Crusaders 2018
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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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@stargazer Yes - but, Bedwell-Curtis didn't initially get a Crusaders' squad contract this season. I was somewhat anticipating that HBC would get Samu's.
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@chris-b I think you have to look at the bigger picture. How many games will Kieran Read still play for the Crusaders, for example? I think Douglas will cover 8 the next two years (with Read probably leaving after the RWC); not sure if Douglas can also play 6 or 7.
Taufua will probably move back to 6 and is a guaranteed starter; Read as well, if fit. With Todd a certainty at 7, all the other guys will fight for the 20 jersey, including Tom Sanders.
Bedwell-Curtis is probably one of the players who'll have to compete with guys like Jed Brown for a spot in the squad.
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@stargazer Yeah I'm not unhappy to sign Douglas - he's got height that some of the others don't.
I'm just wondering who is going to miss out - will surely be one of HBC, Blackadder or Dunshea.
I think Jed Brown will be competing with Billy Harmon for the second openside spot.
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@stargazer Would be a pity to lose any of them. A bit rough if they pass over HBC again, given that he's played a heap of games in the last two seasons.
If Razor was to be brutally hard-nosed, the guy who wouldn't get the contract might be Kieran Read.
I'll be a bit surprised if he makes it onto the field for the Crusaders this year, next year he's probably going to be more focused on RWC and, given that he'll be 34 end of next year, there's a pretty high probability that next year will be his last.
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Locking Matt Todd into a new deal will be one of the biggest priorities for the Crusaders as they map-out strategies for 2019. Openside flanker Todd, called into the All Blacks as injury cover this week after originally being overlooked for the squad for the French series, will be a free agent at the end of this year if he doesn't recommit to New Zealand Rugby or the Crusaders.The Crusaders roster for 2019 is already heaving with All Blacks, including Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Jordan Taufua, Richie Mo'unga, Jack Goodhue, Israel Dagg, David Havili, Whitelock and Crotty. "We have got the 2019 World Cup coming up and a few guys have to make decisions around that – after playing [in the tournament] – and who is the next person to come in," Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said. "Recruitment and retention are something you are really mindful of. Things like 'what does 2020-21 look like for us?'; with experienced players coming off contract and getting the young guys ready to come over and take these leadership roles."Robertson is contracted until the end of the 2019 season. Given he guided the Crusaders to a title in his first year in charge in 2017, and has them well placed to win the minor premiership this year, the board are expected to want to re-sign him as quickly as time permits. Recently former Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul encouraged the Australian Rugby Union to chase Robertson to be their national coach when Michael Cheika finished-up. "I'd be hounding that guy," Paul said. "I know we want to be able to produce our own coaches but I believe Scott Robertson is the best coach in Super Rugby...he's an incredible coach." However Robertson emphasised he wanted to remain in New Zealand and since replacing Todd Blackadder at the end of his tenure, the former has carved-out a formidable record with 29 wins from 32 Super Rugby games. "All of our contracts have review clauses at the end of the second year, and you then start talking in your third year about what your contract looks like," Robertson said. "I love what I do. I cannot see myself anywhere else at the moment." -
@stargazer Crusaders about to announce resigning of Bryn Hall and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis ?
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@stargazer crusaders due to announce 2 resigning tomorrow morning the word is Hall and Bedwell-Curtis
If so the loose forward mix will be interesting Blackadder,Saunders or Harmon to miss out
Taufu,Read,Douglas,signed already and Todd I hear will resign or will they drop a lock Dunshea and carry 7 lose forwards will be interesting -
@chris Yes, just looked at the Crusaders FB page. Bryn Hall is definitely one of them. The other one is a player with a beard, indeed most likely Bedwell-Curtis. Sanders is already signed for 2019. Not yet re-signed, Todd, Romano, Mataele, Macilai. Not sure about others such. I can't imagine them not re-signing Blackadder and Strange.
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@chris In a season when they've not had Will Jordan at all and Israel Dagg has been injured for so much of it (as well as heaps of other injuries), they've still only had to pick Jone Macilai once - or maybe twice.
I reckon they could probably sign one less outside back and keep one more loose forward.
