Rebels v Crusaders
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Crusaders
1 Wyatt Crockett
2 Andrew Makalio
3 Owen Franks
4 Scott Barrett
5 Sam Whitelock (C)
6 Pete Samu
7 Matt Todd (VC)
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Mitchell Drummond
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (VC)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Seta Tamanivalu
15 David HaviliReserves
16 Codie Taylor
17 Harry Allan
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Mitchell Dunshea
20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
21 Bryn Hall
22 Mitchell Hunt
23 Manasa MataeleBNZ Crusaders team named to take on the Rebels in Melbourne
The BNZ Crusaders have remained in Australia this week, where they are preparing for their round 12 clash against the Rebels on Friday night. Head Coach Scott Robertson has made three changes in the forward pack and four in the backs, as well as a positional change which sees Seta Tamanivalu shift from the left to the right wing, in his starting side to face the Rebels at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The match day 23 includes three players - Richie Mo'unga, Jack Goodhue and Mitchell Dunshea - who will make their return from injury this week. In the front row, Wyatt Crockett comes in to the starting team for what will be his 195th Investec Super Rugby appearance, in place of injured loosehead prop Tim Perry. 20-year-old Harry Allan provides cover on the bench, having made his debut less than two weeks ago against the Sunwolves. At hooker Andrew Makalio and Codie Taylor rotate for this game, so that Makalio takes the starting spot. At blindside flanker, Melbourne-born Pete Samu earns a start this week, and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis has been named in the reserves. In the back line, Mitchell Drummond will wear the No. 9 jersey against the Rebels and Bryn Hall provides cover on the bench, while Richie Mo'unga returns at first five-eighth having recovered from the fractured jaw he suffered back in round three. A reshuffle in the outside backs sees Seta Tamanivalu moves from the left to right wing this week in place of Israel Dagg, and George Bridge comes on to the left wing. Jack Goodhue is also set to make his return from injury at AAMI Park, and will slot in at centre. Kick off is 9:45pm (NZT), Friday 4 May, at AAMI Park in Melbourne. -
Yay Mo'unga.
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Heading towards a full strength line-up.
Hopefully Joe Moody, Israel Dagg and Luke Romano aren't far away - though we have pretty good cover for the latter two.
Funnell won't be back this season, so Makalio it is as Taylor's back-up. I think for now he needs to concentrate on being solid rather than spectacular.
Won't be surprised if we don't see Read at all in Super rugby this year. There's no point in rushing him at all, so maybe this is our top loose forward combination. Interesting that Bidwell-Curtis has had the starts over people selected ahead of him (Blackadder and Dunshea).
Interesting to see Dunshea make an appearance, though seems they see him more as a lock than a loose forward. Looking forward to see what he can bring.
Seems like they're giving Drummond and Hall equal chances at halfback, this year. Mitch needs a good performance. I'm somewhat assuming he's not on the list of players required to miss two games, because I don't think he's missed any yet. Can Codie Taylor miss a game by not being required to come off the bench?
Any word on who's replaced Funnell?
Any knowledge of Harry Allan (Sammy?)?
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Rebels
1 Fereti Sa’aga
2 Anaru Rangi
3 Sam Talakai
4 Geoff Parling
5 Adam Coleman (C)
6 Angus Cottrell
7 Colby Fainga’a
8 Amanaki Mafi
9 Will Genia
10 Jack Debreczeni
11 Marika Koroibete
12 Billy Meakes
13 Reece Hodge
14 Sefa Naivalu
15 Jack MaddocksReserves
16 Nathan Charles
17 Tetera Faulkner
18 Jermaine Ainsley
19 Matt Philip
20 Lopeti Timani
21 Michael Ruru
22 Tom English
23 Semisi TupouGenia returns, front row replaced for Rebels
Wessels has made a number of changes to the pack, which struggled in last round's loss to the Stormers in Cape Town. Fereti Sa'aga and Sam Talakai are promoted to starting props while lock Geoff Parling and flanker Colby Fainga'a also come into the run-on side. Wallabies fullback Dane Haylett-Petty is still missing through concussion. Without Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese for another three weeks with an arm injury, ex-Western Force rake Nathan Charles has been named on the bench after only joining the club this week from UK club Bath. -
Saw Luke hobbling badly out of the sports medicine clinic in our building on Monday. Looked like he might be a couple of weeks away yet.
Harry Allan played for Sydenham last week. He’s a very solid player who does every aspect of his core jobs very well. A bit like a Dave Hewitt. Although I have seen him (at colts level) score with pace from 50 m out. So a bit faster than Dave. -
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@machpants said in Rebels v Crusaders:
@akan004 What we've the best locking combo in the world, and they're both still youngish
True but we have very little after that. Injuries can happen.
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@wally Richard Knowler suggesting Romano won't make the French series. I guess the likely replacement is Tuipolotu, though there seem to be plenty of reservations on here about his form.
I think we're reasonably well off for tighthead props, with Franks, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi and Toomaga-Allen to start with.
Loosehead is a major worry with neither Moody nor Hames having played a game this year and the apparent next cabs of the rank, Perry and Moli, both injured as well. Moody is evidently close to returning, but Hames is a long-term concussion victim. Quite who is the real third choice is a bit of a mystery, since so many looseheads have been injured in the past 12 months.
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Can Drummond kick?
