Blues bash Saders

Blues bash Saders

1 Mar 2013

Rene Ranger rocked in the Blues fabulous win against the Crusaders.

The Blues scored five unanswered tries in a 34-15 win and Ranger was influential in attack and especially in defence.

The hosts, who scored a bonus-point win against the Hurricanes in Wellington a week ago, had the bonus point for four tries within the hour.

The new coaching staff of John Kirwan, Mick Byrne and Graeme Henry have made an immediate impact and turned a decade of home team Blues into a night of bliss.

The Blues led 20-12 at halftime and Dan Carter reduced the deficit to five points early in the second half, but that was the last of the Crusaders threat as the Blues combined brutal defence with clinical finishing to dominate the match and the result.

Carter’s goalkicking and Matt Todd’s tireless efforts at the breakdown were the only positives for the visitors, who played like a team who hadn’t had a competitive match for some time. This was the Crusaders tournament opener and they were shocking.

Israel Dagg, playing on the wing, had a night to forget and so did most of his teammates as the Blues physicality in defence forced mistake after mistake. The Crusaders made 12 handling errors compared to the four of the Blues.

The home team promised to give it a full crack on attack, as they did against the Canes a week ago, but it has been their desire on defence that has defined the two bonus-point wins in the last fortnight.

Ali Williams was inspirational as captain, Chris Noakes was composed at flyhalf, Ranger was ruthless in everything he did and the back three were lethal with ball in hand.

The Crusaders were too lateral on attack, the running lines of the support runner was poor and physically they were never in the contest in the collisions.

Dagg controversially was denied a try by a TMO ruling that would have made the score 27-20 with 10 minutes to go but the Blues immediately scored a seven pointer from 80 metres as the scoreboard reflected the on-field superiority of the hosts.

Piri Weepu, good in most aspects, succeeded with only two from six strikes, which gives an indication of just how messy it got for the Crusaders. Had Weepu been more accurate the scoreline could have been closer to 50 than 30.

By Mark Keohane


377 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 » Show All

  • 151.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:43 am

    Yeah…….Bonus point

  • 152.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:44 am

    Bonus point!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 153.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:44 am

    looked like Faumuina dropped that

  • 154.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:44 am

    @Te Rangatira-151:
    Congrats
    Playing very well and Saders not so much

  • 155.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:45 am

    Bonus try Blues fckng up Crusaders at their own type game. Blues back in the saddle back on the map NZ conference leaders in the making.

  • 156.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:46 am

    The scorer of that try played the ball on the ground. Should have been a Blues penalty.

  • 157.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:47 am

    Rene Ranger is worth at least 10 pts a game on his own how come the NZ selectors can’t see it ?

  • 158.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:47 am

    Ranger having a fantastic match on attack and defense.

  • 159.gunther: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:48 am

    @NZINCHINA-145:

    I’d love for my Bulls to teach them a lesson but I don’t think it’s going happen this year.

  • 160.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:48 am

    @skopdiekan-157:

    Off field discipline issues

  • 161.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:48 am

    @skopdiekan-157: because he is too inconsistent Skop… does some stupid things to counteract the good he does..

  • 162.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:49 am

    Marshall has a wonderful knowledge of the game. Just wish he could speak English. I have never heard him use an adverb. He substitutes adjectives, which is onimous (sic).

  • 163.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:49 am

    @gunther-159:

    We’ll see I’m just happy to see people back at the garden of Eden and the Blues playing some rugby

  • 164.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:49 am

    @skopdiekan-157:
    Because he often gives away eleven points.

  • 165.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:50 am

    @AiDoc-162:
    Grizz should take his place

  • 166.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:52 am

    NZ, TR and Pops
    How’s those nails looking?

  • 167.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:53 am

    @nortierd-166:

    So much time left the beer tastes good though

  • 168.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:53 am

    gotta laugh

    not one person has tipped the Cheetahs or the Force :)

  • 169.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:53 am

    Keep em out……….

  • 170.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:53 am

    Crusaders have the best fullback in world rugby playing on the wing… there is the answer to the high ball problem.

  • 171.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:53 am

    @NZINCHINA-163:

    30,000 tonight. Just got cold here. Dropped below 30 degrees C.

  • 172.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:54 am

    @Te Rangatira-169:
    Turnover

  • 173.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:54 am

    @NZINCHINA-167:
    :-)
    Huge turnover there.
    Think that’s the ball game for you

  • 174.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:54 am

    If I were a NZ selector Ranger would be in my side before Nonu and perhaps Smith. Imagine a SBW – Ranger midfield.

    Now they lost him to France and SBW to that shady pseudo boxing circus means they stuck with Nonu Smith and Fruen . Ranger is head and shoulders better than all 3 of them in every aspect.

  • 175.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:55 am

    @nortierd-166: better after that play bro.. :wink:

  • 176.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:55 am

    @AiDoc-171:

    Good crowd, last year they couldn’t give away free tickets

  • 177.gunther: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:55 am

    @nortierd-158:

    I’ve picked him in that competition where Keo and Monty wash your car if you win.

  • 178.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:56 am

    @skopdiekan-174:
    Are you really P duh V?

  • 179.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:56 am

    @skopdiekan-174:
    Embarrassment of riches for them to choose from.
    @the curse-175:
    :-D
    I can imagine

  • 180.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:56 am

    The Blues replacement half back is a great talent. Rugby smarts he has plenty of.

  • 181.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:57 am

    @nortierd-166:
    Yeah Bro…Keep picking against the Blues…Thanks

  • 182.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:57 am

    got to love a kiwi derby to kick off the weekend..

  • 183.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:57 am

    @nortierd-173:

    Great defense c’mon!!!

  • 184.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:57 am

    @gunther-177:
    Will they be wearing tight white T-shirts while soaping and sudding each other?

  • 185.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:58 am

    Are the Cantabrians the favourite side in the RSA? Complaining about the referee! Really!

  • 186.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:59 am

    @nortierd-184: stand by him boet, stand by him :lol:

  • 187.gunther: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 09:59 am

    @nortierd-184:

    Stormers Jerseys will be shame enough I think.

  • 188.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:00 am

    @the curse-186:
    I’m trying to get that mental picture out of my head
    :-)

  • 189.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:00 am

    @nortierd-184: :lol: Don’t forget the tight pink shorts for Keo!

  • 190.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:01 am

    Sam and Reade are making no progress. Wonderful Auk defence. Until that happened!

  • 191.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:01 am

    @nortierd-188: lol Gunther lives by the image, I can just see him and Bakkies linking hands and singing kumbaya my lord :D

  • 192.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:01 am

    Huge call against Dagg

  • 193.RL: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    Double movement. :)

  • 194.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    Jeez, can’t see that he was held in that tackle

  • 195.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    should have been a try imo why didnt they tmo the Blues last try, Im sure Faumuina dropped it before braid scored..

  • 196.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    Fark them up Blues…..

  • 197.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    Dizzy Izzy strikes again!
    Not legally though? He was released wasn’t he?

  • 198.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    @BrumbiesBoy-58: still doesn’t make you less of a jozibrumbie tee hee hee :D

  • 199.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:02 am

    I’m happy with that call.

  • 200.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    Technically a correct call. Spirit of the game, its a howler.

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