The Hurricanes masterstroke selection that proved pivotal in dismantling the Crusaders
The Hurricanes were questioned in the lead-up to their Crusaders clash with the decision to rotate in-form Kobus Van Wyk for Wes Goosen.
The club publicly insisted it had nothing to do with Van Wyk committing to English Premiership club Leicester Tigers. Coach Jason Holland responded saying it was a tactical decision.
“We’ve had a plan around our back three and midfielders, and the best way to beat the Crusaders, we reckon, is to have Wes on the wing,” he said before the game.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, Blues hooker James Parsons and Chiefs halfback Brad Weber may have uncovered the reason for the switch, as part of a plan to diffuse the Crusaders kicking game.
“He’s [Goosen] pretty good under the high ball, and the Crusaders like that box kick, and they love those sort of short box kicks for Bridgey to chase and compete,” Parsons explained.
“It’s an area we [the Blues] struggled against them with. With Wes there, he’s solid and then Jordie as well, it was probably a decision around what they were going to face from the Crusaders.
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall box kicked all night but Jordie Barrett was able to win nearly every aerial contest thrown his way in a clinical performance.
The Hurricanes finished with a contestable kick rate of 67% compared to the Crusaders 42%.
The decision to swap the finishing skills of Van Wyk for Wes Goosen also did not disappoint, with Goosen scoring two tries from the two opportunities that came his way, vindicating Holland’s selection masterstroke.
“In the end, if you look at the stats, it’s quite surprising, the Crusaders kicked less than the Hurricanes,” Parsons highlighted.
“Against the Chiefs, they kicked 42 times and against us [Blues] it was 36. The only kicked 20 times in the loss to the Hurricanes.
“I don’t think they managed to get their usual systems and game plan running.”
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The Hurricanes were aided by a messy Crusaders line out which Parsons says he doesn’t think he has seen in a long time. The Crusaders completed just 50% of their line out throws, while the Hurricanes finished with a respectable 83%.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a Crusaders line out struggle like this for a long time.”
He highlighted the absence of Scott Barrett to injury and the loss of one of the best jumping Number 8’s in the world in Kieran Read as reasons for losing some of their continuity at the set-piece platform.
“They normally just piggyback those penalties, go to the corner, go to the maul, and that’s how they have got out of trouble in the past.
Chiefs halfback Brad Weber was impressed by the Hurricanes approach which his side will try to replicate to avoid eight straight losses when they face them this weekend.
“If you can get stuck into them up front, bring a bit of niggle, they certainly don’t seem to like that. Then you can upset them in other areas.
“You could see they were really frustrated at times throughout the game. Case in point, that last wee dust up with things boiling over.
“You slowly frustrate the Crusaders and you are a chance of beating them. The Hurricanes really took it to them, they played without fear, got stuck in.
Listen to the full episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments