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blair003:networkn: Not sure I'd call it a dismantling (The first game was) but there was something wrong with the Crusaders last night, very wrong. It's rare to see them looking so lethargic and more concerning that Blackadder didn't seem that worried at half time. It just felt like they decided that they didn't care if they lost. I do get the impression that the team has either been told or believes that they have a MONSTER year in front of them and they aren't going to try too hard for fear of having nothing left for the World Cup.
I can't recall a time I've seen Andy Ellis kick out on the full, and last night I think he did it three times. Tom Taylor was one of the only players who seemed to WANT to go forward.
Re Yellow Card for Cane, it was 100% deserved. The Crusaders had just made a 50m break and had they of had fast ball had a very good chance of scoring (one of the very few all game). The halfback is not necessarily the #9, but any person who picks the ball off the ground at the bottom of a ruck or scrum, (nominated is the term).
Tameifuna continues to be the Chiefs biggest penalty magnet, I really dislike him and the way he plays, he was fairly lucky not to get a card himself for the penalties and cynical way he plays. I have grave concerns for the All Blacks if Rennie Coaches them, for the negative way he coaches his team to play.
The Crusaders made the Chiefs look better than they were to my thinking, though their defence reminds me of the Crusaders at the moment.
Seriously? You are the epitome of a one-eyed red and black fan.
One team last night was trying to use the ball at every opportunity and played some good rugby, and one team was trying to kick goals and looked devoid of attacking ideas right from the start. And for some reason you'd have grave concerns if the coach of the former team were to coach the AB's? Shouldn't you be admonishing the coach of the latter?
Upon a re-examination of my comments I can see you might have come to that conclusion, but if you look at my commentary in general I feel the way I do about the Chiefs when they play everyone else as well.
If you take a long look at all the comments I make across all Rugby you'll see that I generally disfavour the Chiefs for their negative tactics (They are the most penalised and yellow carded team in the competition.) and of course as a Crusaders fan will support Crusaders Rugby. However my comments should have probably been limited to the Crusaders poor performance.
Your comments re the coaches is silly. I clearly stated concerns about the Crusaders coach, and given my comments about the Chiefs, I wouldn't want the AB's to play that negative style of Rugby personally. Rennie has brought Mongrel to the Chiefs and some will applaud that, it certainly gets them some results, however as a Rugby fan I'd rather watch and support AB's current Rugby style than the Chiefs.
