Semi Final: Bulls v Crusaders

[QKXV]

Crusaders by 18.

My title says this will be true lol!
[/b]

LOL GG, is that the gamers title you're refferring to? Because it sounds like a score you got from playing Crusader v Bulls on EA sports.



Esoj, good response and fair play to your attitude towards exposure. My post was not specifically aimed at you as a member and quality poster and sorry for using it as the trigger to my response when infact I should've quoted all the other posts I based my little rant on.

I have several NZ friends, both here and there, who are very knowledgable, down to earth and have never detected an ounce of arrogance in any of them, even when it comes to the phenomenon that is NZ rugby - as opposed to what I perceive as 'attitudes' displayed by several members on TRF. So I suppose my rant was more about the fact that I am dissapointed in my own mistaken generalisation that all Kiwi's are like my mates than anything you (Esoj) did personally. Sorry

There are plenty of NZ members on the forum who doesn't display the attitudes that started off my call for a ego shift but the few that does is starting to create an image that surpasses the one traditionally reserved for us arrogant boorish Saffas or even the Americans (now I've done it) - a trait best suited to our collective social personalities than it is to yours (NZlanders).


Here's to a good semi and may the best team win.

 

[esoj]

hehe QkXV no problem mate. I agree they are some in nz that think the abs are unstoppable and indestructible. I would hate to be them if the abs lose the world cup lol.

as for this semi well it will be a huge game but I still think the crusaders will get the win by about 7 points

 

[BokMagic]

Fourie Du Preez now confirmed as a non-starter due to injury. So he`ll be well rested for next week`s final at the Shark Tank in Durban.

 

[dobrien7]

The thing I quite like about these two semis is that I honestly don't care what combination of teams make up the final, there will be 3 good games regardless before the titles decided. Further to the honesty plug, my least favoured option would be Crusaders v Blues final actually.

 

[woosaah]

well sharks have made it now who ever wins this meet the sharks in shark country. go crusaders...

i am in chat for this game if anyone cares

 

[redunderthebed]

Carn the bulls! :bana:

 

[Huckleberry]

Got to say the ref was against the CRUSADERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ozzy]

What a crap game. Very scrappy and ill disciplined. Another bad performance by my most hated ref Mat "the Whiner" Goddard and I'm not saying the Crusaders were hard done by because they weren't they deserved to lose that match. But Goddard made some really awful calls both ways, now you might say well he was consistent then, but that's a cop out you shouldn't get a pass because you consistently suck.
As for the game well it was start stop and was a huge step down in intensity after the Sharks game.
I thought the Bulls were pretty average to be honest, they almost looked like they didn't believe they could beat the crusaders, but were disabused of that thought with a truly woeful crusaders performance.
All the Big match players stunk and the crusaders front row should never have got them this far in the first place, they are an npc level bunch, the step up to S14 is too soon or too much for them.
In brighter news, Thorne's AB spot should be ensured now that Flavell has let everyone know he is a twat.

 

[The TRUTH]

Go you Bulls :bravo:... well deserved victory and what about that crowd ey? AMAZING!

DIE BLOU BUL EET NIE VAN DIE VLOER AF NIE
DIE BLOU BUL WEET NIE VAN VERLOOR AF NIE
DIE BLOU BUL SUKKEL NIE SY ROER AF NIE
NOU VRA JY MY VIR WIE EK SKREE

I have no idea what it means but i can never get this bloody song out of my head.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
If the Crusaders are kicking the **** out of themselves in bar-room brawls, they won't have much left for the serious stuff.

Is it all falling to pieces for the ABs?
[/b]

on get your hand off it seriously. it was like 2-3 crusaders player who aren't even in the starting team it seems and were defending themselves from being attacked. this kind of thing happens all the time and we would hear nothing about it if they weren't crusaders players. the AB's are not falling to pecies and I think nz having 2 teams in the top 4 show that things are just fine.
[/b][/quote]
People seem very sensitive if anyone dare to suggest the tiniest possiblity that NZ players are not as infallible as it all are made to look, you guys should really not believe all the hype they're creating for you over there in la-la land, becuase the possibilty does exist that NZ might lose the world cup, the comedown will be so much harder. I am a big fan of NZ rugby but this is getting ridiculous now.

My biggest wish is thay they simply outplay the Crusaders in every single aspect of the game and bring some of these inflated I-am-kiwi-it's-in-my-blood-don't-f**k-with-us egos back down to size in the process.
[/b][/quote]

I just hate idiots that spout out of complete ****. I responded in due kind with a reply that exposed this **** and pointed out how stupid it was. I know the abs aren't indestructable but at the same time I know **** from actual fact. some people on here will just post up **** about the abs and seemingly have no clue of rugby in the southern hemisphere. they will keep posting and I will keep exposing.
[/b][/quote]
Yeah, I'm an idiot. It's this perverse refusal to accept that NZ rugby is so far ahead of the rest of the world. But ...

*McCaw gets reffed properly and ends up a liability to his team.
*Carter plays a fine game, but the Bulls say So What?
*NZ scrums get destroyed in both semis.
*There were three big matches today, and of the six teams playing Leicester were the best by a distance, unimaginative Bulls second, and scatty Sharks third.

 

[Ripper]

Wait - You mean the All Blacks played today?

Why wasn't I informed of this? All I thought was on was 2 out of 5 New Zealand Teams playing, which combined probably only have around 1/2 of the starting XV coached by two inferior coaches to Graham Henry. And there is a bit of difference between playing in South Africa and Playing in New Zealand - I don't think the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks out of the republic this decade - and last time I checked the World Cup will be decided in France, where we thrashed the French who according to your little ramblings were so much tougher and had a better defence than us, 47-3.... in the rain.

The Scrums? Only 3 players of the Starting All Black Pack were playing today - and Mealamu came off the bench, so there goes that little point out of the window.

The funny thing is Leinster who were playing for the title probably contain a greater porportion of the Irish team than Crusaders or Blues and they just got pumped by Cardiff.

 

[shtove]

Are you being sarcastic?

Mealamu seemed to make a big difference in the scrum. Up to then, every time Sharks packed down you were expecting it to turn into a rolling maul. (But then he had a crucial lineout throw at the end and it went crooked.) In the other semis, the Crusaders front row was popping out like a bridesmaid's tits. That was actually getting dangerous.

It doesn't say anything about the ABs starting 15 - but it does say a lot about the famous strength in depth.

If SA's away form comes in to it, then so does the AB's - both have only won the RWC at home. This means that France are certainties!

The Ladyboys of Leinster have too many has-been Australians in their pack (and at scrumhalf). But outside that, their backline is better than anything I saw in SA today. And BOD has been out since the 6N. On the other side of the coin, take a look at what Leicester did today if you get the chance - they are a seriously good team. Usually, Leicester form would tell you a lot about England form - but the players that make the difference for Leicester don't play for England: half of them are Irish!

And I took my medicine over the France-ABs mismatch a long time ago - honestly, it's made me a better man.

p.s. McAlister for Munster.

 

[Ripper]

Luckily for us, none of the Crusaders Front Row will struggle to make it anywhere near the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand A), let alone the Starting XV of the All Blacks.

And the All Blacks Team come into it since you doubt we aren't currently the Front Runner, when judging by the most recent results we seem to be ahead of the pack by a country mile - Saying that we aren't by judging 2 teams (out of 5 New Zealand Franchises) in one game is hardly the most accurate way of doing things.

And France are no shoe in - South Africa are crap away from home no matter the occasion or event while New Zealand does not have that problem - and don't see what past World Cups had to do with anything, if that was a problem caused by playing away from home we would've crashed out of the Quarter Finals like the South Africans.

And judging by the team sheet I see a grand total of 3 Irishman starting for Leicester... hardly half the team and even if it was, why should I be worried, or even care? And good for Lienster for apparently having a better backline - But I hardly see how that makes a difference since once again the Bulk of the All Blacks weren't playing today - of the 2 NZ Franchises Toeava and Carter are the only Two Backs playing Last Night who are shoe ins for the starting team.

p.s
Theres more chance of Ireland beating the All Blacks than McAlister turning down an extra 100,000 pounds or an All Black starting spot for Munster

 

[shtove]

No no no no no (nonu?) - the ABs are the RWC favourites, no doubt. Never thought otherwise after last November.

On the Leicester thing - three Irish (Jennings and two Murphys), and Hipkiss (unpicked for England I think), Tuilagi (Samoan) and Rambini (Hades?) make the difference in their attack. That was my point. And have a look at that match from today - a seriously good team coached by an Aussie.

 

[TRUE LEGND]

Was a game none the less the better team won at the end of the day no if or buts

Good on both sides for keeping each other tryless

 

[Wellycane]

I don't think the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks out of the republic this decade - [/b]

Rugby World Cup 1999: Springboks beat the All Blacks 22-18 at Millinneum Stadium for 3rd and 4th place. The All Blacks will also be playing at Millinneum but this time for their quater-final match, possibly agaisnt either Ireland, France or Argentina.

 

[Melhor Time]

I lost interest in the Super 12 / 14 about 3 years ago. I have seen many a NZer / South African / Australian say thats its the preimer because of tries. But today there weren/t any in this game. The Crusaders vs Brumbies was much the same. So much for the stereotypes I guess.

NZ are not going to win the World Cup this year. My money has been on France for about 20 months and I am still in belief that this will indeed eveentuate. NZ have only had big wins over experimenting teams. The French team that got thrashed in Lyon in November will be vastly different to the one we see this September.

All the talk of NZ having talent to burn could only scrape home wins against Argentina and Ireland. Two teams who have never beaten the All Blacks....

RSA are definetly looking sharp. It always amazes me thaat they can find such talented new loose forwards at the drop of a hat. I think it´ll be an RSA Vs France final.

NZ to lose like they have in the previous 4 world cups: the counter attack lines prevented and superior forward play putting the team on the back foot.

 

[esoj]

<div class='quotemain'>
I don't think the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks out of the republic this decade - [/b]

Rugby World Cup 1999: Springboks beat the All Blacks 22-18 at Millinneum Stadium for 3rd and 4th place. The All Blacks will also be playing at Millinneum but this time for their quater-final match, possibly agaisnt either Ireland, France or Argentina.
[/b][/quote]

this decade started in 2000

shtove still posting crap I see. the abs teams will be very different to the blues and crusaders and I doubt either will have a huge amount of players in the abs. the depth is fine we rested our top 22 players for 7 rounds and ended up with 2 teams in the semis and one just outside the semis. quite simply south africa struggle big time out of SA and I think they will struggle at the world cup again.

 

[TRUE LEGND]

Has anyone noticed...

A few times Habanna came off his wing to spot tackle the centre? leaving the outside man intact, he needs to mirror his own man while drifting outward instead of inward, remember the full back is always there to peel out which leaves the 1 man extra and if you continue to keep caving in, your gonna get found out sooner or later. He is a very good winger apart from that little problem, Jonah Lomu and Wendall Sailor also suffered the same type of experience. My guess is that the sharks may target that area

 

[nik]

quite simply south africa struggle big time out of SA and I think they will struggle at the world cup again.[/b]

well sa teams won more games in new zealand this super 14. crusaders were the only nz team to win a game in south africa. lets not forget sa did win the tri-nations in 2004 and nearly beat the all blacks in dunedin in 2005 to. i dont think they will struggle playing away from home in the world cup. they have enormous talent and player pool like the ABs. the south african players are inform at the moment.

as for new zealand rugby, our season is just beginning. the purpose of the reconditioning programme was to make the players peak come rwc. i hope they peak.