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Crusaders 2020

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Crusaders 2020
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  • mofitzy_M Offline
    mofitzy_M Offline
    mofitzy_
    wrote on last edited by
    #308

    Looks like they picked up a few players from the recent U20 side that was one of our worst ever.

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  • ChrisC Away
    ChrisC Away
    Chris
    wrote on last edited by
    #309

    Some concerns for me in this Squad

    Props Allen,Jager and Tu'ungafasi (Although he did go well when he got a chance last season)

    Happy with the Rest of the Forwards McAlister,Grace have some raw boned ability,Roots and Havalli great pick ups

    Burke,I don't see much there, we maybe in trouble if Mounga goes down injured

    Finau don't see him as up to SR level or Mcleod

    Rate Paea good pickup

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  • sparkyS Offline
    sparkyS Offline
    sparky
    wrote on last edited by
    #310

    Doesn't look as good a set of forwards as previous years. Don't think Razor will be breakdancing after the end of the Final this year.

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to sparky on last edited by
    #311

    @sparky I think the starting XV will be just as strong as last season, because the Crusaders played without their first choice players for large parts of the 2019 season (due to AB rest periods, extended breaks and injury). Their depth will be tested though, unlike before, because some of the new lads are pretty raw. But if anyone can get the best out of players, including rookies, it's Razor.

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  • CyclopsC Offline
    CyclopsC Offline
    Cyclops
    wrote on last edited by
    #312

    The key will be Mo'unga. I'm pretty sure that Razor hasn't lost a game when Mo'unga has started.

    Our forwards have been matched or bettered in a few games over the last couple of years but our backs have been the difference maker, and Mo'unga's clinical conversion of opportunities to points has been a massive part of that.

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  • sharkS Offline
    sharkS Offline
    shark
    wrote on last edited by
    #313

    Well, colour me underwhelmed. With the forwards anyway, and in the five-eighths. I guess I was hoping hoping hoping there'd be a surprise or two sprung and we'd have some instant depth added at prop after losing Franks, Perry and Crockett in recent times, and find a truly big (tall and solid) lock to replace Whitelock, but we've come up short in both departments.

    There is definitely a depth issue at prop, so Jason Ryan will need to continue working his magic with the inexperienced group we have and hope we don't get exposed. Good experience at lock but Strange is the only guy over 2m, and he's not really a 'grunter'. Romano is a grunter but who knows how long his legs will last now. We could potentially field some relatively short locking combinations, but we might be able to add depth to our line-out by using Blackadder, Grace and Roots on the blindside.

    Depth at 10 is a big worry. Losing Mo'unga for any length of time could be disastrous if Cameron can't play better than he did vs NSW last season, and Burke's handful of good moments in the NPC were as outside back cover. I'd almost have picked up O'Malley from Ta$man as another option. At 12 we have to either blood a rookie, one of whom spent most of the NPC on the wing, or work-up a combination between Ennor and Goodhue or Havili'i and Goodhue. A couple of times in the NPC I bemoaned on the boards what Maddock was doing with McLeod, Burke and also Sam Gilbert, specifically because it was so obvious they needed to be blooded properly in their preferred positions with an eye on Crusaders selection. And boom, here we are.

    StargazerS Chris B.C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to shark on last edited by Stargazer
    #314

    @shark After watching David Havili play at 10 for Ta$man, I'm seriously wondering whether he should shift to 10 in case Mo'unga goes down with a serious injury, especially in the big games. I think his experience will help the decision-making that is so crucial at first five. On the other hand, he could also be valuable at 12 in those circumstances (telling Cameron what to do if things don't go well).

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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #315

    Leon MacDonald said on Radio Sport that they wanted Sione Havili, but he chose the Crusaders.

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  • Chris B.C Offline
    Chris B.C Offline
    Chris B.
    replied to shark on last edited by
    #316

    @shark I hope a lot of those young guys - Burke, McLeod, Finau, Grace have been mainly picked on development potential and we won't have to use them much this year. If we do, I think we'll be in trouble.

    I've seen Grace's name pop up here occasionally over the past few years as one to watch, so let's hope that comes true.

    The most exciting new signing that we didn't know about might be Fetuli Paea. I was very impressed with him for Ta$man - though it's a decent jump to Super rugby - or, at least, it used to be.

    Seems to be a real scarcity of genuine second five options around NZ.

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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    wrote on last edited by
    #317

    Interesting. I just got a notification on Facebook saying that the page "BNZ Crusaders" has changed its name to "Crusaders". Change of sponsors coming up?

    C 1 Reply Last reply
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  • C Offline
    C Offline
    chchfanatic
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #318

    @Stargazer crusaders rebranding comes out today. Something different but pretty good.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • HoorooH Offline
    HoorooH Offline
    Hooroo
    wrote on last edited by
    #319

    Please tell me this is it!!!
    Comedy!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/117811512/could-this-be-the-new-crusaders-logo

    StargazerS C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Hooroo on last edited by
    #320

    @Hooroo Comedy? Why? What's the meaning of this symbol?

    HoorooH 1 Reply Last reply
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  • C Offline
    C Offline
    chchfanatic
    replied to Hooroo on last edited by
    #321

    @Hooroo yes that’s it. It’s supposed to symbolise the mountains and the sea. There’s obviously more behind it but I can’t remember all of it. There’s a couple of Maori words that I can’t remember

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  • ToddyT Online
    ToddyT Online
    Toddy
    wrote on last edited by
    #322

    Hold it to a spotlight and you'll see the Bat signal

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Machpants
    wrote on last edited by
    #323

    I like it

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Toddy on last edited by
    #324

    @Toddy I didn't make that association at all when I first saw that symbol, but I can see why some people will, although it's a bit far-fetched. If you look at something close enough, it will always look like something else or remind you of something.

    Anyway, I think it looks pretty good.

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  • HoorooH Offline
    HoorooH Offline
    Hooroo
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #325

    @Stargazer said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Hooroo Comedy? Why? What's the meaning of this symbol?

    C Crusaders = Comedy Crusaders. Is that not how they are marketing it?

    It looks rubbish!!!

    mariner4lifeM C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4life
    replied to Hooroo on last edited by
    #326

    @Hooroo said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Stargazer said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Hooroo Comedy? Why? What's the meaning of this symbol?

    C Crusaders = Comedy Crusaders. Is that not how they are marketing it?

    It looks rubbish!!!

    it's a bit shit

    HoorooH 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • HoorooH Offline
    HoorooH Offline
    Hooroo
    replied to mariner4life on last edited by Hooroo
    #327

    @mariner4life said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Hooroo said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Stargazer said in Crusaders 2020:

    @Hooroo Comedy? Why? What's the meaning of this symbol?

    C Crusaders = Comedy Crusaders. Is that not how they are marketing it?

    It looks rubbish!!!

    it's a bit shit

    I like how it represents the huge cultural and Maori representation Canterbury has.....

    mariner4lifeM ChrisC 2 Replies Last reply
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