Final: Blues vs Crusaders

Tim

Blues captain and All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii faces a fitness test today after being named on the bench for Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/blues-v-crusaders-super-rugby-pacific-final-teams-revealed-for-eden-park-showdown/2QDZG4Y6DZUQDXTFWJZYK3RK6A/

Tim

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Mitch Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614579/all-blacks-lock-sam-whitelock-declared-fit-for-super-rugby-decider-against-blues

Mackerzzzz

@Tim said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Mitch Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614579/all-blacks-lock-sam-whitelock-declared-fit-for-super-rugby-decider-against-blues

Corey Kellow on the bench? Who did they have there last week?

Mackerzzzz

@Tim said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/grand-final-team-naming

The Blues team to play the Crusaders at Eden Park is (Blues caps in brackets):

Alex Hodgman (54)

Kurt Eklund (37)

Nepo Laulala (25)

Josh Goodhue (46)

Tom Robinson (44)

Akira Ioane (94)

Adrian Choat (19)

Hoskins Sotutu (36)

Finlay Christie (30)

Beauden Barrett (17)

AJ Lam (20)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (11)

Rieko Ioane (85)

Mark Telea (38)

Stephen Perofeta (44)

Soane Vikena (14)

Karl Tu’inukuafe (42)

Ofa Tuungafasi (120)

Luke Romano (14)

Dalton Papalii (55) or James Tucker (11)

Sam Nock (50)

Bryce Heem (19)

Zarn Sullivan (18)

Players not considered: Harry Plummer, Anton Segner, Jordan Lay, Tanielu Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, Corey Evans.

I papalii plays I would be very surprised if he doesn't start

mariner4life

considering the vast majority of the nation's starting All Blacks are playing, if this game lacks quality then we are fucked.

Tim

Blues coach Leon MacDonald said Papalii was “confident” of proving his fitness, and was hopeful a final decision would come in the aftermath of Thursday’s main training run.

“Dalts has got a few boxes to tick,” said MacDonald. “He’s got to get through a big part of today’s training and feel really confident, it’s a big game for him to have any doubts, so we want him to come off the grass feeling like he’s ready to go.”

Asked the likelihood of the inspirational skipper playing his part off the bench, MacDonald smiled and said: “Speaking to him, he’s pretty confident, but that’s Dalts, he’s always like that and full of energy. Fingers crossed he gets through today well.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300614872/dalton-papalii-bracketed-on-blues-bench-for-super-rugby-pacific-final-against-crusaders

Frank

I see Caleb Clarke is still injured. Hope he's okay for Ireland.

antipodean

Toddy

Is one of the boxes Dalton has to complete the misconduct hearing? Or has that all been swept under the carpet.

KiwiMurph

@Toddy said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Is one of the boxes Dalton has to complete the misconduct hearing? Or has that all been swept under the carpet.

Dalton was gonna play last week but was dropped....... :winking_face:

Nepia

@Toddy said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Is one of the boxes Dalton has to complete the misconduct hearing? Or has that all been swept under the carpet.

Considering how quickly Frizell was whisked back into the ABs and how quickly Reece was whisked into the ABs I highly doubt a misconduct hearing is anything but a rubber stamp.

chimoaus

Gotta say this one is too tough to call, and I am just going to enjoy it as rugby spectacle.

nzzp

@chimoaus said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Gotta say this one is too tough to call, and I am just going to enjoy it as rugby spectacle.

Crusaders tight 5 make them favourites. Getting All Blacks back is massive; their engine room is massive.

Tim

Coin-toss. Should be a very tense game.

Wish it was played in the afternoon.

Crucial

@nzzp said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@chimoaus said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Gotta say this one is too tough to call, and I am just going to enjoy it as rugby spectacle.

Crusaders tight 5 make them favourites. Getting All Blacks back is massive; their engine room is massive.

According to the Blues posters their whole team should be ABs anyway so it evens out.

nzzp

@Crucial said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@nzzp said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

@chimoaus said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

Gotta say this one is too tough to call, and I am just going to enjoy it as rugby spectacle.

Crusaders tight 5 make them favourites. Getting All Blacks back is massive; their engine room is massive.

According to the ~~Blues~~Crusaders posters their whole team should be ABs anyway so it evens out.

KiwiMurph

As usual Blues social media having some fun.

https://i.ibb.co/b3cMKxz/baz-goody.jpg

ACT Crusader

@nzzp not true. I’ll never have Matera in my All Black side

NTA

@mariner4life said in Final: Blues vs Crusaders:

considering the vast majority of the nation's starting All Blacks are playing, if this game lacks quality then we are fucked.

Tho the weather looks a bit ordinary. Prefer an afternoon game in the sunshine.

Crucial

@NTA That says more chance of rain in the afternoon.

The Silver Fern

Final: Blues vs Crusaders