Qualifying Final: 2.Crusaders v 5.Reds 6/06

[cyclopath]

You need to learn a bit about scrums - and then have a good look at the scrums to ascertain what actually happened. The ref let blatant penalty behaviour by both the Crus LHP and THP go. Others above have spelled it out.

Oh, this could be good...
Where is @Pfitzy?

 

[HogansHeros]

Its always appreciated when someone signs up to educate the rest of us idiots on here.

 

[cyclopath]

I'm not doubting Mark's credentials, It's just that @Pfitzy does pride himself on his knowledge of the black arts, as he has told me many times!

 

[TSR]

I figured Pfitzy hasn’t responded yet because his heads exploded.

 

[Derpus]

He pretends to be knowledgeable about inherently unknowable subject matter to look smart and impress ladies.

 

[TSR]

Like everyone in a Tahs match thread.

Not everyone at all. A small minority (Tahs fans don’t count - fans doing it to there team is a different kettle of fish, exactly as it is Reds fans on here). And if you want to take to task anyone who does, go right ahead. IMO more than fair enough.

But even if they are - that doesn’t justify bringing the same shit on here.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Third failed HIA for Lynagh this year?

That's really hard to watch and I'm pretty disappointed for him

 

[Adam84]

From the match I thought Flook made a good showing despite that pass selection early on when he made the break, the inside man was covered but still would have been a better option.

Reds were missing 5 starters/wallabies arguably; Faessler, Wright, Hodgman, Uru and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto).. who might have helped the scrum/breakdown but the players replacing them should have stepped up better anyway.

HMP on the bench for Lynagh would have been better, but to be honest I don’t think his style was suited to that game anyway. Limited range on the boot.

 

[Yoda]

Third failed HIA for Lynagh this year?

That's really hard to watch and I'm pretty disappointed for him

The Lions will run straight over him every game if he starts like many seem to think he should. He’s a tough little bugger and kicks well…. just not sure if he’s quite ready to lead the Wallabies around the park. His concussions are a fair concern for his health moving forward.

 

[Major Tom]

Tbh I’d love to win the whole thing. But super rugby is so bloody hard to win

I think all you want in rugby is a contest where it is a fair fight. Are the Crusaders the better team tonight? Sure. But let’s reflect on what allowed them to grow into such dominance throughout the match. The damage was done in the first half where both teams were willing but one was being watched with laser scrutiny and the other wasn’t. Reds scrum gets hammered early despite a couple of clear Crusaders indiscretions that are ignored. Wild west at the ruck and offside line means Reds quick ball nullified. Reds get desperate and change their plans on the run, which then compounds those earlier issues. This builds and builds throughout the half, and with the trend set the Crusaders march on freely with carte blanch to do as they please. At this point some would contend that it’s up to the Reds to adapt to the ref, and maybe that’s true. But at this point is it even really possible? And bigger picture, with an eye on the health on the game, should they? Or should they, and all of us, just expect a higher quality of refereeing where both teams are scrutinised equally and we get the fair contest that rugby is meant to be all about?

So maybe it makes me a sook for complaining about the ref, but we deserve better. But I guess this is the game now. Anyway, fuck it. I hope whoever plays the Crusaders next week roll them, their wife beater on the wing, and all the sycophants who still hero worship the little twerp. Good luck Brumbies as the final Australian chance, but I’m not holding out any hope.

The crusader player getting blocking Tates early snipe is seared into my brain. That was a penalty everyday of the week!

 

[PenaltyPete]

The team looked very lost without Lynagh, almost as if Tate was playing 2 positions at once. Definitely would have benefitted from having HMP on the bench.

 

[Lyall]

Nice man, well done.

But pretty sure there’s a thread elsewhere for the next wallabies coach to talk about how mediocre Kiss is and how Larkham should have got the job. You’re not even talking about the match itself….can we talk about the match please?

Would it help if we could all agree on Larkham being the next Wallaby coach?

 

[Major Tom]

The Lions will run straight over him every game if he starts like many seem to think he should. He’s a tough little bugger and kicks well…. just not sure if he’s quite ready to lead the Wallabies around the park. His concussions are a fair concern for his health moving forward.

That’s why you stick Valetini next to him or pick Kerevi or JAS in the midfield

 

[Adam84]

Would it help if we could all agree on Larkham being the next Wallaby coach?

Maybe then we can all go post the Brumbies matchday thread about him.

But Nah… you’ll still have those whinging it should be Cheika

 

[Marbig]

The team looked very lost without Lynagh, almost as if Tate was playing 2 positions at once. Definitely would have benefitted from having HMP on the bench.

This has been the case every game this year where Lynagh hasn’t played or gone off. Completely different side without him unfortunately

 

[Pfitzy]

Well I've probably packed a few thousand scrums (including against ex-pro and -Test players), and analysed at least double that, so I'll consider myself a fair student of the dark arts.

 

[Sword of Justice]

The Lions will run straight over him every game if he starts like many seem to think he should. He’s a tough little bugger and kicks well…. just not sure if he’s quite ready to lead the Wallabies around the park. His concussions are a fair concern for his health moving forward.

At least 2 out of 3 of those concussions have been supremely unlucky collateral shots to the head. His defence is good and he’s not really smaller than the Lions 10s.

 

[Shiggins]

Few shit calls for the reds in the first half.

Reds first attack crusaders miles offside when Tate ran through. He ran straight into an offside player who then tackled him. Then Tate made a great steal and got penalised.

Jordan wins a penalty somehow when crusaders kick it through at the end of first half. Jordan never released Jocc Campbell. Was a clear penalty to the reds. 50/50 calls never went their way unfortunately.
Seeing JOC (James O'Connor) kick it dead from the penalty was hilarious. Very Australian. Can't have that in test rugby.

What was with the call at 48 min. Told the crusaders to not hold the reds player in there and then Penalised the reds player for not rolling when the reds counter ruck ?

The big difference in this game apart from no 50/50s going the reds way was the scrum. Can't win a game when the scrum keeps getting pinged like that.

Flook was great, I thought Tate shows why he has to be 9 for the wallabies and should have been for years. Wilson and mcreight combo no question has to be wallabies selection. No question

 

[Pfitzy]

The ref let blatant penalty behaviour by both the Crus LHP and THP go. Others above have spelled it out.

What? Pushing? I mean, don't get me wrong - sounds radical if that is illegal now. I must have missed that in the pre-season GMGs meeting with the other refs.

Or you've switched over to what you thought was the NRL

Careful using the opinions of "others" as your foundation, particularly around here. Most of them aren't very bright.

Anyway, my current sentence requires me to perform community service to the mentally infirm (specific I know), so - for your benefit, let's remember - I'll go back to what I said:

Why keep picking Nonggor when he's not the best THP?

This is a simple fact.

Zane has a good work rate around the park, and in general, but scrummaging isn't the strongest aspect of his game. I would rate him behind almost every other THP in Australia at the pro level for scrummaging.

Of course I'm looking at the team sheet now and wondering where De Lutiis and Hodgman were - assume they were injured?

It's finals footy and you want your best scrummager out there, particularly on a cold, shitty night in a cold, shitty stadium in front of a bunch of cold, shitty Kiwis. So if nobody was better than Nonggor, so be it.

And I'm not laying all the blame at Zane's feet when I criticise him. That wouldn't be fair.

Looking at the first 3-4 scrums, the issue starts with Ryan Smith packing *way* too high and giving Nonngor little to no support. First scrum at 04:20 is a prime example - pressure comes on and you see the second row inside shoulders camber.

That said: a good prop would realise what is happening, and slap that second row donkey in the face before the next scrum, and tell him to adjust his height. In simple words; they're simple creatures, the lock forward.

And when you're up against a particularly large specimen like Wiliams, you need to get low. If you are not getting lower than him, you're stuffed, and that means your lock has to get down there with you. Bend your fkn levers!

I'd also say Ryan's bind isn't long enough on Canham, so that rotation of his left shoulder up is always going to happen. He's binding up under the shoulder line, meaning his torso is more likely to rotate under pressure. I find this bizarre in many modern scrums.

One of the last scrums of the game the replacement Reds THP (Bloomfield?) is on, and with Blyth behind him and George Bower opposing, they get it right. The change of opposing prop is the factor, but the Crusaders #5 is still packing LH Lock so the other dynamics aren't much different.

I'll leave it there.

 

[Pfitzy]

Unfortunately going to lose a lot of games if your front row gets demolished

Especially as it is an easy exit for an opposition with a working lineout. Stuck in your 22? No you're not!