's hallowed turf. A win is required for this aim; I doubt he'd breakdance if he's just lost the match. He'll definitely do it if they win.

TBC

HouseOfPane · Post by **HouseOfPane** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:02 pm

Unfortunately my Highlanders couldn't help you guys, but can you hear it? He's getting closer...

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:06 pm

A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:24 am

I hope the Crusaders show the Blues the respect they deserve and select a B team. Players like Fergus Blake, Ethan Roots, Manasa Mata'ele, Dallas McLeod, Inga Finau and Harry Allan have had either no match tie, or very little. These players have worked their arses off all season on the training paddock, and deserve a game. So I hope Robertson approaches this match sensibly and rationally, and puts his ego aside. The Crusaders have won the competition and earned the right to play a B team. This is the starting XV I would select;

15. Brett Camerson
14. Manasa Mata'ele
13. Fetuli Paea
12. Dallas McLeod
11. Leicester Faingaanuku
10. Fergus Blake
9. Ese Enari

8. Sione Havili
7. Billy Harmon
6. Ethan Roots
5. Mitch dunshea
4. Luke Romano
3. Isi Tuungafasi
2. Brodie McAlister
1. Harry Allan

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:25 am

JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber

Yep, and a pity the Crusaders will be selecting a 2nd XV. This will be humiliating for the Blues and NZR more generally.

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:38 am

JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber

The opening game was a sell out, with the caveat that they didn't assemble the temporary seating they need to arrange for AB tests. You couldn't get tickets in any case.

But this one looks like it's sold out even earlier, no tickets available at all on ticketmaster. Not sure they have time to open up any additional seating now.

Couch · Post by **Couch** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:21 am

It's great to see Auckland support their team after 17 years of mediocrity.

Takes me back to the 80s early 90s

Monkey Magic · Post by **Monkey Magic** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 3:34 am

Looking forward to this, hopefully the saders aren't too hungover.

A shame it is not a final from selfish point of view, but hoping blues put in big performance to underline that they are truly back as a contender.

Auckman · Post by **Auckman** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 3:52 am

HouseOfPane wrote:Unfortunately my Highlanders couldn't help you guys, but can you hear it? He's getting closer...

Your boys threw everything at them. Good watch for a "neutral". Lost their tactical heads at the end though. The disgraceful showponyism depicted in your photo must be stopped this sunday.

marcus1 · Post by **marcus1** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 3:55 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber
Yep, and a pity the Crusaders will be selecting a 2nd XV. This will be humiliating for the Blues and NZR more generally.

Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass

More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.

Auckman · Post by **Auckman** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:01 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber
Yep, and a pity the Crusaders will be selecting a 2nd XV. This will be humiliating for the Blues and NZR more generally.

Sorry just noticed your comments. You scared of your 1st team getting beaten? Don't be scared bro.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:03 am

marcus1 wrote: Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.

The near strength Crusaders have already beaten the Blues twice this year, what more do you want?

Enzedder · Post by **Enzedder** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:10 am

JPNZ wrote:
marcus1 wrote: Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.
The near strength Crusaders have already beaten the Blues twice this year, what more do you want?

Now that the Sadists have been awarded the title, a fair and unbiased ref wouldn't go astray.

Kiwias · Post by **Kiwias** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:15 am

Enzedder wrote:
JPNZ wrote:
marcus1 wrote: Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.
The near strength Crusaders have already beaten the Blues twice this year, what more do you want?
Now that the Sadists have been awarded the title, a fair and unbiased ref wouldn't go astray.

0 - 8 really hurts, doesn't it?

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:15 am

Enzedder wrote:
JPNZ wrote:
marcus1 wrote: Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.
The near strength Crusaders have already beaten the Blues twice this year, what more do you want?
Now that the Sadists have been awarded the title, a fair and unbiased ref wouldn't go astray.

Crusaders had wins under all 5 NZ super rugby referees, perhaps they are all biased?

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:59 am

marcus1 wrote:
Ali's Choice wrote:
JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber
Yep, and a pity the Crusaders will be selecting a 2nd XV. This will be humiliating for the Blues and NZR more generally.
Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.

I'm not suggesting that a Crusaders B tea would beat the Blues. I'm suggesting that if they selected a genuine 2nd XV, like the one that I compiled earlier, that it would be humiliating for the Blues and NZR given the match has been sold out for ages.

marcus1 · Post by **marcus1** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:16 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
marcus1 wrote:
Ali's Choice wrote:
JPNZ wrote:A sell out at Eden park for the 1st time in how long? Pity its a dead rubber
Yep, and a pity the Crusaders will be selecting a 2nd XV. This will be humiliating for the Blues and NZR more generally.
Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.
I'm not suggesting that a Crusaders B tea would beat the Blues. I'm suggesting that if they selected a genuine 2nd XV, like the one that I compiled earlier, that it would be humiliating for the Blues and NZR given the match has been sold out for ages.

Seriously, I don't get it; why do you want to humiliate the Blues/NZR? That loss to the Hurricanes rattled the cage a bit?

Kahu · Post by **Kahu** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:27 am

Not selecting the strongest possible side would be an insult to the Blues and all NZ rugby fans. AC often acknowledges how much the removal of All Blacks from Super Rugby and the Mitre10 Cup devalues those competitions and argues against it yet here he is advocating exactly for that but then, AC is neither a New Zealander now a rugby fan. I have been borderline switching off all professional Rugby for a few years now precisely because of this. Consumers don't like feeling like they are merely cows to be milked then fed a diet purely of silage and PKE.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:31 am

Kahu wrote:Not selecting the strongest possible side would be an insult to the Blues and all NZ rugby fans. AC often acknowledges how much the removal of All Blacks from Super Rugby and the Mitre10 Cup devalues those competitions yet here he is advocating exactly for that. I have been borderline switching off all professional Rugby for a few years now precisely because of this. Consumers don't like feeling like they are merely cows to be milked then fed a diet purely of silage and PKE.

Scott Robertson has a number of squad players who have played little of no minutes in this comp. It is vital that he gives them some game time and supports their development. The All Blacks don't always select their strongest team, look at the squads selected for recent tests against Japan and Namibia. Why should Scott Robertson compromise his team's development simply to appease the Blues because they weren't good enough to make this game a decider? NZR has never shown any consideration of NZ Rugby viewers, why should the Crusaders be held to a higher standard than NZR?

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:31 am

JPNZ wrote:
Enzedder wrote:
JPNZ wrote:
marcus1 wrote: Oh come on - are you seriously suggesting a Crusaders B team will beat the Blues?
The only thing playing a B team will achieve is a poor excuse for the Crusaders when the Blues kick ass
More likely the Crusaders will field a B team because they are too scared the Blues will beat them if they played with a full strength side.
The near strength Crusaders have already beaten the Blues twice this year, what more do you want?
Now that the Sadists have been awarded the title, a fair and unbiased ref wouldn't go astray.
Crusaders had wins under all 5 NZ super rugby referees. They are all biased.

Fixed

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:32 am

marcus1 wrote: Seriously, I don't get it; why do you want to humiliate the Blues/NZR? That loss to the Hurricanes rattled the cage a bit?

We have won the comp mate, why would I be rattled by the Hurricanes match?

marcus1 · Post by **marcus1** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 10:48 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
Kahu wrote:Not selecting the strongest possible side would be an insult to the Blues and all NZ rugby fans. AC often acknowledges how much the removal of All Blacks from Super Rugby and the Mitre10 Cup devalues those competitions yet here he is advocating exactly for that. I have been borderline switching off all professional Rugby for a few years now precisely because of this. Consumers don't like feeling like they are merely cows to be milked then fed a diet purely of silage and PKE.
Scott Robertson has a number of squad players who have played little of no minutes in this comp. It is vital that he gives them some game time and supports their development. The All Blacks don't always select their strongest team, look at the squads selected for recent tests against Japan and Namibia. Why should Scott Robertson compromise his team's development simply to appease the Blues because they weren't good enough to make this game a decider? NZR has never shown any consideration of NZ Rugby viewers, why should the Crusaders be held to a higher standard than NZR?

The All Blacks always go into a game to win and if they think they can do that with a "B" side then thats what they'll do.
Unlike the Crusaders who are running scared against a good Blues team and looking for an excuse for a loss by playing a B side.
Anyway 'mate', if and when the Reds start winning Super comps then methinks you'll be switching alegences - what say you Queensland boy?

Kiwias · Post by **Kiwias** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:19 pm

marcus1 wrote: The All Blacks always go into a game to win and if they think they can do that with a "B" side then thats what they'll do.
Unlike the Crusaders who are running scared against a good Blues team and looking for an excuse for a loss by playing a B side.
Anyway 'mate', if and when the Reds start winning Super comps then methinks you'll be switching alegences - what say you Queensland boy?

Has the squad been announced? Thought not, so this is just a pile of total excrement.

marcus1 · Post by **marcus1** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:38 pm

Kiwias wrote:
marcus1 wrote: The All Blacks always go into a game to win and if they think they can do that with a "B" side then thats what they'll do.
Unlike the Crusaders who are running scared against a good Blues team and looking for an excuse for a loss by playing a B side.
Anyway 'mate', if and when the Reds start winning Super comps then methinks you'll be switching alegences - what say you Queensland boy?
Has the squad been announced? Thought not, so this is just a pile of total excrement.

Fair enough

. If the Crusaders put out a full strength team may the best side win on the day

koroke hangareka · Post by **koroke hangareka** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:25 pm

Well I'm hoping a full strength Crusaders beat a full strength Blues in a brilliant game that will be long remembered. Then Robertson can break dance if he likes.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:51 pm

NZ TAB obviously believe the B team hype

Blues $1.66
Crusaders $2.11

Yet for the match 4 weeks ago the odds were Crusaders $1.33 - Blues $3.10

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:21 am

@ Blues fans throwing a tantrum because Scott Robertson might want to give wider squad members a game.

The Crusaders have won the right to select any team they want for this match. A sellout game to watch the Crusaders 2nd XV

Shrekles · Post by **Shrekles** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:35 am

Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?

Kiwias · Post by **Kiwias** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:58 am

Shrekles wrote:Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?

No, they are confirmed in 2nd place, with 22 pts against the Canes pn 21.

EDIT: Of course, if the Canes win their last match and the Blues lose, then the Canes come 2nd.

Shrekles · Post by **Shrekles** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:59 am

So the deadest of dead rubbers then. Nobody will remember the result of this match in future.

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:00 am

Kiwias wrote:
Shrekles wrote:Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?
No, they are confirmed in 2nd place, with 22 pts against the Canes pn 21.

Ummm, the canes get points when they win?

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:01 am

Shrekles wrote:So the deadest of dead rubbers then. Nobody will remember the result of this match in future.

The hurricanes can steal second if they win and the blues lose.

jdogscoop · Post by **jdogscoop** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:06 am

I expect a champion team to have a champion attitude.

That means "man-shaming the Blues, prison-style".

They can rest after the weekend and the new guys will get their chance, just not this weekend.

Sign off in style, Crusaders. You can doooo iiiiiiiit.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:07 am

Shrekles wrote:So the deadest of dead rubbers then. Nobody will remember the result of this match in future.

Sadly, you are 100% correct. I look forward to seeing how Brett Cameron goes for the Crusaders at no.10, and to seeing a number of our fringe squad members playing their first competitive game for 2020.

WoodlandsRFC · Post by **WoodlandsRFC** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:09 am

Wilderbeast wrote:
Kiwias wrote:
Shrekles wrote:Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?
No, they are confirmed in 2nd place, with 22 pts against the Canes pn 21.
Ummm, the canes get points when they win?

Bookmarked.

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:17 am

WoodlandsRFC wrote:
Wilderbeast wrote:
Kiwias wrote:
Shrekles wrote:Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?
No, they are confirmed in 2nd place, with 22 pts against the Canes pn 21.
Ummm, the canes get points when they win?
Bookmarked.

Bring it on

Kiwias · Post by **Kiwias** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:40 am

WoodlandsRFC wrote:
Wilderbeast wrote:
Kiwias wrote:
Shrekles wrote:Do the Blues have to win to finish 2nd?
No, they are confirmed in 2nd place, with 22 pts against the Canes pn 21.

Of course, if the Canes win their last match and the Blues lose, then the Canes come 2nd.
Ummm, the canes get points when they win?
Bookmarked.

Auckman · Post by **Auckman** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 2:20 am

Who are the Canes playing?

2nd spot should have a Cup on the line. Blues have already won the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy. I'm hungry for more success.

WoodlandsRFC · Post by **WoodlandsRFC** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 2:28 am

Auckman wrote:Who are the Canes playing?

2nd spot should have a Cup on the line. Blues have already won the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy. I'm hungry for more success.

On the road against the Highlanderd

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 2:38 am

jdogscoop wrote:I expect a champion team to have a champion attitude.

That means "man-shaming the Blues, prison-style".

They can rest after the weekend and the new guys will get their chance, just not this weekend.

Sign off in style, Crusaders. You can doooo iiiiiiiit.

Don’t often agree with you but you’re on the money here. Supporting the wrong team though. Don’t you realise all neutrals should be anti-crusaders?