Serial cheats Crusaders prosper by conning refs

[Happy]

Twelve months ago thousands of neutral rugby fans were backing the Crusaders.

After the horrors of the two earthquakes, we hoped Christchurch could derive some shreds of momentary joy from the performance of their rugby team. No more. Some of us now hope that any team but the Crusaders wins the Super Rugby.

Richie McCaw's post-match eloquence and decency is in contrast to his coach's one-eyed remarks and hides a multitude of sins. Too many of the Crusaders intimidate referees, take cheap shots at the opposition and serially cheat around the ruck and maul.....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...y-conning-refs

[Sheikh]

I watched the highlights programme last night. I couldn't believe the TMO gave those tries to the Crusaders. Definately home ref advantage!

[Happy]

we couldn't see them at the game but started to get even more dissappointed when the twitter feeds rolled in about them

[sloppy]

that may be truuue. the crusaders did rest richie and carter after time. The best team won.

[Happy]

another hour and we would have had them

[The InnFORCEr]

or InnFORCEers ??

[Happy]

The would have had them in an hour

The InnFORCEers had them the moment we all began arriving

[The Man]

And where is this a scoop or a shock?

[.X.]

And where is this a scoop or a shock?

Someone call the Guinness Book of records people.

The Man made a post without a link in it.

#firsttimeever

[Stone Cold]

If you cut "Crusaders" and replace with "All-Blacks" the article still makes sense.

[pruc]

Best provincial team in the world. Thats all there is too it, anyone who watched the first 40minutes of the weekends game [regardless of TMO decisions, its not just the 'saders getting the calls look at the canes chiefs one...] and thinks differently doesn't have a clue whats going on. The crusaders were so far above the force the first 40 was like a training run.

The same could be said about a lot of teams, it's very much tall poppy syndrome. People looking for reasons as to why they are always so successful I know growing up I was told you make your own luck - they do that; when your being positive in what you want to achieve more often then not luck lands on your side. They are effective and clinical in what they do and more often the not the performance reflects it

[Ecky]

Interestingly (well, slightly anyway), in local club rugby not so many years back a certain very highly-ranked ref (did the 1st grade GF that year, among others) seemed to always do his utmost to keep a certain team captain (big tall fella, sort of a buzz-cut, played near the water) on the field, regardless of what indiscretions he may have committed.

Same same

[westies man]

slow news week

[GIGS20]

Best provincial team in the world. Thats all there is too it, anyone who watched the first 40minutes of the weekends game [regardless of TMO decisions, its not just the 'saders getting the calls look at the canes chiefs one...] and thinks differently doesn't have a clue whats going on. The crusaders were so far above the force the first 40 was like a training run.

The same could be said about a lot of teams, it's very much tall poppy syndrome. People looking for reasons as to why they are always so successful I know growing up I was told you make your own luck - they do that; when your being positive in what you want to achieve more often then not luck lands on your side. They are effective and clinical in what they do and more often the not the performance reflects it

You can see the location's rubbing off pruc. The way I see it, they are the team in world rugby who dominates the breakdown most completely in matches and this comes from an almost universal litany of driving past the ball and falling over, binding from the side and playing the ball with the hands....all things which would be penalized against 'lesser' teams.

The force game wasn't a great example of that though, the ref actually called the saders in the second half, one of the reasons for the comeback IMHO.