Hurricanes vs Crusaders
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Plenty of intrigue heading into Friday with the Crusaders not only losing their most recent match, but they also haven't won at the Cake Tin in their last 5 attempts. The Canes have made Westpac a fortress of late winning their last 25/26 games so they will feel confident they can tip up the defending champions once again.
Talks of a return for Read will ensure much of the hype centres around him over the week as the men from Canterbury look to shore up some of their sloppiness from Saturday.
This game is crucial for the NZ conference as the winner will go top overall and gain some vital momentum heading into the second half of the competition.
Early forecast is for a balmy night so this one should be a cracker.
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The return of Read is a mini plot line at best. The real key returning player is Mo'unga. The Crusaders couldn't get any fluency in attack with either Cameron or Hunt so the return of Mo'unga will make a big difference I think.
Crusaders will have a point to prove after last week, but the canes will remember the first half when these two teams last meet so I'm expecting fireworks all around from the get go.
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Canes at home, with AB starting 1st 5, Ardie Savea in career best form, plenty of punch in their backline against our SWB, coming off a bad loss against a lowly Australian side, paints a grim picture for the Christchurch based team. Knowing our luck, Hometown Jacko will probably get the whistle....
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@ACT-Crusader get outta here with your sneakiness bro! I can see an underdog set up post a mile away!
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@ACT-Crusader Hometown hates us aswell so that could be interesting.
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@Cyclops let's just hope both teams are at full strength this time.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
@Cyclops let's just hope both teams are at full strength this time.
And it's a dry track Anyone know what the weather is like in Wellington this time if year?
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No Coles
Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (c), Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Fraser Armstrong.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Wes Goosen -
David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Whetukamokamo Douglas,. Samuel Whitelock (captain), Scott Barrett, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Harry Allan
Reserves: Andrew Makalio, George Bower, Oli Jager, Quinten Strange, Jordan Taufua, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Will Jordan -
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@Duluth Solid backline and a fair amount of impact coming off the bench which is nice to see.
I feel like I'm repeating myself weekly but once again that tight five will need to hold their own if we are going to get the result. That front row held their own last week but the Crusaders, mostly the impact of Franks are a different beast.
(Edit): just realised Franks isn't there. Good shit.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
I feel like I'm repeating myself weekly but once again that tight five will need to hold their own if we are going to get the result.
Do you think the Crusaders will maul it?
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@Stargazer Yeah Barrett is a waste on the wing IMO. Would have liked him to start at 12 in this one as I feel the defensive system of Crotty and Goodhue will shut Laumape down as they have in recent matches. Would rather JB's playmaking ability in that area instead.
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@Duluth is the pope catholic? Does a beer shit in the woods? etc etc
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That Bridge vs Barrett matchup is going to be a beaut.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
So the Canes without Coles, and the Crusaders without Moody and Franks.
Don't agree with the Canes persisting with Jordie at 14, and even less agree with the Saders persisting with Cameron on the bench. I prefer Hunt.
With Tim Perry and Joe Moody both from the glass factory, we're missing Wyatt Crockett. Props look pretty makeshift.
Haven't seen last week's game, but sounds like Cameron had a shocker - Razor probably thinks it's best to put him straight back on the horse. Can't be sending a rookie first five into exile on the basis of one bad game.
