Saders leadership lauds Tahs
15 Feb 2013
Dan Carter limped off in the 16-14 win but it was the Tahs who won the respect of the Crusaders.
Trial matches certainly go beyond a scoreline and this was highlighted in Sydney where on the surface the Seven-time Super Rugby Champion Crusaders would appear the happier team after beating the Tahs 16-14 in their final pre-season match.
But the context to the match was the Tahs refused to kick penalty goals and turned down nine kickable attempts as they focused more on the new attacking philosophy of new coach Michael Cheika, who had success with Ireland’s Leinester in all leagues.
Cheika, who has adopted a very different mindset to the Tahs, has refused for his team to kick a penalty goal in any of their pre-season matches.
Crusaders captain Kieran Read says it is a different beast that awaits teams in Sydney this season.
‘They looked after the ball really well and have some attacking players out wide,’ Read told the media.
‘I don’t think they stressed us as much perhaps as they could have but certainly they’ve got a lot of structure there which is going to make them a pretty serious threat in the competition.’
Former Rugby League star and Aussie Rules import Israel Folau was named man of the match and again impressed with several line breaks. Folau has been good in all three the Tahs warm-up matches.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder agreed in the difference of style in the Tahs.
‘I can see what they are trying to do in the middle of the field in some of their set plays off rucks and things like that,’ he said. ‘They’re looking to hit the midfield with some inside passes to re-stress the inside defenders. They are playing slightly different patterns definitely.’
The Tahs scored two tries to one and the Crusaders needed penalty kicks to win the game.
All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter started but limped off at half-time with a bruised knee. He is in doubt for the weekend’s opening match.
By Mark Keohane
52 Comments
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15 Feb 2013, 08:01 am
Is it not Leinster?
15 Feb 2013, 08:03 am
Interesting development in Sydney. Folua definitely one to watch.
15 Feb 2013, 08:05 am
@Sasuke-2: Folau is an out and out athlete, have had the pleasure of seeing him play live (albeit league). If he can adjust to the different lines in union, he will imo be one of the best rugby converts ever..
15 Feb 2013, 08:12 am
Still time to join gents. Just over two hours till kick off.
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15 Feb 2013, 08:15 am
@the curse-3: So far he looks good but that is just pre-season games, intensity will lift when the league actually starts.
15 Feb 2013, 08:19 am
@Sasuke-5: agree, am curious to know what position he will start in when the season starts proper. Im thinking wing, which will mean he will score plenty of tries..
15 Feb 2013, 08:25 am
@the curse-6: Yes he seems quite versatile, he played some of the warm up games at 15. I think he has played 13 to before.
15 Feb 2013, 08:26 am
@Sasuke-7: I seen a short interview with him where he stated he likes 15, not sure if he has the necessary kicking skills to really own that position though.
15 Feb 2013, 10:19 am
@the curse-8:
Hi Pops…you would have to think after a year and a bit in the Aussie Rules, Folau would be a decent kicker of the ball. He is going to be the best league convert to come into Rugby along with Sbw and me…hehe
15 Feb 2013, 10:28 am
@Te Rangatira-9: kia ora bro… yeah, but he wasnt successful in a game where kicking is the number one skill… different sized ball too so not convinced yet.. havent you got that order wrong, I’d have you ranked higher then SBWs, hes too flash, not a grafter like us
off to the local, enjoy..
15 Feb 2013, 10:35 am
@the curse-10:
haha….”grafter”….I based my game on the King.
15 Feb 2013, 10:43 am
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15 Feb 2013, 10:55 am
it’s no surprise, with former Crusaders assistant coach Darryl Gibsin now at the Tahs they will e looking to play a lot of ball-in-hand…
15 Feb 2013, 12:26 pm
Carter seems to be having a lot of injury troubles, might be time for him to join Kahui in Japan
15 Feb 2013, 16:07 pm
Carter in doubt for opening match , thought they had a bye ?
15 Feb 2013, 23:14 pm
We may see more of Carter at 12 with Taylor at 10 this season. As insurance and also more time on his hands. Folau should play on the wing as he does not possess the tactical kicking game as yet. On the wing though, where played his rugby league, he would adapt alot quicker to the game. He’s an athlete for sure. Garry Owen to his corner and he’ll show his aerial acrobatics. .. and it’s impressive.
16 Feb 2013, 09:04 am
how far the crusaders have fallen.
i certainly dont rate them to win a title.
glaring weak link is Slackbladder.
16 Feb 2013, 09:06 am
27 + 14 = 41
if the tahs sought the win as much as a chance to implement the coachs ideas crusaders would have been pasted.
16 Feb 2013, 10:00 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-18:
Hi Houston….would’ve, could’ve, should’ve……a life story
16 Feb 2013, 10:33 am
@Te Rangatira-19:
hi TR, nine kicks at poles turned down because of the coaches orders..?.
do yourself a favour, dont mention this game. let it quietly be forgotten.
16 Feb 2013, 19:05 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-18: Not necessary. Remind us, how many times Morne kicked in Chch last year.
16 Feb 2013, 19:10 pm
@polaris-21:
i think the Crusaders were super happy to quietly slip out of town in the middle of the night after this win.
you should do the same.
this certainly is an instance where the winning was not done on the scoreboard.
16 Feb 2013, 19:19 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-22: The scoreboard is what matters in the end. Boks had their opportunities, scr*wed them – or how you would say “bottled” big time, hardly an ABs or refs fault.
16 Feb 2013, 19:22 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-22: Apologies, I was referring to Dunedin RC game then. As for Super QF in Chch, let me quote you “i dont think there is a person in the world who would agree with that assesment.”
16 Feb 2013, 19:38 pm
@polaris-24:
touche’
16 Feb 2013, 19:43 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-25: Seriously, do you think Bulle were better other than on scoreboard? Even knowing your very peculiar way of seeing things and watching games I must give you a chance to answer.
16 Feb 2013, 19:54 pm
@polaris-26:
no, you are choosing loaded questions, Polaris.
there certainly have been games the Bulls won everywhere but on the scoreboard especially when taking Kiwi hometown refs in consideration.
16 Feb 2013, 20:07 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-27: We are talking about this specific game, Bakkies. Do not deviate.
16 Feb 2013, 20:13 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-20:
Turning down kicks at goal in warm up games is common practice….I prefer to treat these games in a tactical sense as real game situations, so I would have gone for a few kicks at goal at least, maybe their kicker is useless or had the yips a bit like Morne 2012.
16 Feb 2013, 20:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-27: And speaking about “Bulls won everywhere but on the scoreboard” in relation to Kiwi home refs, do you see any relation with Bulle winning the title in 07 and having 11 home refs – which is almost twice as much any other team had – in 15 games?
16 Feb 2013, 20:27 pm
@polaris-28:
no we are not.
‘you’ are talking about one game but ‘we’ have been talking about other stuff.
anyway, no.. the Bulls were not the better team in that game (usual Crusaders and referee shenanigans notwithstanding).
@Te Rangatira-29:
no, apparently it was done on the coaches orders because he wanted to assess various aspects of the attack with the ball kept in hand.
but i agree with you they should have gone for a bit of both.
16 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm
@polaris-30:
no, of course not.
the Bulls of 2007 were under construction from 2002 and onwards.
16 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: “Under construction” Bulls have homies, fine, Keewees vs them – a no no. Alright then.
16 Feb 2013, 20:39 pm
@polaris-30: Don’t forget about the biased ref they had in the 2010 final. Rumour was that the ref took a bribe.
16 Feb 2013, 20:46 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-31: Aren’t we?
Let me remind what started it.
“i think the Crusaders were super happy to quietly slip out of town in the middle of the night after this win.
you should do the same.
this certainly is an instance where the winning was not done on the scoreboard.”
Specific Crusaders-Bulls game in 2012. Therefore after such a bold statement I asked your opinion, do you really think so. I did watch that game too and while Crusaders weren’t too flashy, they had no difficulties whatsoever to deal with Bulls, plus Bulle were guilty of enough shenanigans themselves. Of course, ref has to take blame for spotting them.
16 Feb 2013, 20:49 pm
@polaris-35:
hahaha
no we’re not
i was talking about the Crusader and Waratahs which just took place.
you’re letting your crusades run away with you
16 Feb 2013, 20:55 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-36:
You were talking with Te Rangatira, not with me, old fox.
16 Feb 2013, 20:56 pm
@polaris-37:
now i’m confused
16 Feb 2013, 20:58 pm
@polaris-35: The Saders had no chance that day.The ref was going to make sure of that.A blatant knock on that went a metre forward that the ref refused to blow for ? What do you call that?….a ref on the bulls payroll ?
16 Feb 2013, 20:59 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-38: Tahs game was your topic with RT. I mentioned Morne, you replied with a statement with capital “S” and thus OUR convo changed to the Bulls game. Easy.
16 Feb 2013, 21:00 pm
@S_K-39: Stop. Now it’s ME who got confused. What game are you referring to?
16 Feb 2013, 21:06 pm
@polaris-41: Don’t worry ,Bakkies normally has that affect on people.
I will leave the two to your little discussion . Btw,I was referring to the game in Pretoria where the Bulls bribed the ref to blow in their favour.The following week the Aussie commentators complained that the bulls are playing to a different set of rugby rules. 
16 Feb 2013, 21:07 pm
oh fark
16 Feb 2013, 21:12 pm
How ironic that a Bulls supporter complains about cheating when his team are seen as the biggest transgressor of cheating.At least two of their super wins are tainted .
16 Feb 2013, 21:21 pm
@S_K-42: Let’s not mention recent years Saders Pretoria games in Bakkies presence.
16 Feb 2013, 21:22 pm
@polaris-40:
ok
lets call it a draw
@S_K-44:
come on, thats not true
you’re just trolling
put some effort in.
16 Feb 2013, 21:26 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-46: No,I am not.The Bulls have always been seen as a dirty ,cheating team in SA rugby.The way the local refs blatantly look the other way is just criminal.Burger complained about it in 2010 as well.
16 Feb 2013, 21:28 pm
Local refs in charge of Bulls game reminds me of the days when visiting teams used to play the Boks at home.They just stood no chance in hell of receiving fair treatment.
16 Feb 2013, 21:32 pm
@polaris-45: Ok.I also don’t want him to go into meltdown mode.It’s not good to go for walkies in SA at this time of the night.
16 Feb 2013, 21:53 pm
@S_K-49:
you certainly wont get me worked up.
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