Blues beat Crusaders for first time in 10 years, Chiefs survive late scare

Pat T has been there or thereabouts for a number of years and still, he's struggled to show his potential. Vaii and Lord are youngsters in terms of locks and have time on their radars, to gain improvement. IMO, the only coach capable of assisting them is Jase Ryan and the ABs only had him, for the last 2years. Now, the AB pack will have him, through to the next RWC.

TBH I’m referring to the ‘ Razor reign’ !

Well ten years ago they were beaten finalists with a team that included names such as Carter, Crotty, Dagg, Read, McCaw, Whitelock, Franks and Moody etc. A much better side than they have now and probably a better side than most current super rugby sides now. That’s why I gave that time frame but sure they were really dominant for the last seven.

Nice one phantom. I could be very wrong and time will tell how Robertson fares with the ABs but I get the sense that Australia may nick a win vs the Abs in this years rugby championship.

I am not worried

Why do people rate Vaai so highly? Seems like an underpowered lock to me who hasn't stepped up to be test ready in the 4 years he's been in the ABs environment. I would take Party T over him in a heartbeat.

Totally agree. Great points.

Really like the look of Cole Forbes, he's not only gifted with pace, power and skill but he has rugby IQ which is arguably even more important. He's only 24 too, and I definitely see him as an AB bolter sooner rather than later. So glad Scotland didn't cap him.

Saders and Force are both on the bottom because of their injuries. We are at the stage where the campaigns from other sides will also be affected as the injuries mount up and injured players return.

Crusaders been underwhelming this season and the mounting casualty ward is not helping, and good on the Chiefs for holding on.

Yep OB as definitely both Bower & Moody are pretty good as we know. As far as TH props go, there are a few but de Groot IMO does take holding out at LH.

I'm sure Ainsley came on as a sub....?? But, fair point Muzz. Although, I would've enjoyed watching EdG and Dyer going at it. This is Dyer's 3rd SR season - he got a couple of games when Angus was Chief's preferred TH prop, back in 2022. When Gus was injured last year, they promoted Dyer alongside the Irishman (Ryan), who was Gus's injury replacement. I hope he gets a start this weekend against the Saders - be interesting to see how he goes against Bower or Moody. I mean, it took Lomax a few seasons, before we finally got to see his TH abilities.....so, keep an eye on this bloke for future, TH props.

I sure hope not. Be unlike NZR to panic.

Im an ABs fan and sorry, No concern whatsoever.

Barrett, Burke, Williams, Ennor Mounga, Fainganuku, Goodhue, McLeod, Jordan, Whitelock, Taylor all missing from last year. Some injured some gone.

I still believe they can make the 8. Only going to need 4 wins probably and there is time. Not a hope if they dont get some cattle back tho.

But that's the thing. With the way things are now, with the Chiefs PD programme up and running and looking to reload, the Blues PD programme in a better state than it has been in the professional era [though some of Cotter's choices are questionable, so we'll see] the Hurricanes PD near instantly snapping into shape at the top level at least with a new coach, and even the Highlanders finally getting off their backsides and doing PD [for the first time in their near thirty year existence], the scope for the Crusaders to make mistakes with PD is far, far less. Just beleiving that it will somehow just "come right" is magical thinking of the worst sort. The Crusaders U20's won the national comp on Saturday, playing really well balanced and mature rugby, so the talent is there, and across all postions, but you still have a coaching group who is good enough to recognise and then manage it properly. The good thing is the current hole the Crusaders have dug for themselves is forcing even the most reluctant and bigoted to recognise just how good Robertson and Ryan and Hansen are.

Yeah when 14 of your top 15 are missing it can take a bit to come right again.

You are right. It really is a season by season thing for all teams to build that depth for the future. Then hopefully coaching can fill in any gaps. But hang on to them first if you can.

Sort of. The players currently being used are as talented as any group in the country, but they lack experience. Fita Sa and Cunningham-South, even if they had been kept, are both only 21, as are Taula and Holland, so the short term difference wouldn't be great. But the group coming through at the moment is, collectively, one dimensional, with no tall locks and no explosive loose forwards. Both are risky propositions, but also vital. And the cupboard is bare.