Crusaders 2018
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Exciting Backrower Samu Signs for Plus500 Brumbies
The Plus500 Brumbies are delighted to welcome Pete Samu to the club after agreeing a deal for the powerful flanker to join for the commencement of the 2019 Super Rugby season. Samu has been in top form for the Crusaders during the 2018 season and will add extra physicality to the Brumbies backrow stocks, being a hard-running ball carrier, a tough tackler and a player with excellent energy levels. “We are delighted that Peter Samu has agreed to join the Brumbies for the 2019 Super Rugby season,” Plus500 Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar commented. “Peter is a powerful backrower with good speed and a skill-set that suits how we want to play at the Brumbies. He comes from a highly successful program and has enjoyed success at both Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby level. “Having been involved in trophy-winning sides in both those competitions, he brings a winning mind-set to the group and we look forward to his arrival.” The 1.85m and 102kg forward is highly effective at the breakdown and will add plenty of go-forward to the Brumbies attack. “I am thrilled by the challenge of joining the Brumbies and am looking forward to taking to the field for the club,” Samu commented. “The Brumbies are well-renowned throughout Super Rugby for being a successful club and for having a fantastic playing culture. I am excited to get to Canberra, settle in and get out onto the field. “I’d like to thank the Crusaders for giving me a chance at this level and wish them all the best for the future.” Born in Melbourne, Samu is eligible for Australian selection despite playing most of his club rugby in New Zealand. He originally played for Randwick in Sydney for two stints, either side of a spell with St. Ives in Cornwall, before switching to Ta$man from where he was spotted by the Crusaders and earned a Super Rugby contract in 2016. As part of the Crusaders Development Team, the Knights, Samu was Player of the Year in 2015 and was called into the senior Super Rugby squad as injury cover at the tail-end of that campaign. Samu made his Super Rugby bow for the Crusaders against the Blues in Christchurch in 2016 and has since gone on to appear in over 35 matches.With Tom Sanders & Ethan Blackadder on the Crusaders' pay-roll, and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis playing well, I think it's fair to say that Samu - despite playing well - won't leave a big hole in the Crusaders squad for 2019.
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@stargazer Yep totally; no great loss. His form has been good, but what position is he actually? When he was first selected in the main squad he was talked up as being able to cover all three lose forward positions but he's no fetcher and he's under-sized to play 6 or 8. We've already got a small 6 or 8 (who plays above his size) operating to a much higher level.
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
More proof Brenda has had too many head knocks.
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Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I'd probably start a fully fit Izzy Dagg over Havili'i who hasn't been a patch on last year's player and almost seems to be cruising. At least have him on the bench. Havili'i needs to know he has someone breathing down his neck.
I wouldn't.
I like they way they use havili defending in the line, his defense shows he's still trying. Just lacking the X factor of last year with ball in hand.
I watched Dagg play for University a few weeks ago before his comeback for the Crusaders, his lack of effort on defense was very noticeable
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
You need to poach better - no players that will get selected for higher honours.
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
@nepia We don't poach - we recruit!
Actually, only Hames of those players is a genuine poach - pretty sure all of the others made their provincial debuts for Ta$man.
Pfft, poaches are poaches (unless it's BBBR because we built him).
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
What's wrong with Jordan? He's been hanging out with Havili'i at the Cafe opposite Rugby Park as if he's in a normal training pattern, from the little bit I've observed.
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@sammyc said in Crusaders 2018:
@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I'd probably start a fully fit Izzy Dagg over Havili'i who hasn't been a patch on last year's player and almost seems to be cruising. At least have him on the bench. Havili'i needs to know he has someone breathing down his neck.
I wouldn't.
I like they way they use havili defending in the line, his defense shows he's still trying. Just lacking the X factor of last year with ball in hand.
I watched Dagg play for University a few weeks ago before his comeback for the Crusaders, his lack of effort on defense was very noticeable
I think a little bit of rotation might kick start him back into attacking form.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
What's wrong with Jordan? He's been hanging out with Havili'i at the Cafe opposite Rugby Park as if he's in a normal training pattern, from the little bit I've observed.
According to others on here he's another with long term concussion effects.
Makes sense since he was picked for the NZ U20s, but is out "injured". Doesn't appear to be playing club rugby and certainly hasn't played for the Crusaders or their development teams.
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@chris-b from what I’ve heard it could well be an early retirement for Will Jordan. That’s out of the chch club not crusaders.
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@chchfanatic Jesus - that would be terrible. He's barely played first class rugby.
Hope not!
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Whetu Douglas set to make his BNZ Crusaders return
The 2019 Super Rugby season will see the return of a familiar face to the BNZ Crusaders, with popular loose forward Whetu Douglas signing on with the club for the 2019/2020 seasons. Prior to that, Douglas will link up with Canterbury at the start of their 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign, having also committed to the red and blacks for the next two seasons. 27-year-old Douglas, who was called in to the BNZ Crusaders as an injury replacement for last year’s Investec Super Rugby competition, played six games for the side in their title-winning season, and had an immediate impact on the team, coaches, and fans alike. He scored a try in each of the team’s first two matches of the year - against the Brumbies and Highlanders - and went on to score another try in his last game, against the Sunwolves in week eight. Douglas left New Zealand with his young family following his stint in Super Rugby, to honour a contract with Italian Pro 14 side Benetton Treviso. BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said after his whirlwind introduction to Super Rugby, the club is thrilled to welcome Douglas back in 2019: “Whetu was a standout player in our 2017 season. He joined the squad as injury cover, slotted in to our team environment effortlessly and became a crowd favourite very early on. “He’s the ultimate team man - humble and hardworking – and he holds great Mana among our group. Whetu has a phenomenal attitude and a real willingness to dig deep for his team mates, so we’re excited to have him commit for the next two seasons, and look forward to having him back in a Crusaders jersey in 2019,” Robertson said. A Waikato representative from 2013-2016, Douglas was named in the Maori All Blacks squad for the first time in 2016, for their end of year tour to Chicago, London and Ireland. Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock said Douglas is an important addition to his squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season: “Whetu will be a fantastic asset to our loose forward stocks this year, and we are pleased he has made the decision to return to New Zealand with his family. “He’ll be better for his experience playing overseas, and I’m sure his knowledge will be invaluable among our young squad this season,” Maddock said. Douglas said he was looking forward to continuing his career in Christchurch: "Not only am I excited to be playing in New Zealand and in the Super Rugby competition, I am excited and honoured to be joining the Crusaders and Canterbury for the next two years. The history of excellence in this region I believe, is the best fit for me to reach my full potential as a professional rugby player. "I am grateful for this opportunity, and my family and I look forward to joining the Christchurch community soon. "Ki a koutou o te motu: Whāia te iti kahurangi: ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei," Douglas said. -
@stargazer That's a handy signing, but I wonder - does that mean Bidwell-Curtis doesn't get a contract - or does someone who currently has one miss out?
Dunshea? Blackadder?
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