Crusaders 2018
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@frye said in Ta$man (feat. Robbie Malneek) vs Southland:
Crusaders backs looking good with Crotty, Jordan, Ennor, Havili, Seta, Dagg, Bridge and Goodhue.
@chris-b said in Ta$man (feat. Robbie Malneek) vs Southland:
@frye Digby Ioane was useful when he played and also signed. As is Macilai.
Like Stargazer, I'd snap up Tim Bateman and, assuming we get Jordan, that would be a pretty decent complement of outside backs - with room for probably one more (Mataele?).
So much better than the Blackadder era already. Fonotia, McNiccol, Tuitavaki are already distant memories.
Assume Marty Mackenzie wont be re-signed. Spent the whole season being useless for the University club.
So room for 2 more? I'd take 2 of Cameron/Macckay/Mataele.
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@pot-hale said in Crusaders 2018:
I see that Oli Jaeger has signed a new contract with Crusaders until 2020. What's people's view of him? Good prospects? Middling?
Very promising, glad he's stayed as I'm sure Irish clubs would have been interested.
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Just to bring this conversation on the team across...
Contracted Crusaders:
Codie Taylor (until 2021), Sam Whitelock, Oli Jager, Mitchell Drummond (2020); Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Israel Dagg, Joe Moody, Ben Funnell, Tim Perry, Mitchell Hunt, George Bridge, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Richie Mo'unga, Tom Sanders, Braydon Ennor (2019); Matt Todd, Ryan Crotty, Seta Tamanivalu, Wyatt Crockett, Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Mike Alaalatoa, Jone Macilai, Leon Fukofuka, Pete Samu, Digby Ioane, Bryn Hall (2018).So eight slots remaining - plus presumably injury cover for Moody and Franks.
Not yet signed from last year's squad:
Jed Brown
Quentin Strange
Andrew Makalio
Heiden Bedwell Curtis
Mitchell Dunshea
Tim Bateman
Manasa Makaele
Marty McKenzie
Sione Fifita
Sean WainuiNew signings:
Tom Sanders
Braydon Ennor -
@sammyc I think there's four unfilled spots if we have the same number of backs as last year.
I'm suggesting Bateman and Jordan take two of them. I'm still suggesting that we sign Enari (or Stratton) and just carry Fukofuka as a fourth halfback in the squad (if we can't get him signed elsewhere).
I reckon Bateman can be the third first five if we want (thanks for your efforts, Marty) and plays 2nd five and centre. Seta, Ennor, Havili and Digby Ioane can also play in the midfield behind the top two if necessary.
Dagg and Seta are probably the top wings - with Ennor, Macilai and Bridge as cover.
And Havili, Jordan, Dagg and Bridge can play fullback.
So one more spot - a specialist first five (Cameron), a specialist midfielder (given a few of those I've named as cover are slightly ropey - Wainui?), or a power winger (Mataele) - or McKay (I struggle to see where he'd get a game).
We (well a mod) could shift this discussion to the Crusaders thread.
Edit: Thanks Duluth!
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@chris-b said in Ta$man (feat. Robbie Malneek) vs Southland:
@sammyc I think there's four unfilled spots if we have the same number of backs as last year.
I'm suggesting Bateman and Jordan take two of them. I'm still suggesting that we sign Enari (or Stratton) and just carry Fukofuka as a fourth halfback in the squad (if we can't get him signed elsewhere).
I reckon Bateman can be the third first five if we want (thanks for your efforts, Marty) and plays 2nd five and centre. Seta, Ennor, Havili and Digby Ioane can also play in the midfield behind the top two if necessary.
Dagg and Seta are probably the top wings - with Ennor, Macilai and Bridge as cover.
And Havili, Jordan, Dagg and Bridge can play fullback.
So one more spot - a specialist first five (Cameron), a specialist midfielder (given a few of those I've named as cover are slightly ropey (Wainui?), or a power winger (Mataele) - or McKay (I struggle to see where he'd get a game).
We (well a mod) could shift this discussion to the Crusaders thread.
Good post Chris.
I think it's an absolute certainty that we pick Bateman, he's an excellent team man and a great back up at 12/13 and probably 10 also.
I mentioned Mackay based on potential, but I'm still not sold on him either to be fair. Have seen him play 14/15 for lincoln a few times and he doesn't have the "wow" factor of their more high profile backs (J Barrett and Goodhue).
Matele is probably a good signing. I know he's very close to Seta Tamanivalu so probably a good thing for squad moral. And Mataele played damn well in limited minutes this year.
I hope Wainui is gone.... he's a skinny version of Fonotia as I see it. Lacks the pace to cut it at the next level
Sorry @Duluth one more post to move (just to be a pain in the arse
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How does Oli Jager go at club level in Christchurch? Because I have to admit I'm not sold on him at all as a SR level prop. I guess given our strength at prop we can't afford to spend much on our fringe props, but I wouldn't be comfortable if we had to rely on Jager to play significant minutes in 2018. I can barely remember him taking the field for us this year, although I assume he must have played some minutes?
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@sammyc Yeah - I'm a bit the same with McKay. If he's a fullback I don't see him as being as bright a prospect as Jordan and if he's a wing He's more in the Dagg/Bridge mould - and I think we're pretty well covered there. I'd rather we had another blockbuster - like Mataele.
Wainui hasn't impressed me, but after Bateman and Seta - we would be a bit light on cover, though Havili has certainly played a lot of second-five and isn't an awful option (despite some poor games there).
A real wildcard would be to pick Levi Aumua. There's quite a lot to be said for having another 108kg centre in your team. They don't just grow on trees. Pity about the banning, because otherwise the evidence for picking him is slim - but, Leon will have a fair idea!
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A bit spoilt for backs now, what a change from a few years ago.
If there's room, I'd be keen to keep Mataele.
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@cantab79 Jager got a handful of appearances (4?) for the Crusaders - mainly against the lesser teams, I think - Reds and Sunwolves were two - but, I think there was at least one biggish game Owen Franks didn't feature in and I think the forwards stood up pretty well.
Seems like Tokalahi has got more of the starts for Canterbury this year. I haven't really been watching for Jager.
Seems like decent tightheads are scarce on the ground, so I'm not surprised they've snapped Franks, Alaalatoa and Jager up again. Presumably Jager is going to have to feature in the first half of next season, but we'll also need to sign some cover.
We could probably do worse than this Isaac Salmon who's come into the Mako$. I've been pleasantly surprised with how he's stood up in the absence of Halanukonuka.
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@cantab79 said in Crusaders 2018:
How does Oli Jager go at club level in Christchurch? Because I have to admit I'm not sold on him at all as a SR level prop. I guess given our strength at prop we can't afford to spend much on our fringe props, but I wouldn't be comfortable if we had to rely on Jager to play significant minutes in 2018. I can barely remember him taking the field for us this year, although I assume he must have played some minutes?
Haven't watched him at club level, didnt get to watch Brighton this year.
He's been very good for such a young bloke at NPC level. And has Chris mentioned he's been very solid in limited minutes for the Crusaders. Pretty impressive for a 21 year old.
Anyway....If Jason Ryan rates him as highly as he does that's good enough for me.
Some great props have come through the Sydenham front row factory. A very smart move by Robertson to bring Ryan in as an assistant.
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Oli Jager used to dominate at club level from what I saw of him last season. In most games the Brighton front row would get the upper hand over their oppsing scrums.
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@african-monkey said in Crusaders 2018:
Oli Jager used to dominate at club level from what I saw of him last season. In most games the Brighton front row would get the upper hand over their oppsing scrums.
Great, but why are the Saders developing a future Irish player? He's on record as saying he sees himself as Irish and wants to play for them.
(Assumes trump voice) "Send him home!"
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@gt12 said in Crusaders 2018:
@african-monkey said in Crusaders 2018:
Oli Jager used to dominate at club level from what I saw of him last season. In most games the Brighton front row would get the upper hand over their oppsing scrums.
Great, but why are the Saders developing a future Irish player? He's on record as saying he sees himself as Irish and wants to play for them.
(Assumes trump voice) "Send him home!"
He hasn't played for Ireland yet. Maybe complain about the Chiefs picking Michael Leitch or that useless Japanese prop instead.
Anyway........there's plenty of local talent being developed also. There's a few talented local props that I'm very excited about who will be ready in a few years.
As a crusaders supporter I want us to pick the best team possible, not suck up to hansen/tew .... that's what Blackadder did.
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I know he hasn't played for them, but he intends too. And, I equally had the same problem with the Chiefs using that useless friggin JP prop.
My point remains that NZ rugby shouldn't be paying this guy's salary - which is my understanding if he is getting super contract. If he committed to black, I'm 100% happy to have resources put into him, but otherwise, doesn't this seem like a bad investment?
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@gt12 said in Crusaders 2018:
I know he hasn't played for them, but he intends too. And, I equally had the same problem with the Chiefs using that useless friggin JP prop.
My point remains that NZ rugby shouldn't be paying this guy's salary - which is my understanding if he is getting super contract. If he committed to black, I'm 100% happy to have resources put into him, but otherwise, doesn't this seem like a bad investment?
Yep i agree. We have had way too many non NZ players in NZ teams over the last few years. Especially props.
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@gt12 said in Crusaders 2018:
I know he hasn't played for them, but he intends too. And, I equally had the same problem with the Chiefs using that useless friggin JP prop.
My point remains that NZ rugby shouldn't be paying this guy's salary - which is my understanding if he is getting super contract. If he committed to black, I'm 100% happy to have resources put into him, but otherwise, doesn't this seem like a bad investment?
No doubt he's on the IQ team's radar but if he thought there was an opportunity to get a black jersey, I suspect he'd stay. Presumably, he has, or is about to qualify on residency grounds this year. And he's contracted to end of 2020 season. Of course, he may not be good enough, in which case, it's moot.
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@pot-hale
Perhaps, but I don't want to invest in him unless he says he wants a black jersey and is prepared for fight for it.
I should mention that I'm only going by what he has said:
And as for the suggestion that he might have a choice to make somewhere down the line, all going well, Jager says he still feels like an Irishman.
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@gt12 said in Crusaders 2018:
@pot-hale
Perhaps, but I don't want to invest in him unless he says he wants a black jersey and is prepared for fight for it.
I should mention that I'm only going by what he has said:
And as for the suggestion that he might have a choice to make somewhere down the line, all going well, Jager says he still feels like an Irishman.
Context. He's being interviewed by an Irish journalist doing a tour of NZ about rugby and talking to Irish players based there. His audience is largely Irish. He's not going to say - nah I'm not interested in Ireland, I'm here now. Nor is he going to say - nah I'm going to be an All Black. So he punts down the middle.
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@pot-hale said in Crusaders 2018:
@gt12 said in Crusaders 2018:
@pot-hale
Perhaps, but I don't want to invest in him unless he says he wants a black jersey and is prepared for fight for it.
I should mention that I'm only going by what he has said:
And as for the suggestion that he might have a choice to make somewhere down the line, all going well, Jager says he still feels like an Irishman.
Context. He's being interviewed by an Irish journalist doing a tour of NZ about rugby and talking to Irish players based there. His audience is largely Irish. He's not going to say - nah I'm not interested in Ireland, I'm here now. Nor is he going to say - nah I'm going to be an All Black. So he punts down the middle.
He's Irish, he should play for Ireland.
