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Overlooked Crusaders' back row play their part in stunning the Blues
The Crusaders loose forward unit was overlooked by the All Black selectors but they played their part in upsetting the Blues at Eden Park, who had three All Black loosies in the gameday 23 in Akira Ioane, Hoskins Sotutu and Dalton Papalii.
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Cullen Grace, Tom Christie and Ethan Blackadder, who was already ruled out with a season-ending injury, were all missing from Ian Foster’s All Black squad named on Monday as the selectors preferred other options.
Crusaders No 8 Grace was pushing for a recall after being selected in the squad in 2020 and debuting that year off the bench against the Wallabies in his lone test appearance to date.
The 22-year-old came up with two turnovers against the Blues in the final, both of which were line out steals against the malfunctioning Blues set-piece. He finished with 12 tackles in a performance Scott Robertson described as worthy of an All Black.
“I think just how heavy his shoulders are, how hard he hits,” Robertson said of Grace.
He just keeps getting up. His skillset’s strong. He’s a great player. I’m just really proud of him.
“Did a lot of work with him, look after the loosies, and to see him perform like that over the last couple of years… Obviously didn’t make the All Blacks after making it [in 2020], he took it hard and he just really focussed on playing well.
“But playing at a final level and coming off with an All Black performance, I thought it was.”
It was also a memorable night for Argentinian blindside flanker Pablo Matera who came up with the play of the night when he put through a grubber kick in-behind the Blues. Sevu Reece claimed the loose ball and scored the try to seal the game.
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Scott Robertson revealed he had told Matera to put away the kicking game after a moment earlier in the season didn’t come off, but was happy his international recruit kept the option available.
“He did one [grubber] earlier in the year – I think it under the roof [against] the Highlanders and it was like oof,” Robertson said.
“I said ‘Look, might just have to put that away’, And he’s, ‘Yes, yes, yes, I won’t do one again’. Then I just said ‘Mate, good on you, you trusted your instinct.’
“That was world-class, wasn’t it? Just the weight of it and [how] it landed. He pretty much can do whatever he wants now.”
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Matera was the captain of the Jaguares side that made the Super Rugby final in 2019 but the 19-3 loss to the Crusaders dashed his championship dreams.
A driving factor in wanting to join the Crusaders was the chance to win a trophy for the first time in his life, as the 2019 final was the closest he has got to winning a championship.
His Super Rugby Pacific final was in doubt after he earned two yellow cards in the semi-final against the Chiefs, but he was free to play after escaping a suspension from the judiciary.
“Him playing this game’s huge for us. We didn’t have too many loose forwards left, really, did we, with injuries and Ethan out,” Robertson explained.
“Him to play, never won anything… When we had the conversation when he rang from France he said ‘Look, I want to come over and win a championship – I’ve never won anything’.
“He’s obviously won one test match against the All Blacks which is a euphoric moment but for him to win a championship… He wanted to win and learn and make a better life for his family and he’s done that over this period of time.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
3 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
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