NPR

Twas a mere blip. He'll be fine.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:19 pm Twas a mere blip. He'll be fine.

So, are you thinking in terms of Finau, Ardie and Sititi?

Hugo wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:46 pm

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:19 pm Twas a mere blip. He'll be fine.

So, are you thinking in terms of Finau, Ardie and Sititi?

Yep, with Lakai or Jacobson on the bench please.

You’d need Ardie’s work rate to cover for Finau’s cards…

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 11:40 pm You’d need Ardie’s work rate to cover for Finau’s cards…

Ahem, Blackadder was the only Kiwi loose forward to cop a card in the QFs...

Enzedder wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:12 pm Sounds good but he didn't learn from the first penalty and did it again.

He needs to PROVE that he has gotten on top of it before he gets my support.

This. Top two inches are still needed.

Laumape has signed a two year deal with Moana.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/ ... RPQMNCI2E/

Crusaders' team to face the Blues named, no Tomarty Williams...

The Blues have named Zarn Sullivan to start at 15...

1. Joshua Fusitu’a (36)
2. Ricky Riccitelli (50)
3. Marcel Renata (65)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (capt) (123)
5. Laghlan McWhannell (22)
6. Adrian Choat (53)
7. Dalton Papali’i (96)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (77)
9. Finlay Christie (67)
10. Beauden Barrett (43)
11. Caleb Clarke (74)
12. AJ Lam (57)
13. Rieko Ioane (127)
14. Mark Tele’a (79)
15. Zarn Sullivan (41)

Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund (74), 17. Jordan Lay (26), 18. Angus Ta’avao (81), 19. Josh Beehre (26), 20. Anton Segner (36), 21. Sam Nock (81), 22. Harry Plummer (88), 23. Cole Forbes (29)

I reckon Cotter will be playing heavily into this underdog 'us against the world' mentality they're cultivating if the social media output from the likes of Rieko over the last couple of weeks is any indication. He's also trying to put all the pressure on the Crusaders due to their remarkable streak at home...

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/11/heav ... rs-record/

Blues coach Vern Cotter has drawn attention to the Crusaders’ remarkable 30-match unbeaten run in Super Rugby home playoff matches, saying the record will bring its own "heavy" pressure.

The defending champion Blues will play the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night in the first semifinal and will travel with the confidence of a team in winning form under a coach prepared to fire a few subtle psychological digs along the way.

“We’re enjoying this,” Cotter said today after his side came from behind to beat the Chiefs 20-19 in last weekend’s qualifier at Waikato Stadium.

“That’s the key thing. Going down to Canterbury – we’re aware of their record. Thirty without losing. One day they’re going to lose and they’ve got the pressure of that on top of them.”

It might work, he might be able to get into their heads. It usually fails, though.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 4:19 am I reckon Cotter will be playing heavily into this underdog 'us against the world' mentality they're cultivating if the social media output from the likes of Rieko over the last couple of weeks is any indication. He's also trying to put all the pressure on the Crusaders due to their remarkable streak at home...

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/11/heav ... rs-record/

Blues coach Vern Cotter has drawn attention to the Crusaders’ remarkable 30-match unbeaten run in Super Rugby home playoff matches, saying the record will bring its own "heavy" pressure.

The defending champion Blues will play the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night in the first semifinal and will travel with the confidence of a team in winning form under a coach prepared to fire a few subtle psychological digs along the way.

“We’re enjoying this,” Cotter said today after his side came from behind to beat the Chiefs 20-19 in last weekend’s qualifier at Waikato Stadium.

“That’s the key thing. Going down to Canterbury – we’re aware of their record. Thirty without losing. One day they’re going to lose and they’ve got the pressure of that on top of them.”

It might work, he might be able to get into their heads. It usually fails, though.

i can't remember it being tried much before

One for the Brumbies and their fans

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 4:19 am I reckon Cotter will be playing heavily into this underdog 'us against the world' mentality they're cultivating if the social media output from the likes of Rieko over the last couple of weeks is any indication. He's also trying to put all the pressure on the Crusaders due to their remarkable streak at home...

It might work, he might be able to get into their heads. It usually fails, though.

Fails the way the ABs' record at Eden Park does not seem to phase them too much

Enzedder wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:12 am One for the Brumbies and their fans

Brumbies.jpg

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 4:10 am Crusaders' team to face the Blues named, no Tomarty Williams...

Bowers photo looks like a Grindr profile

Reading through the teams sparked a memory of the 'Saders side that played the Sharks at Twickenham
McCaw was injured, iirc
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/c ... eams/44923

Is that the best club side ever?

It can't be too far off.

Caleb Clark to unleash a spectacular hat-trick in massive Christchurch upset.


But seriously... has a player ever been picked on the wing for the ABs after failing to score a single feckin' try all year?

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 8:32 am Reading through the teams sparked a memory of the 'Saders side that played the Sharks at Twickenham
McCaw was injured, iirc
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/c ... eams/44923

Is that the best club side ever?

It can't be too far off.

That was the season after the earthquake that flattened Christchurch, physically and emotionally. The Crusaders played the whole season without a home ground, hosting other teams in odd places like Twickers, along with a match played on the West Coast of the South Island where they wore a special jersey in local colours ( I think it was red and white hoops) in honour of the miners who had lost their lives in the Pike River mining disaster.

I was living in Perth at the time and watched the final at a rugby friendly pub in Cottesloe with, among others, Townie from the old bored, a lunatic at the best of times and an ardent Queenslander. Hell of a night, I think SFBB was there too. Townie shouted a shitload of pints for everyone and then at the prompting of his girlfriend, we all went to a strip club.

Good times, good times. Shit of a year but that was a happy night despite being on the losing side, the sheer joy of the maniacs was contagious.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:53 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 8:32 am Reading through the teams sparked a memory of the 'Saders side that played the Sharks at Twickenham
McCaw was injured, iirc
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/c ... eams/44923

Is that the best club side ever?

It can't be too far off.

That was the season after the earthquake that flattened Christchurch, physically and emotionally. The Crusaders played the whole season without a home ground, hosting other teams in odd places like Twickers, along with a match played on the West Coast of the South Island where they wore a special jersey in local colours ( I think it was red and white hoops) in honour of the miners who had lost their lives in the Pike River mining disaster.

I was living in Perth at the time and watched the final at a rugby friendly pub in Cottesloe with, among others, Townie from the old bored, a lunatic at the best of times and an ardent Queenslander. Hell of a night, I think SFBB was there too. Townie shouted a shitload of pints for everyone and then at the prompting of his girlfriend, we all went to a strip club.

Good times, good times. Shit of a year but that was a happy night despite being on the losing side, the sheer joy of the maniacs was contagious.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:53 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 8:32 am Reading through the teams sparked a memory of the 'Saders side that played the Sharks at Twickenham
McCaw was injured, iirc
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/c ... eams/44923

Is that the best club side ever?

It can't be too far off.

That was the season after the earthquake that flattened Christchurch, physically and emotionally. The Crusaders played the whole season without a home ground, hosting other teams in odd places like Twickers, along with a match played on the West Coast of the South Island where they wore a special jersey in local colours ( I think it was red and white hoops) in honour of the miners who had lost their lives in the Pike River mining disaster.

I was living in Perth at the time and watched the final at a rugby friendly pub in Cottesloe with, among others, Townie from the old bored, a lunatic at the best of times and an ardent Queenslander. Hell of a night, I think SFBB was there too. Townie shouted a shitload of pints for everyone and then at the prompting of his girlfriend, we all went to a strip club.

Good times, good times. Shit of a year but that was a happy night despite being on the losing side, the sheer joy of the maniacs was contagious.

I remember the Scottish rugby team visiting Christchurch as they had been due to play there in the World Cup. The players got involved with coaching kids and they donated to the relief fund

James Doleman the ref for the Christchurch game.

Nic Berry has the Hamilton one.

This is a bit like USA presidential candidates.

Doleman is an 'interesting' ref, he clearly has interests outside the game he's reffing in the moment.

Berry ... well, he's usually accurate.

Enzedder wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:12 am One for the Brumbies and their fans

Brumbies.jpg

Africa theme.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:42 am

Enzedder wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:12 am One for the Brumbies and their fans

Brumbies.jpg

Africa theme.

What gave it away?

Gumboot wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:08 am Caleb Clark to unleash a spectacular hat-trick in massive Christchurch upset.


But seriously... has a player ever been picked on the wing for the ABs after failing to score a single feckin' try all year?

He hasn't scored once? Wow.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/competition-stats/

To your point, not many prolific Kiwi try scorers this season - Leroy Carter with 9 is the only NZer in the top 5. Then Reece, then Sullivan.

Word on the street that Richie Mo was seen at Moana HQ today. That will ruffle some feathers if it eventually ends in a signature

I'm salivating at the thought of this game in Christchurch. This should be a belter. Saders won both of the games against the Blues this season and have never lost a home final but I give the Blues a chance to pull off an upset. If they can just make it a narrow, defensive arm wrestle they can do it imo.

Enzedder wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:39 am Word on the street that Richie Mo was seen at Moana HQ today. That will ruffle some feathers if it eventually ends in a signature

That would be blockbuster and great for the game imo. I know these Japanese contracts are important to the players for them to top up their earnings but RM playing for Moana is ten times a more exciting prospect.

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 10:30 am

I remember the Scottish rugby team visiting Christchurch as they had been due to play there in the World Cup. The players got involved with coaching kids and they donated to the relief fund

But they recovered from that too.... Only joking tichtheid.

Gumboot wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:47 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:42 am

Enzedder wrote: Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:12 am One for the Brumbies and their fans

Brumbies.jpg

Africa theme.

What gave it away?

No Poneys.

Hugo wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:18 pm I'm salivating at the thought of this game in Christchurch. This should be a belter. Saders won both of the games against the Blues this season and have never lost a home final but I give the Blues a chance to pull off an upset. If they can just make it a narrow, defensive arm wrestle they can do it imo.

There has been a bit of social media bantering from the Blues camp over the last few weeks that seems to centre on Rieko. He was having a dig of some sort at Ardie after the MP game... I haven't followed it, just seen it quoted elsewhere. It revolves around a sort of 'you haven't seen anything yet, we're the real deal' vibe and my guess is they've been stung by criticsm of their season. I'm thinking they're feeding off that emotion and will bring a real desire to shut down the Crusaders' party, relishing the chance to give it to the fans in Christchurch... there's no shortage of feeling in this clash. Think back to Carlos scoring a try, deliberately running over to the corner to dot it down so he could give it to the crowd.

The thing is, the Crusaders have got Ennor playing opposite Rieko and he matches him for speed, skills and rugby smarts. More importantly... he's got the arrogant dickhead gene as well so in addition to the matchups across the field and especially in the packs, we've got the Battle of the Colossal Tossers out in the centres to watch.

I reckon there'll be punches thrown within the first 20 minutes and no shortage of niggly gamesmanship like throwing the ball away at penalties, that sort of thing.

Never been a big Ennor fan, but it's great that he's finally getting some decent game time, and he's playing bloody well tbf. Looking forward to his match-up with Rieko tonight... won't be too surprised if they both make Razor's squad.

A cool Christchurch night, almost at kick-off.

Blues off to a good start

That tackle looked a bit suspicious at first glance, though he did look as if he was wrapping his arms first

That yellow card is so avoidable - we never had anything like the number of head clashes the modern players do. Now Saders are 7 points and a player down.

Crusaders giving themselves some work to do

The overhead replay of Rieko’s try was interesting. Just from a physics point of view. Angle, trajectory, that sort of thing.

Saders back in it.

Tell me how and why a player who’s been in the bin has to do a HIA before he comes back in when he’s been sitting on the sidelines for 10 minutes doing nothing.