Atroscious refereeing. How the hell was McCaw's a card?
Got penalised off the park in the first 20 and yet the Canes getting warnings all the way thru.
Still we played average.
Horror-canes - The Fever Union thread
That was a Joke.
McCaw's a cheating Bastard (when he plays for the crusaders) 
Stick that up your arse springs to mind as well
Stick that up your arse springs to mind as well
otaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! 
wow, what a fugly game :/ best thing about it was it ending for the league to be on next
was that ref crap or what i swore he was way to harsh and didnt catch much of their interference but to be honest if the hurricanes cant catch the ball they wont win.
If they play like that - 4 triesagainst the Brumbies in the first 30 mins, the fans will flock back. Lonegunmen2009-04-25 20:17:35
Great performance last night, sets up a good clash with the Blues next week. Shame that my Chiefs lost, good bonus point though and still will be a positive tour if we beat the Stormers next week. If the Canes beat the Blues next week I think the top 4 will be the Canes, Chief, Sharks and Bulls. Not to sure on order however
Will be at the Blues match - my 2nd game this year (well, in eight years tbh lol) after the first (or second) one of the season against someonorother... lookin forward to it (yes - I am!) and will hopefully be a good game against whats left of their squad.
Lookin forward to catchin up with a few old mates, and drinking cheap (free) booze!!!!
Lookin forward to catchin up with a few old mates, and drinking cheap (free) booze!!!!
28-8 after 22 mins. What a game!!
35-8 after 28 mins
i can honestly say that would have to be one of the better games i have watched this season, it nearly rates with Rugby League and the phoenix
Who remembers the last time the Canes played a jet lagged Chiefs and what then outcome of that match was?
Oh boy, that game almost killed me. Up at 4am to watch the Shark V Bulls.
That Crusaders side basically has 2/3 decent players, I cannot believe they have got this far. Would be a travesty if they won next week (if they are playing)
Hurricanes = knife
Reds = butter
That Crusaders side basically has 2/3 decent players, I cannot believe they have got this far. Would be a travesty if they won next week (if they are playing)
If you think THAT is a travesty, wait for this time in 2 weeks
25 to play, Canes up by 10.
by the way your sig = Wont happen :P i hope... Hurricnaes Crusaders final in Wellington in Two weeks time cant wait
clark007e2009-05-17 11:20:20
Want a Canes V Saders final, but think it'll be Cheifs V Saders.
That Crusaders side basically has 2/3 decent players, I cannot believe they have got this far. Would be a travesty if they won next week (if they are playing)
If it wasn't for the rediculous rule where you get points for losing, the Warratahs would have finished 4th and the Hurricanes would be 2nd and have a home semi.
More reason they should get rid of those points.
I some how don't think they Crusaders have a chance of beating the bulls away from home.
You also didn't think the Crusaders had a chance of making the top 4
Bit of a difference.. going to south africa with an inexperience side compared to playing a poor reds side and a poor lions team..
Bit of a difference.. going to south africa with an inexperience side compared to playing a poor reds side and a poor lions team..
I always find it a bit funny when people say we are inexperienced. We have 13 (by my count - I may be wrong by 1 or 2 either side) players who have won a super rugby title playing tonight - Most of those more than once. Granted where not anywhere near as experienced as previous seasons but for us too use being inexperienced as excuse would be weak.
If you look at the first half of the season and our goal kicking before Macdonald was kicking we were kicking 50% or worse. Had we kicked our goals we would have probably won games we lost (or drew in the case of the Force) against the Brumbies, Canes, Highlanders and Western Force. When you consider that had we kicked those goals we would have got 14 more points I think many people are underestimating us.
The only people we can blame for our goal kicking is ourselves and unfortunately that means we head to South Africa. Now I'm not nieve to think that we go into the game as Favourites but I also don't think the match is a foregone conclusion.
Bulls to beat Crusaders then the Chiefs. Can't stand both teams.
People are scared of the Crusader name I think, i've said it on here before but I will say it again, there is not enough quality in the Crusaders. Last years starting final backline Ellis, Carter, Bateman, Laulala, Hamilton, MacDonald, Poki/Maitland. Tonight Ellis, Brett, Crotty, Bateman, Payne, MacDonald and Whitelock. That is a fair difference, throw in the loss of Williams, Sommerville and Flynn in the forward pack and this team is not as good as any of its predecessors.
I just dont think they will be able to grind out a win against the Chiefs, maybe (hopefully) they can tonight but they need something extra and dont have it
glad they lost. If they were playing the Bulls in final it would have been same time as FA Cup - and the pubs would prob be showing that
haha lmao but seriously hurricanes played sh*t deserved to lose end of story
Farken Hell. What a match.
First 25 all Crusaders, last 15 all Bulls.
We need to hold off til Waldrom is back on.
First 25 all Crusaders, last 15 all Bulls.
We need to hold off til Waldrom is back on.
Wellington Chockercains?Gangsta!2009-05-24 14:29:34
is that pic describing the chockersades?
Air NZ Cup predictions anyone?
I'm picking Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato to be competition leaders, Harbour to be up there, Otago to be mid table and Auckland to fail miserably again.
Hawkes Bay to be competitive again - although I haven't looked to see if Otago has poached there players (because half there team played for the highlanders).
Counties will unfortunetly be the wipping boys along with Northland.
One of Manawatu, Tasman, BOP or Southland to have a big season. The rest to fill the bottom half - bold pick I know 
.
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2009 Wellington to win the comp, with Bay of Plenty bringing the Shield home after the Lions lose it in a shock victory by Otago.
...at least, that's how I want it to go. But realisitically?
Pretty much agree. Don't rate Manawatu at all, Southland have potential, Tasman could surprise, and can't comment on The Bay out of bias. Counties dead last. Hawke's Bay, depends on Otago as you said. If they're relatively untouched, they could round out a top four with Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato. Northland to receieve a boost from fan support driven up by the Keep the Kauri campaign.
...at least, that's how I want it to go. But realisitically?
Pretty much agree. Don't rate Manawatu at all, Southland have potential, Tasman could surprise, and can't comment on The Bay out of bias. Counties dead last. Hawke's Bay, depends on Otago as you said. If they're relatively untouched, they could round out a top four with Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato. Northland to receieve a boost from fan support driven up by the Keep the Kauri campaign.
Looking at your predictions Gangsta, I'm guessing you haven't seen how any of the squad's are shaping up for this year...
Hawkes Bay haven't lost any players to Otago.
Northland have good squad this year and I am picking a top half finish. Led by Gus Collins, Rene Ranger, Jared Payne, Bronson Murray, Nick Collins and Lachie Munro they have a good core of experience and talent. Add to that 2 former Western Force players in Adam Clarke and Pat O'Connor and former Auckland and Leinster lock Cam Jowitt and a solid base of up and Coming players they should do well this year. Also keep an eye out for Troy Woodman, his Dad and Uncle were both All Blacks and has plenty of pace.
Out of the 'bigger' teams, expect to see Otago near the bottom again, their squad's have been getting progressively worse over the last few season's and this year looks no different, although they have just picked up Kees Meeus on a 6 week contract. North Harbour and Auckland with new coaches and having better players available this year should move up the table. Waikato will struggle without their All Blacks, expect a late season push though...
Manawatu and Counties will be the wooden spooners, they were both bad last year and haven't brought in anyone that will drastically improve them. I expect Hawkes Bay and Southland to do well again this year and I think BoP will be either really good or really bad, they have a reasonable squad but will be without Latimer and have lost last years coach Kevin Schuler.
I think the top 3 will be made up of Wellington, Canterbury and Auckland. With Hawkes Bay, Harbour, Southland, Northland, Waikato and BoP scrapping it out for the final playoff spot. Top 4 this year, not 8 like last year.
Hawkes Bay haven't lost any players to Otago.
Northland have good squad this year and I am picking a top half finish. Led by Gus Collins, Rene Ranger, Jared Payne, Bronson Murray, Nick Collins and Lachie Munro they have a good core of experience and talent. Add to that 2 former Western Force players in Adam Clarke and Pat O'Connor and former Auckland and Leinster lock Cam Jowitt and a solid base of up and Coming players they should do well this year. Also keep an eye out for Troy Woodman, his Dad and Uncle were both All Blacks and has plenty of pace.
Out of the 'bigger' teams, expect to see Otago near the bottom again, their squad's have been getting progressively worse over the last few season's and this year looks no different, although they have just picked up Kees Meeus on a 6 week contract. North Harbour and Auckland with new coaches and having better players available this year should move up the table. Waikato will struggle without their All Blacks, expect a late season push though...
Manawatu and Counties will be the wooden spooners, they were both bad last year and haven't brought in anyone that will drastically improve them. I expect Hawkes Bay and Southland to do well again this year and I think BoP will be either really good or really bad, they have a reasonable squad but will be without Latimer and have lost last years coach Kevin Schuler.
I think the top 3 will be made up of Wellington, Canterbury and Auckland. With Hawkes Bay, Harbour, Southland, Northland, Waikato and BoP scrapping it out for the final playoff spot. Top 4 this year, not 8 like last year.
Wellington lost to Manawatu today, 30-19. Wellington will have a very good side, Northland have done well over the off season with some good pick ups. Southland will build on last season ad watch out for Robbie Robinson, the kid is absolute quality.
BOP losing Latimer is a big loss but have Luke Braid who was last years U19 player of the year so still solid loose trio with King and Bourke. Good outside backs aswell, Clinton Toopi has made the switch to rugby and from all accounts has made an impact in Club Rugby.
Hawkes Bay haven't really lost anyone, add Thomas Waldrom to the pack and its a very good side.
Top 5 last year were Wellington, Canterbury, Hawkes Bay, BOP, Southland... to me those 5 plus Northland and you can't write off Auckland or Waikato.
In all honesty it is going to be a very good NPC season, Carter playing a week or 2 of it for Canterbury could be key... you can guarantee he will play against Wellington when they challenge for the shield.
With the All Blacks getting picked to go away before the final the team that copes with that best will win it. Wellington look like they will have the most depth for me but still lack a first five and are chokers.
Basically this has taken me a long time to say I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen.
What I can comment on though is the Jubilee Cup, heading into a massive last 2 weeks of competition! Petone v Oriental-Rongotai at Petone tomorrow followed by Petone - Norths next weekend at Porirua shape as absolute humdingers! Club Rugby, like Club Football is great quality stuff.
