I seem to be missing something with Fifita,I must be falling asleep during games and missing all the great work he is getting through to keep him in the AB squad.

Big worry for me is Foster has no idea as an attack coach
We are floundering getting much gain at the advantage line and I dont see what we are trying to achieve with the ball in hand at times.

ABs by 20 tomorrow We are going to play Ireland for real this time not on an end of the year tour When our players are fatigued from a big home season.They will be pumped no second chances here they will not want to go out in QF and finish a few AB careers on that.
I am hoping Australia pull of a minor miracle and take the Poms out not that I like Australia I just hate the Poms more.

How much credibility has Cane lost with that article.Keep your head down son get your job done.Be humble work hard,And don't bag you supporters in anyway. Get out there and connect with them.

All part of Razor's Coaching philosophy.

Don't know about other Crusaders supporters on the Fern but I hate the changing of the Crusaders Logo but I will not stop supporting my team because of it.
Some of the knee jerk reaction I am reading on I won't support the Crusaders anymore Not on the fern but elsewhere well Fuck off then you never were a supporter I went through the first years of being Shit the Blackadder years when we couldn't win shit.Earthquakes AMI stadium being pulled my team playing in a shitty cold hole of a stadium and you so called supporters sook about that shit.Makes me sick.
Rant Over.

When is the experiment with McKenzie playing First Five going to end, He's a Fullback who can tear teams apart not a crab for a first Five running to the sidelines every time. FFS if he is 2nd choice for the AB's as a First Five we are in trouble come WC.

@stargazer Not only the Great Test matches,Canterbury,Crusaders games. Cricket Nathan Astles double ton v England,Colin Croft shoulder charging Umpire Fred Goodall,Richard Hadlee steaming in,Peter Snell breaking 2 world records in 1962,Some great concerts held there New Zealand History very sad

Reiko is playing himself out of contention for the big games

Hansen won’t be sacked neither will idiot Foster
We are going to the big show with these 2 no doubt.I just hope Hansen gets his head out of his arse in time to get us back on track.

If Wales win this they won’t win the SF
Not on this performance

@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2021:

As you may guess, I'm updating my "signings" list.

Chase Tiatia also still had a year to go on his Hurricanes contract.

I'm confused, how do these contracts work? I know, they sign with NZR because of the central contracting, but isn't there also a contractual relationship with the franchise?

Unless the franchise is happy to let them transfer out to make way for someone they rate more highly.

@cgrant said in 2021 Crusaders:

Renton was very good for Tasman during the last rounds of the M10 Cup. He could have been useful in a rather "meh" loosies' squad.

I think you under rate the LFs a little bit
Grace and Blackadder carry and hit hard
Havilli is the same for a 7
Sanders free of injuries last season went up a couple of levels he performed very well and stood up in the North v South match .
A lot more in that group than people give them credit for.

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

Overall, this seems like a strong Super rugby Crusaders squad.

Particularly pleased with the propping group. It doesn't quite have the same strength in depth as the Blues (with four current test props), but a starting front row of Moody, Taylor and Alaalatoa should hold up well against them. Bower and Jager (who finally started to look the part in the few bits I saw of him in M10 Cup) a decent bench, and a nod to the future with some strong young contenders in Tu'ungafasi, Newell and Williams. In fact, the Canterbury front row was one of the few consistently impressive parts of their NPC team.

No change in the hookers. Would be nice if Codie Taylor comes back in better form. Makalio a strong option off the bench and McAlister should be developing nicely for the future.

If the Blues are edging us in the propping department, we should do the same to them in the second row. Whitelock and Barrett a starting All Black combination, Strange and Dunshea on the AB fringes and Romano a powerful and experienced 5th option. Razor talked him up as a potential onfield coach.

The loose forwards aren't quite as impressive on paper - lots of potential, not so much delivery. In fact, it's hard to say what the top combination will be. I suspect that Razor might start with Grace, Christie, Sanders (a tyro All Black and the other two started for the South Island), but there's very little between Christie and Sione Havili (Player of the Year for the national champions). Ethan Blackadder has had terrible luck with injuries, but has been a dominant figure at NPC level, despite that he's not a big 6/8. On form, Whetu Douglas might be shuffled down the pecking order and have to bide his time. We might also see Dunshea play in the loosies at some point.

No change in the halfbacks. The old firm of Hall and Drummond, with Enari as the promising youngster. I'd like to see Enari step his game up significantly this year if he's to be the way of the future.

No change among the first fives either. Remains a significant point of weakness if Mo'unga gets injured. However, Fergus Burke has probably improved and Brett Cameron even had a couple of decent games for Canterbury when the heat was on at the end. Started to look like a decent NPC first five.

Midfield also seems a bit thin with Ennor injured and apparently gone for the season. I'd be inclined to pair Havili and Goodhue, which is potentially more dangerous than Goodhue-Ennor, with Jack at 13. Burke, McLeod and Fainga'anuku behind these guys are more promising than inspiring of confidence. I'd rather have had Fetuli Paea as a back up centre.

Outside backs are absolutely laden with firepower. I think we'll start with Big Leicester, Sevu Reece and Will Jordan - but, with Bridge, Mataele, Fihaki and Punavai in the wings and Havili also around to play fullback.

XXIII for game 1: Moody, Taylor, Alaalatoa, Whitelock, Barrett, Grace, Christie, Sanders, Hall, Mo'unga, Fainga'anuku, D. Havili, Goodhue, Reece, Jordan

Makalio, Bower, Jager, Strange, S. Havili, Drummond, Burke, Fihaki

Punivai likely to get some game time at centre as that is his real position.

@Bovidae said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Bovidae Only guy I really thought might make it was Anton Segner, but even that would have been a bit of a project selection.

I'd listed other guys who might be worth looking at above, but didn't really expect any of them to be going to the Crusaders. Sam Matenga might have been an outside shot.

I was thinking about the Tasman props in particular, including Coxon, compared to the greenhorn Cantabs.

Nah I think its was a great move picking Willams and Newell according to some experts these are the Brest 2 props to come through the NZ system for some time they just need some development time.

@Nepia said in 2021 Crusaders:

@mikey07 said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Chris Any forwards the Canes can poach

So I'm a few days late with this one - you might want to rethink that, the last superstar the Canes poached from the Crusaders was Prinsep.

Awesome pick up by the Canes they just play him out of position,he should be played as a Lock he fits the canes height criteria.

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

OK @Tim My guess at a 38 man squad - taking on @Chris' intel!

Joe Moody
Isi Tuúngafasi
George Bower

Mike Alaalatoa
Oli Jager
Tamati Williams

Codie Taylor
Andrew Makalio
Brodie McAlister

Sam Whitelock
Scott Barrett
Quinten Strange
Mitchell Dunshea
Luke Romano

Cullen Grace
Ethan Roots
Anton Segner
Sione Havili
Tom Christie
Ethan Blackadder
Tom Sanders
Whetu Douglas

Bryn Hall
Mitch Drummond
Ere Enari

Richie Mo'unga
Fergus Burke
Brett Cameron

David Havili
Dallas McLeod
Jack Goodhue
Braydon Ennor

Manasa Mataele
Leicester Fainga'anuku
Chay Fihaki
George Bridge
Sevu Reece

Will Jordan

Short term for injuries: Rameka Poihipi, Tima Fainga'anuku, Josh McKay

Pretty close mate if not spot on IMO

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Chris

Yeah - Fihaki picking up Paea's contract would make some sense if we use Dave and Leicester in the midfield.

Have we lost Inga Finau somewhere?

We're still a bit light on genuine midfield options, so I'd like to see Razor pull a rabbit from a hat somehow.

I hear he is staying in Auckland maybe he has a contract there they need another MF

@Chris this looks better

Yep I agree I like Segner he looks like a special player in the making
Tima must in the selection mix as cover
Fhyaki would be a sound bet if they use
Havilli and Leicester to cover for Ennor which is being talked about

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Chris Segner looks class to me.

Got a few of those steely Germanic traits that somehow blew into Richie McCaw.

Tima might be a good option as short term cover for Mataele.

Razor might consider designating Havili or Big Leicester as midfielders - though I'm pretty doubtful about the latter, at present.

@Chris-B said in 2021 Crusaders:

@Chris Segner looks class to me.

Got a few of those steely Germanic traits that somehow blew into Richie McCaw.

Tima might be a good option as short term cover for Mataele.