Crusaders vs Blues: Super Rugby Aotearoa live scores

I only analyse ref mistakes in the attacking half. Over2 to one in crusaders favour which prove insurmountable.

that was last year - now they are hardly the all blacks. no longer do they put out an all black pack - which showed against Blues who won most of the set pieces and had the upper hand all game.

Blues or any other team just dont have the gas to go with Cursaders. Blues gave 110% for about 25 minutes in each half but after that they faded. Particularly by the 4th 1/4 of the game Blues were spent. people say crusaders are an 80 minute team - i say they are 100 minute team ! and the crusaders bench is still much better than any other team - despite losing many players last year but it looks like the loss of Cullan Grace is affecting their lineout. and without Barrett the scrum is also not the same as last year. after all crusaders pack now is not the all black pack anymore and it shows Blues must be happy that Tuipolatu and Akira are both playing to their size after many years But i am still not sure why they went with Plummer instead of TJF ??? or in other words to my very amateur eye he made no marked difference to attack or defence return the blues will win - but by that time crusaders will have won the cup anyways!!

Yes Mounga has out played Barrett in most fixtures over the last 3 years, enough to convence the AB coaches to shift Barrett to 15 and experiment with that dual playmaker role.. The only problem with this is that they did this experiment a year late, in the world cup season... It was clear by the end of 2018 SR season that we had a new #10 that was better under the rush defence strategies and Barrett was being found out, especially by nth hemisphere teams..

He also missed blatant Blues infringements, it wasn’t just one way. I think this is the only point we disagree on. I agree the Crusaders got away with a bit and also agree that Williams needs to do a review of the game. I just think the bad calls went both ways. Well done to your boys getting over on Sunday. Thought they were letting the Landers in with a sniff at the end.

The ref didn’t rule on blatant crusader infringements. That’s the rub of the green to supporters but to impartial watchers like me who couldn’t care who wins is problematic this is the biggest issue I see every week. Poor club referees and below par performances like this. Williams will be embarrassed when his game review is done and he watches the tape.

Good for you. But you also don’t have to be a ref, former ref, or refs coach, to know the rules. By questioning the refs decisions you’re essentially saying ‘refs can get it wrong’. We agree on that. I just didn’t see as a one way street, but by your comments it seems like you did. Your status as a former ref and/or ref coach doesn’t change anything, as refs can it it wrong too; It doesn’t make you infallible.

Are knowledgable comments not allowed now. Only crusaders supporters.

I coach referees. No need to anymore.

Rubbish. You are a real cheerleader

I absolutely agree that Mounga is an outstanding game breaking freak and showed that in this game. I just don't understand how some people just don't rate him. The Saders are just a class above the rest.

Always thought kickers really gamble with how far they take it back, and with a slow approach too, some are asking for trouble. I have been well impressed with the Blues and supportEd them against anyone but the Crusaders. Wrote an article earlier about the Blues rebirth and have been well pleased with the way they have kicked on. Wouldn’t surprise me if this is the only game they drop and even head off the Crusaders at Eden Park. Bonus points could be a real factor if that happens.

I am aware of that Paulo. Begrudgingly I concede that the Crusaders are a real wonderful rugby team, but through thick and thin, Blues are my team. Actually I wasn’t ‘heart broken’ to lose in Chch last night, I mean, it was a really brilliant game. I felt that Ennor’s charge down was crucial as a successful conversion of Ioane’s try meant that Crusaders has to score twice to head off the Blues. Not saying they wouldn’t have achieved that but a different mindset to. Black should have taken the conversion back a few metres say to the 22, no way would Ennor have charged down the conversion attempt. And yep, the Round 10 match at Eden Park should be a beaut.

Perfectly summed up. And clear problem, where do you play him, as he is that good you want him there... but just where? I don’t think 10 is his jam any more; the game has moved on from his style and top teams figured him out. 15 does seem to be a good spot but so much in form competition around these days.

He is from Waverley... Taranaki... long way from ChCH.

The thing is that BB is so good you want him in the side – but where ? He can play to international level (I suspect) anywhere from 10-15. But he isn’t a lock-down at any. He has technical flaws for a 10 that get exposed by teams like the Cru and, increasingly, top international sides. The Yellow team decided not to start him at 10 any longer agin the Cru because he was a significant factor in them being picked apart. IMO he still looks a better bet at 15. Mo’unga and Black are real 5/8s. Everything about their game shows time crafting their specific position. As do Josh Ioane, Mitch Hunt, and others. Black is coming along very nicely. His head seems to be in the right place and is looking very tidy in his core delivery – I think Rangi has this well under control.

The All Blacks were decisively out thought and out coached last year. And with a substantial Crusaders muster. The only thing that was missing was the Crusaders coaching staff. I agree that Eddie Jones would have had a harder job picking off Razor (or even Robbie Deans for that matter). For a start I doubt that the Cru's defensive lineout under any of their recent forwards coaches would have been as ineffective as the All Blacks equivalent. If the Crusaders were there with Hansen as coach (under the same game plan) they would still have lost in the same manner IMO - and by a larger score.

It’s always a tough ask to go down south. People were saying the Blues aren’t the real deal until they beat the Crusaders, bollocks, they are the real deal now. They don’t need to beat the Crusaders to prove that. They do need to sort out the killer blow, that last 10-20mins when the lungs are blowing and legs are tired. They fix that in the next 5 weeks we will have the final everyone wants at Eden Park.

BB won it in ‘16 and ‘17, 3 years ago. He was nominated in ‘18. At that time, he would have been the best. He was great. But today, as in right now, I don’t think he is the best we have for what the game needs. The game has changed and defences have changed. His strengths are not as prevalent as they use to be and Mo’unga’s style works better to control and shape a game. Especially in the face of rush defences which cut down space and time. Look at last nights MOTM performance as an example of the current state of play. Completely outplayed BB. And yes, Black is preferred at 10 over BB (the 2020 BB, not the ‘16, ‘17 BB), to start with, so you need to take a step back ask why is that?

And that is why the Saders are the most hated n respected team in NZ.....damn, they did it again.