@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 Tasman - 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.

@Tim Finlay Christie is doubtless one of the 15 best halfbacks in NZ.

Don't think he should be a Super starter, though.

@antipodean He's been out with supposedly a concussion for 18 months.

So who are the biggest misses?

From the reigning Mitre 10 Cup champions the biggest omission is Kane Hames. Might mean he is done?

I think Tim Perry's retirement from Super rugby was pretty clearly foreshadowed.

Those I thought might be realistic shots were Tima Fainga'anuku, Isaac Salmon, Sam Moli, Te Ahiwaru Cirikadaveta and Big Levi Aumua. Levi gets dropped from the Blues and to be fair, he didn't show much form over the latter half of the M10 Cup.

@Stargazer Agree.

I'm worried about our propping rotation. Not a lot behind Moody and Alaaatoa and both Blues and Chiefs both look stronger there to me. If Joe or Mike get injured I think we'll be exposed. Ollie Jager has never shown me anything to prove he's going to be the Jagermeister - for someone who's been there several years he's been a disappointment. Get in the gym Ollie and prove us wrong!

Taylor and Makalio obviously fine as hookers.

Locks are OK.

There's enough talent in the loose forwards to find a good combo.

Halfbacks are fine.

If Richie gets broken we're in big trouble at first five. Let's hope that Cameron has improved with another NPC under his belt.

Specialist second five looks weak - but, either Havili or Goodhue can move to play there - and we have good cover for them among Ennor, Paea, Jordan and Bridge. Just not ideal to shift David or Jack.

And we've got lots of good wings.

If we can stick mainly to our best 30 as listed above, we'll do OK. Not as strong as last year, but that's not surprising.

`Top 23 will be strong - something like:

Moody, Taylor, Alaalatoa
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Harmon, Douglas
Hall, Mo'unga
Havili, Goodhue
Bridge, Reece, Jordan

Allan, Makalio, Bower, Romano, Sanders, Drummond, Cameron, Ennor

Then some guys who I'd trust in the rotation Dunshea, Sione Havili, Enari, Mataele, Faingaánuku and probably Roots and even Paea.

And then some development guys mainly from a pretty underwhelming Canterbury team who need to convince me:

Jager, Tuúngafasi, McAlister, Christie, Grace, Burke, Finau, McLeod.

@Stargazer Paea is a centre or wing. Played mainly centre for Tasman and I'm pretty sure that's where the Crusaders need him. Good pick up I think.

I liked my eight selections above better than Razor's!

@antipodean He was dead right about "You cannot be serious" though. Chalk did fly up!

Fantastic entertainment!

@mariner4life Not sure Johnny Mac would entirely agree with you - but, these were the days...

So in conclusion, we might see:

Tighthead
Alaalatoa
Bower
Jager

Loosehead
Moody
Allan
Tuúngafasi