This round’s opener takes place in Auckland, where the Crusaders will be in action for the first time this season.
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (captain), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tom McCartney.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Bryn Hall, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Tom Marshall.
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Bloues 5 – 3 Rooies
12min
Saders 3 Blues 5 12mins
@McLovin (Comment 1) : Snap!
Saders 6 Blues 5 24mins
Go Blues!!
Wow! Saders defense is shocking…I hope they sort themselves out in the half time break… 🙁
Saders 6 Blues 13 30mins
I do think the blues are getting away with a few obstructions and lost forwards…..
UN.BELIEV-ABLE TRY by the blues…. * tears*
Dagg needs to be back at Fullback…..doesnt work as a wing…and the Saders need him at the back….
Saders 6 Blues 20 35mins
Saders 9 Blues 20 37mins
Saders 12 Blues 20 – Half Time
Saders still in it !
Israel Dagg is hiding .The tries scored have been down his wing and he has let his centers cover that area. The one try ,despite it being his man to mark ,he lets Taylor(i think)make the cover tackle on the Blues player.
Thank you very much for the updates! I appreciate it. Who has scored for the Blues?
@Argex (Comment 16) : I think Halai and Piutau?
Saders 15 Blues 20 45mins
@Talent (Comment 17) : LAutau…
Crusaders playing a more composed game. Blues are playing some high risk rugby and it looks like Carter has bought his kicking boots. Wonder how much Weepus poor goal kicking will hurt the Blues?
@Just a Fan (Comment 19) : Oh yes thats right
@Talent (Comment 17) : Halai scored two trys, Lautau 1 try and then Weepu penalties and conversions.
@Just a Fan (Comment 19) : Good prospect for the All Blacks, a position they really need players in.
@Talent (Comment 23) : Seems to be doing very well. With Rene Ranger as a mentor, not sure he can go wrong….
@Just a Fan (Comment 24) : Was talking about the young blindsisde flank
Saders 15 Blues 20…..Weepu misses a sitting duck of a Penalty – think his home crowd were booing….
Crusaders carriers being hurt in the collisions. Unlike them to be spilling the ball in contact so easily 😐
@Talent (Comment 25) : no 6 right – yeah? I meant that with Someone like Rene Ranger in your side – you can only but continue to have guts and vision….
@Talent (Comment 27) : they are all thumbs tonight….
Blues just scored bonus point try…*sobbing*….
@Just a Fan (Comment 28) : Ye Ranger has been awesome tonight.
The Blues have done well to shut down Freuan and Carter tonight.
Saders 15 Blues 27 59mins
@Talent (Comment 30) : and when I say tonight I mean this morning 😆
Ranger will probably be motm
Carter has been disappointing , hasn’t challenged the advantage line once, static passing.
@Talent (Comment 30) : Yeah and it hasnt helped having Dagg on wing….that decision goes down as a major fail i think.
@Just a Fan (Comment 35) : I don’t know why they choose to play the worlds best attacking fullback at wing. Think its understandable they are starting to ask questions about Blackadders coaching
@Talent (Comment 36) : yeah – the mind boggles…..
Oh what ref! Blues coming in from EVERY angle….and he gives it to the Blues.
What is the ref saying for the scrum engagement?
Whats impressive about this Blues performance is that they haven’t compromised their attack when they have been asked to stand up in defense.
@Just a Fan (Comment 39) : crouch touch sit? 😆
The Blues have dominated the breakdowns ,Crusaders are guarding it tentatively and the Blues stand out.
Dagg TRY!
wow! TMO ruled double movement…wonder what happened to the tackler having to release in that case.
What about high tackle on Dagg?
Game Over !
yeah – have to say i think that Saders (and i HATE to stick upi for them) have been on the side of some inconsistent reffing –
Wow…and to add insult to injury – Blues score try number 5
This has turned out to be a bit of a smack for the Saders
Huge performance from the Blues
Saders 15 – 34 Blues 75mins
@Talent (Comment 50) : Cant beleive what I have been watching. The Blues are playing very well.
Ranger after this performance has shut out Freuans chances of being an All Black center I think
Think i am now a bottom dweller on Superbru now…. 😥
@Talent (Comment 53) : Ranger has been smokin’ hot all night….
@Just a Fan (Comment 54) : I was top of all my pools ,except the 1k + ones ,after this game im worried-early days.
If we look at this its probably a good thing ,we really don’t want the Crusaders wining away from home.
Full time Blues 34 Saders 15
Seems Graham Henry has reached the pinnacle of coaching rugby – the man with the golden touch
Blues racing to the top of the log… deja vu
Nice win by the Blues..
@FireTheLooser (Comment 59) : Him and Jake
@robdylan (Comment 60) : Very true.. lets see for how long.
Absolutely amazing what good coaching can do. Blackadder is a schmuck. JK next all black coach. Still early but damn what a difference