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Leon MacDonald admits Blues weren't good enough in 'brutal' loss
By AAP
All Blacks-bound coach Leon MacDonald admits the Auckland Blues were no match for the Canterbury Crusaders after seeing his side handed a 52-15 Super Rugby Pacific semi-final thrashing in Christchurch.
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MacDonald, who will work as an assistant to Scott Robertson when the Crusaders’ coach takes over at the All Blacks’ helm later this year, saw his team dismantled in the first 40 minutes.
He conceded the Blues were no match for the reigning champions.
“When you go up against the Crusaders they’ll test you and you’ve got to have your mindset tough,” said MacDonald.
“It’s the dark arts of the game that they’re so good at and for us to not be able to step up when it was our opportunity to do that is probably the thing that hurts the most.
“We’re not a great team, we aren’t nailing the big moments, big games and that’s obviously frustrating.
“But there’s something about this group that can turn into a very good team and I just hope they stick tight and whoever takes the helm next is able just to keep cranking them forward.”
The Crusaders were ruthless in the first half, scoring four unanswered tries to hold a 29-point lead by the interval over the team they defeated in last year’s final.
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Victory took the Crusaders into their sixth Super Rugby decider since 2017 and either the Waikato Chiefs or the ACT Brumbies, who face off on Saturday, will stand between Robertson and the title next week.
“It’s a big lesson tonight,” said MacDonald. “They brought the intensity that you would expect. That’s why they’ve been unbeaten here for probably 30 games now.
“We had high hopes and for it to end like this isn’t ideal, but sport can be brutal at times – the highs are high and the lows are brutally low.
“You put your heart and soul into these big games. You’re thinking about them months out, and when all doesn’t go the way you hoped, it’s always frustrating.”
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For me, after about 15 mins, he needed to tell his loosies to move into the centre on attack more so than D, he has the power to make that happen mid game.
Interesting comments after the game, I’m now wondering if a few Blues made themselves unavailable for ABXV.
More spin from MacDonald..it's not the " dark arts" it's excellence in the fundamentals. Like the AB'S used to be renowned for..Blues can't pass can't catch can't kick can't adapt..basic forward play is non existent..game management and on field leadership ??? Gutless insipid performance. None of them should get near the AB'S . But Foster will pick them regardless.
It is not the "Waikato" Chiefs, it is just the Chiefs. Please get your facts straight
Blues for life! But in Macdonald's tenure I admit I never truly felt confident in the big games that mattered. Did he add any value, going by the result from last night, I don't think so.