Crusaders v Blues
-
Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock (capt), Quinten Strange, Michael Alaalatoa, Andrew Makalio, Tim Perry
Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Wyatt Crockett, Donald Brighouse, Luke Romano, Pete Samu, Bryn Hall, Mitchell Hunt, Manasa Mataele -
Kara Pryor not good enough to push Taramai off the bench given he aint on the broken list.
Wow, Tamati, finally, if he hadnt done himself an injury at the start of the season, he'd of had plenty of chances to push for a start.
-
So the Crusaders are resting Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Scott Barrett and David Havili, and Joe Moody is injured.
With Read coming back, Taufua was expected to shift to 6; Bedwell-Curtis and Samu, and to a lesser degree Blackadder, are from now on competing for the bench spot.The big question mark, and probably the weakest link, is the new hooker from Otago.
Found this article with a bit of info about him.
Sam an exciting prospect for rugby - Cook Islands News
Sam Anderson-Heather or “Simmo”, son of Henry Heather and Hayley Anderson and grandson of Heather Heather, is an exciting prospect for the Cook Islands Rugby World Cup qualifier squad.
-
@stargazer He's from Hastings Boys. Must be in his late 20s by now.
-
I guess we knew Taylor and Barrett would get rested and it's not surprising that they're giving Owen Franks a break - they seem to be managing his minutes pretty carefully this season.
Drummond getting thrown a bone with a start before the play-offs - but, the interesting one is Dagg getting a start at fullback.
Not sure whether that is throwing Israel a bone, or how well he would need to play to usurp Havili for the play-offs. My guess is he'd need to have a stormer. David's been going pretty well, perhaps without quite reaching last year's standard. I think his spot would be more at threat to Israel, than George Bridge's.
-
@nepia said in Crusaders v Blues:
@stargazer He's from Hastings Boys. Must be in his late 20s by now.
He's a mate of mine. He was meant to be picked up by the highlanders a couple of seasons ago but his partner got sick so he turned it down. Glad he has got another shot. What happened to Chris King?
-
@magpie_in_aus said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nepia said in Crusaders v Blues:
@stargazer He's from Hastings Boys. Must be in his late 20s by now.
He's a mate of mine. He was meant to be picked up by the highlanders a couple of seasons ago but his partner got sick so he turned it down. Glad he has got another shot. What happened to Chris King?
Not needed if two of Moody, Crockett and Perry are available?
He played two weeks ago in the game v Western Force.
-
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@magpie_in_aus said in Crusaders v Blues:
@nepia said in Crusaders v Blues:
@stargazer He's from Hastings Boys. Must be in his late 20s by now.
He's a mate of mine. He was meant to be picked up by the highlanders a couple of seasons ago but his partner got sick so he turned it down. Glad he has got another shot. What happened to Chris King?
Not needed if two of Moody, Crockett and Perry are available?
He played two weeks ago in the game v Western Force.
Watched brighouse play club rugby last week and he was pretty impressive. Deserves his spot on the bench
-
-
I can tell you that Chris King will be quite pleased not to be involved. He was called into the Canterbury set up as training fodder last year and it didn't go any further. The Crusaders did the same thing in pre-season but then he somewhat relucantly laced up the boots for the game in Gore and was subsequently retained due to all the prop injuries.
-
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@sammyc Yup, and 12 years younger, so one with still plenty of seasons ahead of him. Nevertheless, thumbs up for King; still playing at 37.
Alex Ainley turns 37 on Monday - needs a play-off start to match Chris King - though Alex is still a contracted squad member and hasn't yet announced he's retiring.
-
-
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@chris-b I was wondering where the Crusaders would get their 4th hooker from after Vella left for Wellington. It crossed my mind that they could ask Ti'i Paulo to lace up his boots if there weren't any young bucks available.
Brodie MacAlister is next in line and has also been playing really well in club rugby (he played in the game against the force)
-
-
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@sammyc Yup, as I said "if there weren't any young bucks available". Clearly, there is a young buck available in Brodie McAlister, but we didn't know that at the time when Vella joined the Canes and Funnell got injured.
Thanks, I did read your post.
It’s pretty obvious he’s been next in line for a while for anyone that follows club rugby in Christchurch.
Vella was never a long term option.
-
@Stargazer If you are ever wondering whose next in line for the crusaders front row it’s worth checking the Sydenham team sheet in club rugby.
Jason Ryan’s club and he seems to direct most of the promising young props and hookers there.
Last weekends team had harry Allan, brighouse and Macalister. All future long term crusaders I think.
-
@sammyc said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Stargazer If you are ever wondering whose next in line for the crusaders front row it’s worth checking the Sydenham team sheet in club rugby.
Jason Ryan’s club and he seems to direct most of the promising young props and hookers there.
Last weekends team had harry Allan, brighouse and Macalister. All future long term crusaders I think.
Recent graduates have been Cody Taylor, Nepo Laulala and Siate Tokolahi
