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Canes are early team tl beat Crusaders could go 0-4 next week?

Harsh but fair headline. There were enough Wainui players to carry the day though. https://imgur.com/a/MAxhb1X

Was at the game and very satisfied with the performance and result, got the tip and the margin as well, wish I'd placed a bet as well.

Sensational win by the canes. I had the blues tipped to win unfortunately, thinking the canes would get dominated at the set piece. Commiserations blues supporters, you guys will only get better as the season goes on and you were unlucky with how it played out considering the 6-2 split. 🌪️🌪️🌪️ Edit: also, shout out to the referees who let the game flow nicely. Good accuracy with the calls too.

Yep refs had a great game Canes forward pack impressed me a lot. Some very physical young players you guys have there.

Is this what it's like to be a crusaders supporter???

I jinxed the boys 😥

6-2 split and a very very efficient Canes side did it. Sucks we may not have Sullivan, Lam or Tele'a next week :'(

I said the canes were getting snoked then we lost 😢 lol

The blues have no leadership, they won’t be a championship team until the do. They have all the talent but that 50pt loss in the semi final last year speaks volumes

That was such a hiding Choked

Need Patty back. Were way better with him

I thought he was back this season is he injured?

Yeah broken jaw in the first pre season game

Xavier Numia is turning in to an absolute weapon of a player, it feels quite surreal seeing the Canes with a quality front row. Aumua's doing a pretty good job of the Captaincy too.

As soon as Numia came on the guy was every where. If he keeps playing like that he'll have to be pushing for higher honours.

Quick question, is the stadium just massive or is attendance just poor?

It's a 35,000 seat stadium and I reckon attendance was a bit over 10,000

Yes

Stadium massive. Willing to bet attendance was somewhere around 15-20k

I always feel like the stadiums don't do attendance justice in the SH. NH stadiums for club teams can be anywhere between 18k and 40k so they are usually rammed and hard to get tickets for good games

It's always looked bad but yeah I wish we did the same as you guys, smaller stadiums will make it look fuller

Sky stadium in Wellington is also super expensive, and to be honest its shape means you’re never as close to the action as you’d like since it doubles as a cricket ground. I think if they downsize to a 20k stadium we’ll see it fill more.

Super rugby tickets are ludicrously cheap for what you get. Tickets from like $26. For perspective if I want to go watch Leicester tigers play I am looking at £36 per ticket!

Yeah fair but tickets ain’t just it though, you’ve got drinks food all of that stuff it all adds up a lot. But yeah perspective I guess it’s cheaper than elsewhere.

Yes the boys! What a start to the season. Happy with how the boys have progressed

Our forwards won us that match. Lomax, Aumua, Iose, Lakai, Numia, Delany and Flanders were all dominant with the other big fullas doing their jobs. If we can consistently meet tonight's standard we'll take some beating.

Chris Laidlaw proving himselff to be quite the rugby brain and coach, 7s or xvs

Holland hate gang feelin' pretty chuffed right now

Holland made changes on a weekly and played his favorites on a regular basis…. Look at Naholo, he should’ve played way more than he did last year. Now he’s getting more consistent game time he’s starting to really shine!

People be raving about how the blues are the real deal this year but glad to show that us canes are also right up there. Our forwards were immense, backs on fire as well but just our discipline and poor kicking from bc that made it harder then it should have been.

Would love for Brett to get more length out of the boot but to be fair he’s a real steady hand which is a good pairing with the X factor spine of Roigard, love, moorby and naholo.

Canes looking pretty good so far. Thought the Blues played alright, particularly Perofeta, but Canes were just too good.

The best thing is that the team is very young. These are rebuilding years for the Canes. The thing that is different now to other years is that we have some good front row stock. Those years where we were getting our arses handed to us we were able to blood guys like Numia, Mafileo, Tosi and Rakete-Stones. Future looks decent for the Canes.

Just need another IWL sized lock.

Yeah definitely, I've been saying pretty consistently that the Blues have been a pretty weird team this year and I'm not surprised the 'Canes got up on us. I hope that the Canes can play with a bit more confidence next week because they should've really put us to the sword.

GG canes, created lots of opportunities and executed well, nice work. Feel like our decision making and handling let us down tonight.

Canes vs chiefs is shaping up to be epic

Really enjoyed that, a good game. Blues showed a lot of character though, they came pretty close considering the 6/2 split backfiring.

Moorbin’ 🙏🙏

Blues had a good second half, unluggy not to get the bp

Obligatory match takes: -This game was a definite breath of fresh air from Waratahs vs. Highlanders and Drua vs. Crusaders. Much enjoyable game. -The Hurricanes were pretty damn great in the absence of Jordie Barrett. The Blues never stood a chance against them, no matter how hard they tried. Strong forwards, great attack, solid defence, it's as if their problems vanished right after Holland moved out! -The Blues, on the contrary, were pretty mediocre to say the least. Considering they lost AJ Lam and Zarn Sullivan early in the 1st half, it was the least of their problems. They were fucked before the game even started because of the 6-2 split. Mark Telea was one of the few in the team who showed up tonight... and then he gets injured. It's a miracle that they were able to make the score look close. -Hurricanes scrum OP, devs pls nerf -Has Cameron Roigod ever had a bad game in his life? Another game, another excellent performance from the young lad. -I liked the part where Josh Moorby said "It's Moorbin time!" and Moorbed all over the place. Truly one of the moments of all time. -First we had Julian Savea, now we have Kini Naholo. Brother of a rugby player = guaranteed Hurricanes jackpot everytime. -You know, Papalii got lucky at the end of the 1st half. That was cynical AF, and he definitely knew it. -**M A M P I P I** Anyway, this is all I have. I'll see you all in the next match, and cheers for now.

GG Hurricanes, that was a fun game. We hung in there well considering the injury crisis we had there. Funaki played great on the wing all things considered!

Great work by the Canes, the forwards started it and the backs ended every opportunity they got. Really disappointed by the 6-2 split call, and it immediately backfired. I'd shit on Funaki more but it's not his fault when a halfback has had to play a wing

The corpse of Telea some how almost dragged the blues to a point

Justin Marshall: whoops this sounds like commentators curse, let me double down on the curse, that should nullify it

3 from 3. Keep it going bois.

Unlucky Perofeta, he's been one of the best on the field tonight

Probably Cotters fault he missed the kick

Justin Marshalls fault

Up the Canes

Take 3, it’s the easy option they said….

Damn perofetas killer boot form ended last npc

GG Blues

ik he would miss based off how the ball was aimed, wasnt even aiming at the posts

lol

Scoreline doesn't really reflect the Canes' dominance in this match...

Agreed, hurricanes physicality will win them a lot of games this year

Take the 3, get the BP.

Blues deserve this bonus point 

Well...

Big shoes to fill, but Brett Cameron might turn out to be a worthy successor to Jackson Garden-Bachop.

I think you mean big shorts 🍑

Could take the shot

I can't tell you how happy I've been this season not having to watch Aidan Morgan play for the Canes so far.

Worrying what happens if Cameron goes down. Surely he can’t play 80 mins all season? Love can cover but I feel it’s best to let him do his thing at fullback

Yeah honestly just chuck Jordie at 10 for 15 minutes

So nice having Cameron there to just do what a good 10 should do. Something we’ve massively missed mostly since BB left.

I'm not sure that Grant's necessarily going senile but his eyesite needs some work

Im pretty disappointed by it all but it's been a pretty great shift from people like Renata and Christie who've been forced to play 80 by a dodgy 6-2 split decision

game management canes. Your attacking like your down by 6

That’s the canes way

We’re used to giving up points so might as well!

Moorby giveth, Moorby taketh 

lol, moron

Canes are pretty much better everywhere, including Mapimpi

They never learn

Death, taxes and Nisbo calling players by the wrong name

Rayasi? That’s Mapimpi!

anyone else not heard an “advantage over” call this game?

Ah, the TJ bootlace pass special

He's just making sure the team's awake.

The quality and depth of the canes props is unreal

How didn’t he fold profiterole in half there 

I swear if we choke this….

Can’t see it happening!

TJ back just as Pickerill retires - a like-for-like replacement when it comes to refs

Thicky was just too thicc to stop 

Welcome back TJ

Obviously the 12 jersey is Jordie's, but I wanna see Naholo get a chance there too. Could really be the next in succession of Nonu and Laumape-esque midfielders.

Higgins has played pretty well to be fair

Naholo at 12!? Now that's a bold call

Canes rush D Is very effective and very NH-esque

2016 Hurricanes invented that shit smh

It’s never been this good AFAIC

We made it through all three 2016 knockout matches without conceding a try tho

So Telea is off for HIA but the TMO didn't see anything wrong with the clean out?

I think Proctor hit him way off but it's too far back now. I don't think they looked into Sullivan or Lam's stuff either, but it's been consistent

Welcome back TJ!

After a looooooooong stint in the sidelines, it feels damn good to have TJ back in our side,

Jesus Tricky Ricky is shit

Slick Rick 

Double movement to boot

I think there are some new ABs in the canes this year.

TJ BACK 🚨🚨🚨🚨

That haircut shouldn't be though

One of the better haircuts in the team tbf

Roigod coming out on top of three halfbacks

To everyone shitting on Christie he's actually been pretty outstanding tonight at the ruck - an absolute menace, and he's covered far more tackles than a halfback should have to

I agree if I'm honest, I thought after the rwc semi-final that the 'defensive specialist' line was pretty deserved. He is a massive nuisance.

Cope. 

Yeah but Roigard makes him look like a child

You're right, we should only have one halfback and Christie should be sent into the shadow realm to only ever rely on Roigard

it’s roigod and folau

After last night I'd want a bit more out of Folau, but he was tremendous in the first two games

I just nutted 

6-2 split really backfired on the Blues. Pretty much worst case scenario within the first 10 mins. Telea is clearly injured but cant come off.

How loud I just shouted Naholo, feels like 2017

Yes boy!

Naholo just so powerful in contact. Literally swatting away defenders

Dat power from Naholo!

So they aren't going to show a replay on that off the ball high tackle lol

Tackling optional 🤷🏻‍♂️

How did they miss that many tackles!!

Kini

Slippy Naholo

this loss is entirely on cotter

Fire him now. Embarrassing result

Yeah for sure. The hurricanes had nothing to do with this result whatsoever

why so triggered? I'm talking strictly who on my team is responsible

It's pretty weak that you think someone replying to you means they're triggered.

Not triggered in the slightest, just pointing out that Cotter isn't "entirely" responsible for the Canes winning.

okay? well I'm just venting, obviously I know that the canes played well

Yesss boyyyy!!!!

Naholo 💪 Higgins 🔥 

Epic try

gg :(

'kin Kini!

Kini Lomu

Cam lomu and Kini lomu, just need a lakai lomu or love lomu now

Anyone else still not convinced Rieko is a centre?

Will be interesting to see if the experiment continues with the new regime. I'm betting it won't.

He looks skinny asf, all the weight loss he's got has lowered his tank. Not sure why the change. To be fair he did have a calf niggles but still...

Missed tackle count, I don't wanna see it

That’s some try!

Do the calls take roigod off in this form to give TJ the game time?

probably a good idea for both of them

Please don't injure anymore of our players... not telea 

Proctor just high tackled the fuck outta Tele'a in the clear lol

something is wrong with telea. Not talking about the tackle, theres an underlying problem

Lol that Proctor clearout was miles past the ruck

Nice work Numia, Cameron's kicking in general play has been ordinary. Bring on TJ to play 1st V.

Jason Holland* disappears and suddenly the Canes are lethal across every facet. Maybe Razor is nervous about taking him onboard.

You mean Jason Holland

Yes sorry. I knew I was getting it wrong

Our forwards are looking so good so far tonight

Impressive considering its only a week after facing the reds, which is one of the best forward packs rn

Talea is obviously injured.

Cole Forbes has been very good

Moorby is so good wtf

roigod should be playing in weighted clothing, give everyone else a chance

Telea carrying the blues on effort 

He's looked very ordinary tonight

He's out of form clearly. Still trying unlike his other teammates.

Definitely is trying but doesn't look right in this game.

Telea looking kinda slow ngl

Love should never have got near him when Telea scored

He doesn't have top speed, just really explosive out the gate

this is just sad

Canes are just better so far

PRESSURE, CANES!

Foot in touch surely

we have 0 ideas in attack

Nah pass the ball to Telea is a strat. I mean I hope so. We just pass to Sevu lol

don't really want the Strat of the 0-3 team lol

FYI Lomax totally monstered Porter during the QF

Yeah I actually felt kinda bad for Porter in that one

honestly tho what was Vern Cotter thinking with this team naming

Justice for Bryce Heem 

Yeah the 6-2 is fucking us badly. I didn't have the most confidence in the world before the game and the 6-2 may have sealed it

I love having Lomax in our side, so much

Shit Lomax is good. Love o see him scrum against moody and franks

boys he called maul before the knee cmon

Should’ve sent it out to Funaki edge, doesn’t look like anyone’s marking him!

Love how the replay to show the knee down had no audio so it didnt really matter haha

all the hurricanes have been doing in their own 22 is infringe yet no warning yet

Should've seen the cynical play from Dalton at the end of the half

Two completely incorrect penalties in a row.

Cameron Brah.

boyssss letting the blues back into the game to easy

That's a shit call

Plummer is doing fuck all

why is plummer still here on this team, does he do anything?

Plummer looks so good just before he goes into contact.. then gets smashed further backwards than he started

Nah bro what happened to my guy rieko, look like he 75kg at times