Bryn Hall

walk into the stadium and talking to players talking to people that live down there there was just such a vibe it's such a festive kind of feel in and around it and then I guess with the rugby as well you could just see that it meant more than rugby to be honest like you know three three setups for three different days the Crusaders were on the Friday but you know I guess with how hungry they have been starved for rugby in such a world-class stadium it didn't matter who seemed to be playing Christchurch just wanted to get out and it looked great and hopefully now you know it's going to be a continuation of having

having it down in cross-stretching, even in the super yard down there.

the crusaders forward pack i think the game line especially with tamati williams being out scott baron not being there ethan blackadder even cody taylor to some parts of the year they probably just haven't been able to get that lightning quick ball and more so getting over the advantage line and getting been able to get that front foot ball and look you know lester had what 19 ball carriers was the top top ball carrier through the forward pack and i think with what his role should be from what i'm thinking it's been able to get over the advantage i get touches and been able to make it a little bit more difficult for defenses because

you know you saw on the way when he rose kind of going out on the edge with the little offloads picking and going through the middle having more sort of a license in and around the ball but maybe to jip's point i think you know knowing that he's going to be a big ball carrier because he is a back he has that skill set to be able to tip and zero out the back which which with what we saw a little bit with the crusaders when he was

in those spaces so look it's his first game that he's been there yes he has been in Toulon and playing a bit but look you'd have to think if they do continue with this he's only going to get better in and around those little things around the tip ball the zero ball and not being able to be so dominant carry focus but I'd have to think Jipper that their game plan for Rob Penny from what I saw is that being able to get him the ball to get over the advantage line and then being able to I guess unlock the attack and being able to use their phase play shape and even little tip balls with their forwards on the go forward ball

off a five man or four man liner, like I think the Blues do it off a 57, that they have Hoskins to two twos a little bit wider off the strike to be able to then go tip ball or out the back light.

If you're in that kind of position, being a little bit creative in and around it, whether it's in that position from the nine to the eight to then be able to be the ball player, or it could even be a 12 to a 13 and then being able to get Leicester on a down line off that to be able to entice that centre and winger, being able to be a little bit more

creative maybe and look it is their first game but i think you know using his power but then also knowing that he is going to carry how can you use them in different angles in different parts of the field to be able to i guess have more defense to be able to open up maybe pocket balls or miss passes or be able to get the ball in and around him

With Leicester's skill set, and I think just before I do touch on that and ask you a question, Ross, I think the difference between a David Haavili and a Geordie Barrett is their skill sets are different to Leicester Fingernuku.

Now, I think Leicester's ability to be able to, when it comes to the distribution under pressure, it's just a little bit different from what a David Haavili and a Geordie Barrett does.

So I think, you know...

David Haveli back at 12 and Braden Enel, those guys have played a lot of rugby together.

And I think, you know, Braden's pretty much a very, you know, very Mr. Fix it, very good in and around his lines, defensively, his communication skills.

And Davey's very similar in and around that as well.

So I think that combination with kind of the inexperience that they have had, like that's a really good tandem of a partnership that they do have.

And then I guess with Leicester, like the way that they did use him, they have the ability to be able to use him in the pod shape.

whether it be through the hard carries on the edge, Leicester gives them the opportunity to be able to get over the advantage line and being able to get players to think about him one or two players at a time.

And I just think with the likes of a Tamati Williams, a Cody Taylor that probably hasn't been there a lot, you're talking around Scott Barrett, who's a big part of that game line success, being able to get over the advantage line, and Ethan Blackadder.

I just think they needed someone that's got the ability to be able to get over the advantage line and at least ask questions with how Leicester does.

So I don't think they had the plan, Ross, to how you've kind of described it around having like three midfielders and been able to stack it into three.