REACTION: Crusaders press conference

[@cooke729]

Whitelock looks like he's taking a break from painting his front room

[@maristrugby2011]

He would actually make a good painter he wouldn't need a ladder....

[@andrewdoyle4973]

Disappointing from the crusaders, for a team that was 14-0 before this match I expected more, especially considering this was the first run out for this lions team. You can't really blame the ref, it was the same for both sides

[@tudordavies8204]

The silences speak much louder than the words!

[@keytools197]

we definitely had the ref, your 10 was too deep he needed to take the ball up to line more he gave our d time.

[@ps4t666]

key tools they are the best team in super rugby. They are deeper so their backs have more space to do their moves which has obviously worked in super rugby as they are unbeaten and the oppositions line speed is much slower than the lions. The lions line speed being quick illustrates that they have less space to work those moves so they couldn't execute and score tries.

[@scotthenderson873]

I actually thought the Crusader backs were too flat - with a rush defense you need to sit deeper or play a second line

[@cardinia1]

One of the weirder AOTEAROA rugby interviews CH CHHUR AOTEAROA LOL but their body language told the crusaders story tonight meek and most definitely mortified underneath that hard shell. LIONS are king for now though BRAVO lads lap it UP!!!

[@9teen80eight]

hard luck to the crusaders man it is what it is!im just glad the blues won! lol i think our provincial teams are doing pretty good considering not much difference on the score boards but enjoying the rugby on to the next!

[@JohnSmith-vy4lh]

They looked a bit shell shocked . They got off lightly , if the Loins backs would of got there link up play correct it would of been much worse for the Crusaders . This shows the gap between club rugby and test rugby . The Crusaders were beaten in every aspect of the game .

[@cordlxze9559]

Yet lions still got beaten by the blues, and couldn't even score a try against a side they 'dominated in all aspects' although I don't think the scrum was really dominated by the lions

[@JohnSmith-vy4lh]

The all blacks will be much better than the Crusaders . I think they will win all three matches but the first test may be close .

[@henrydownes6301]

John Smith Time will tell

[@bignumber8rh]

The Crusaders are a quality outfit and are clearly not used to losing, bluntly displayed in this interview. However, it shows that even though they knew what the Lions were going to bring, they failed to deal with it. This supports the fact that Gatland has a gameplan, which will be effective against the All blacks, if the players deliver on it. Some of these Lion's combinations have only had at most 10 days throwing the ball about with each other!

[@Tuilaione]

I really thought you were the better team. but those Lion Forwards are out of this world...

[@draiguk]

Some pretty salty All Blacks fans here whining about the ref, which is disappointing. It was a tough game, the Lions did what they needed to, had the better of the Crusaders in most aspects of the game, and were deserved winners. They get better with each game played, are trying different combos each game and I for one am looking forward to the test games.

[@kickinit8314]

Can you quote a All Blacks fan here claiming the ref cost the Crusaders the game?

[@draiguk]

KickinIt your joking right? have you read the comments? suggest you do.

[@kickinit8314]

So no you can't quote/reference a example?

[@xpat73]

Not when Scott Robertson says that Connor Murray is wold class and hangs the box kicks up there. That was a big difference between the Auckland game....where Webb's box kicking was awful.

[@apgwilym]

They sound like honest straight blokes.

[@Etherglide]

Having watched all of that, that has to be one of the worst post interviews I've ever seen.

[@Myke...]

It is so easy to blame ref, but pretty much Crusaders did not adapt and were doing uncharacteristic mistakes due to pressure. They did not use off load in tackles which Blues showed the way which rattled Lion defense and made them tired (and they subtly slowed game down at scrums, lineouts). Attack was predictable, and kicking wayward. Good to see Lions step up, so Tests will be exciting. I think Highlanders will expose Lions they have similar style attack to Hurricanes, Blues. but may let tries in. Crusaders have best defense and also Chiefs.

[@ratumelimatanatoto2488]

The Crusaders could not deal with that rushing defense of the Lions. Hopefully the Highlanders and the All Blacks do some chip kicks and some game breakers in mid field like SBW and Lienert Brown to counter that effective rushing defense from the lions.

[@SuperEdge67]

The way the British media are going on about winning this game you'd think they'd won the World Cup final by 50 points. In one British paper the journalist said the Lions dominated in the scrum. He was obviously watching a different game to me.

[@Thomas-dy5xl]

more like the fucking french ref dominated the scrum for em lol

[@SuperEdge67]

Feder Schwert we learnt how to whinge from the masters of whining.........the Brits. It's in our DNA. Only a blind biased moron would say the ref did a good job and didn't affect the game.......if not the result.

[@countycricklewood]

SuperEdge67 That's not the fault of the Lions? When decisions go against you or for you, do you see the Lions whining about it? Farell's conversion/non conversion?

[@SuperEdge67]

countycricklewood They won the game. The winning team seldom complain about the referee. There are idiots out there that call the All Blacks cheats.....funnily enough they have won over 90% of their games in the professional era. Nobody accuses Scotland or Italy of cheating....yet they probably do so just as much. You see the point I'm making. If the Lions had lost this game you can bet your life they'd be whining about the penalty....and justifiably so. I've been watching rugby for over 40 years and the ref today was poor no doubt about it. Did it cost the Crusaders the game........may be.....may be not. But he made some ridiculous decisions....and more importantly non decisions.

[@clarke1319]

but what reason would they have to complain about the conversion.

[@MrPenguin455]

Dazzaman. In the first test sometimes the barbarian were blatantly offside and the ref didn't say anything. The ref definelty made several mistakes which cost the lions a lot.

[@MrPenguin455]

shit i was meant to put that in the other comment section

[@williamjohnsamueldegidlow9800]

nothing to do with the ref... if the crusaders didn't drop the ball nearly every time they had they may of done better. the crusaders got completely out done today

[@wellingtonian2009]

The Lions were the better side on the night but the way some of you Lions fans are carrying on you'd think they had just beaten the AB's and won the world cup. Combined 4 countries v a club side.

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

Interesting how knackered they look. Possibly not as fit as the Lions guys ? Or not used to the intensity Northern Hemisphere teams play at ? Also please stop moaning about the ref.

[@superhoriguy3164]

we can moan as much as we want about the ref the lions were offside alot line speed bahahaha really and if anybody thinks the lions scrum was better yr dreaming but hey the crusaders didnt adapt like they said and if you can read between the lines ya know sam and scott know the ref was a fuck up fuck being pc lol

[@herbiegale8612]

superhoriguy is someone salty? 😉

[@superhoriguy3164]

nope not salty at all i just know what i watched and if you read more into than that then you lil girl need glasses lol

[@gamingnz1]

Let's not sugar coat this, the lions played to there strengths and deserved to win this game. The refereeing aside they didn't adjust to his interpretations and the lions rushed defense put the pressure on the crusaders. Which didn't allow them to play or get there game on, so hats off to the lions. The issue they have going forward is again they struggle to score tries, which I believe is a big concern considering from here onwards they play teams that have X-factor in the back line that will expose them like the blues did 3 days ago and they haven't even played the all blacks yet ( which will have the combined X-factor players ) take nothing away from the lions win but I wouldn't get ahead of yourselves based on this win because I believe you will be exposed against the star studded back line of the Canes, NZ Maori and Chiefs) the highlanders also to an extent, remember it's going to be played under a roof, so dry ball running rugby is what is ahead) for the record I'm a blues supporter. All in all if I was Steve Hanson based on the lions game yesterday, I wouldn't be too worried. Lions good win! and more games together will only be good for them but I'd be worried a little with the lack of tries because on that game plan yesterday, I believe will not win against the all blacks. You have to score more tries to win against the all blacks.

[@kickinit8314]

Can anyone here give a example of a Kiwi claiming the ref cost the Crusaders the game?

[@ianstewart9487]

the coach and Captain talking with dignity. the journos are trying to goad them into blaming the ref, too smart to bite

[@staceyleeellis9160]

Win some lose some,lions were better side.

[@herbiegale8612]

金白龍基督教的辯護戰士 You didnt have three players, are you sure that was a b team?

[@TheHIGGSBOZO]

Whose died?

[@jaytainui796]

Ooh, they're hurting. The Lions are on the hunt.

[@jackalfox652]

NZ seems to not like loosing...

[@THEMRblackboy7thst]

They arent used to.

[@talefaio71]

We can accept losing to a better team on the day! But not when the Ref is awarding kickable penalties to the Lions for the crusaders pushing them over in the scrum! Thats how they won tonight! No tries all kickable penalties!

[@zabaleta66]

Shawn Hawes Does anyone? I will admit, I love seeing the Crusaders lose though ......haha.

[@clarke1319]

yet class is just over flowing from you.

[@clarke1319]

oh dear Neil. you seem to be the one that needs getting over something.

[@rdh427]

Did well considering they played a first string lions team. The blues and highlanders beat the b squads.

[@kokakola41]

Well done lions!! Smashed em!!!

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

Putting money on a 2-1 test win for the Lions. You miss Richie so much

[@neilpcarroll23]

I'd bet on a cynical act of foul play in the next game along the lines of the O'Driscoll spear tackle. When a kiwi team is beaten they wont resort to playing rugby in the next game, they resort to thuggery see second game v Ireland in November last year- NZ paid the irish the greatest compliment that evening by refusing to play rugby in order to try win the game, class act

[@clarke1319]

Neil...no one ever denied Fekitoa's tackle was foul play. It was accepted this was the case but you just keep making more noise. We don't need to check media outlets...we all saw it for ourselves.

[@clarke1319]

Neil....I've read all of your posts...I'm pretty sure what your point is. The referee handled the incident as similar incidents were generally handled at the time and previously.

[@tribesmann8800]

Allblacks, learn from this game.

[@ojoojo9465]

these guys look shell shocked. media seems the same.

[@Stereo_mike]

Scott robertson complaining that the lions weren't out there to score tries and that they are used to seeing more tries. maybe take a look at your own team mate! 3 points is a fairly pathetic showing

[@frightfoo8440]

cmon how could they lose and blues win...

[@rugbyshotz7045]

Fright Foo they played different teams...

[@frightfoo8440]

Rugby Shotz still... nah caught me, i havent even bothered to watch the games. Only seen the score results :D ;p

[@mursyidomar6995]

Blues were faced by the same line-speed, but were able to get those offloads. IMHO Blues is the more talented team, but could never really kick-on, Crusaders is the more organized team, hence why they are on top, but today they met with a team with quite similar tactics and did not have those game breakers line SBW, Luatua, West, and the Ioane Brothers.

[@THEMRblackboy7thst]

The fucking french ref. All said.

[@THEMRblackboy7thst]

kmn100 eventually yes.

[@jackalfox652]

that bad from coach wanting to complain ref... he ref way better then previous games. where ref totally were biased. lions had much better discipline...

[@joewebster174]

Oh dear. Resorting to ref excuses, I really thought better of NZ fans.....

[@kickinit8314]

Joe Webster, can you please give a example? I haven't seen or heard a single Kiwi claim that the refereeing cost them the game.

[@edwardbooth577]

Whitelock makes that look like a shot glass

[@paulhmull]

Hard luck crusaders. Would have liked to see a more open game but that's what we have to do to win against ye. Only saw highlights so can't comment on ref. Head wrecking

[@LibbyTheCatFromHell]

The Corrupt ref Destroyed crusaders momentum.. That's all

[@SuperEdge67]

kmn100 Yes he should have yellow carded AWJ for pulling down a maul......almost certainly would have been Crusaders try.

[@kokakola41]

That's it blame the ref ....shameful!!!!

[@maxwellfan55]

Awkward. These two need some help with communication, if that's their job? The rugby listening public are interested.

[@steveevans444]

Those grapes taste very sour.

[@MyRammy1]

As usual NZ blame the ref

[@wilsonellery6464]

MyRammy1 Can you give a example of that?

[@MyRammy1]

Wilson Ellery example one Wayne Barnes WC quarter final. Even your politicians got involved. Example two the French ref in the defeat to Ireland in Chicago. Example three the same ref the other night was blamed when the Lions clearly out played the Crusaders and would have won by a greater margin had they not butchered a number of relatively easy scoring chances. Read this article 'Sideline abuse blamed as NZ numbers plummet' Its part of your rugby culture matey.

[@kickinit8314]

"Example three the same ref the other night was blamed when the Lions clearly out played the Crusaders" Can you give a example of that? I haven't seen anyone anywhere making that claim. Back yourself up

[@logan_taylor]

3:35 - 3:49 LOL

[@Etherglide]

That blonde haired woman is a complete knob. Lol

[@jackalfox652]

we know NZ wins with ref assistance... this ref wasn't bad... lions should hav had 5 tries... so I won't be to arrogant being a crusader fan. plain the lions ain't functiong yet as a team. but they had character... and literally destroyed the crusaders who were a better team on the score card

[@Thomas-dy5xl]

fuck off, you ain't no crusaders fan

[@kingsleyshacklebolt6235]

Thomas Tauiliili Pau this talk about the ref make sense in a way that it was different, but there was absolutely no bias. He reffed like they do in France, which is unforgiving in regards to warnings, the lions adjusted better than the crusaders simple. In fact the only wrong call of the match went against the lions when farrell's kick went over but was considered a miss.

[@groundhogguns5828]

salty,clueless muppet

[@Thomas-dy5xl]

salty clueless fuckwit

[@clarke1319]

Marawan. If you were watching the match on TV like I was there is no way you can be certain that was a successful goal.

[@Sosisi001]

all the lions fans in here saying were whinging about the ref....just imagine if it was the other way around????? you mofos would be all over that refs ass calling for him to be fired or not to ref on international level again....fans AND your f**king media alike!!!!! dont call us whingers because you all watched that game last night, that ref screwed us over, yes we had opportunities and we butchered it, but those unjust penalties against a dominant saders scrum kept on getting the lions out of trouble in their own half! just imagine if the penalties went the saders way, lions would be under alot of pressure because most of the scrums were in their own half!!!!!! we wouldve kicked at goal or for the corner and mauled our way to the tryline!!!! what an embarrassment, lions(4 countries) scrum couldn't match the saders(a single franchise) scrum..going backwards faster than team NZ win against the british boat in the americas cup challengers race!!!!!

[@Tugnar]

Lol whinger

[@Kbeats4Uknow]

Ref won the game for the Lions full stop. But well done to the Lions. Hope future games aren't overshadowed by poor officiating.

[@owyn4799]

If the ref won this game for the Lions then the ref won the game for the Blues for awarding a try instead of a knock on.

[@Kbeats4Uknow]

MagicSince 98 - The Ref didn't award the try for the blues. The TMO awarded the try. Get your fact straight before attempting a poor counter-argument. I'm actually glad the Lions won as I know the boys are under a lot of pressure (much of it unjustified). I just wanted to see a good game. Really feel for the fans who were clearly frustrated.

[@MrPenguin455]

Troy Stevens mate I'm a crusaders fan and as much as we lost the ref was fair for both sides.

[@Kbeats4Uknow]

James R - I don't know. It's difficult to tell because there was only a less than 7 point difference throughout the majority of the game. So it really could have gone either way. I just hope rugby doesn't revert back to the dark ages were matches were settle by penalty kicks. It's really not good for the game.

[@Kbeats4Uknow]

Luke Davis - whether you are a Crusaders fan or a Lions fan is irrelevant to me. I know what I saw. The fans in the stadium know what they saw. The Crusaders player and the media know what they saw. It was pretty blatant. To think about it. The KEY difference between this game and the game against the blues is that they accumulated more penalties. All the other stats, in terms of territory & possession were more or less the same.

[@jackalfox652]

still waiting on England vs NZ... NZ is like the Italian soccer team... they try bend the rules an hope ref blow in their favour...

[@Thomas-dy5xl]

what a load of bullshit hahaha

[@groundhogguns5828]

salty,clueless muppet

[@Thomas-dy5xl]

salty clueless fuckwit

[@stingrayF1J1]

Shawn Hawes they just have better skills than the English mate