Crusaders 2020
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They are saying Cullen Grace impressed this year for Canterbury. Really? The bits I saw were quite underwhelming, but I did only see about three games.
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`Top 23 will be strong - something like:
Moody, Taylor, Alaalatoa
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Harmon, Douglas
Hall, Mo'unga
Havili, Goodhue
Bridge, Reece, JordanAllan, Makalio, Bower, Romano, Sanders, Drummond, Cameron, Ennor
Then some guys who I'd trust in the rotation Dunshea, Sione Havili, Enari, Mataele, Faingaánuku and probably Roots and even Paea.
And then some development guys mainly from a pretty underwhelming Canterbury team who need to convince me:
Jager, Tuúngafasi, McAlister, Christie, Grace, Burke, Finau, McLeod.
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@Chris-B I think Tu'ungafasi has already had a few good shifts. I think it will be close between him and Allan.
I think they'll continue rotating Ennor, Reece and Mataele (especially the last two). Tbh, I don't think there's much difference between Reece and Mataele; Mataele has just been very unlucky with injuries.
I find, particularly, the signing of Burke and McLeod really, really weak. Haven't seen enough of Grace to form an opinion, but he didn't stand out for the NZU20s this year.
Jager still has to convince me that he's up to SR level. Needs to stay injury free. This really should be his and Sanders' last year; if they break again, they should try to sign other players, next year. -
@Stargazer Agree.
I'm worried about our propping rotation. Not a lot behind Moody and Alaaatoa and both Blues and Chiefs both look stronger there to me. If Joe or Mike get injured I think we'll be exposed. Ollie Jager has never shown me anything to prove he's going to be the Jagermeister - for someone who's been there several years he's been a disappointment. Get in the gym Ollie and prove us wrong!
Taylor and Makalio obviously fine as hookers.
Locks are OK.
There's enough talent in the loose forwards to find a good combo.
Halfbacks are fine.
If Richie gets broken we're in big trouble at first five. Let's hope that Cameron has improved with another NPC under his belt.
Specialist second five looks weak - but, either Havili or Goodhue can move to play there - and we have good cover for them among Ennor, Paea, Jordan and Bridge. Just not ideal to shift David or Jack.
And we've got lots of good wings.
If we can stick mainly to our best 30 as listed above, we'll do OK. Not as strong as last year, but that's not surprising.
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@chchfanatic So who was this mystery Saracens player that never eventuated?
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Some concerns for me in this Squad
Props Allen,Jager and Tu'ungafasi (Although he did go well when he got a chance last season)
Happy with the Rest of the Forwards McAlister,Grace have some raw boned ability,Roots and Havalli great pick ups
Burke,I don't see much there, we maybe in trouble if Mounga goes down injured
Finau don't see him as up to SR level or Mcleod
Rate Paea good pickup
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@sparky I think the starting XV will be just as strong as last season, because the Crusaders played without their first choice players for large parts of the 2019 season (due to AB rest periods, extended breaks and injury). Their depth will be tested though, unlike before, because some of the new lads are pretty raw. But if anyone can get the best out of players, including rookies, it's Razor.
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The key will be Mo'unga. I'm pretty sure that Razor hasn't lost a game when Mo'unga has started.
Our forwards have been matched or bettered in a few games over the last couple of years but our backs have been the difference maker, and Mo'unga's clinical conversion of opportunities to points has been a massive part of that.
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Well, colour me underwhelmed. With the forwards anyway, and in the five-eighths. I guess I was hoping hoping hoping there'd be a surprise or two sprung and we'd have some instant depth added at prop after losing Franks, Perry and Crockett in recent times, and find a truly big (tall and solid) lock to replace Whitelock, but we've come up short in both departments.
There is definitely a depth issue at prop, so Jason Ryan will need to continue working his magic with the inexperienced group we have and hope we don't get exposed. Good experience at lock but Strange is the only guy over 2m, and he's not really a 'grunter'. Romano is a grunter but who knows how long his legs will last now. We could potentially field some relatively short locking combinations, but we might be able to add depth to our line-out by using Blackadder, Grace and Roots on the blindside.
Depth at 10 is a big worry. Losing Mo'unga for any length of time could be disastrous if Cameron can't play better than he did vs NSW last season, and Burke's handful of good moments in the NPC were as outside back cover. I'd almost have picked up O'Malley from Ta$man as another option. At 12 we have to either blood a rookie, one of whom spent most of the NPC on the wing, or work-up a combination between Ennor and Goodhue or Havili'i and Goodhue. A couple of times in the NPC I bemoaned on the boards what Maddock was doing with McLeod, Burke and also Sam Gilbert, specifically because it was so obvious they needed to be blooded properly in their preferred positions with an eye on Crusaders selection. And boom, here we are.
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@shark After watching David Havili play at 10 for Ta$man, I'm seriously wondering whether he should shift to 10 in case Mo'unga goes down with a serious injury, especially in the big games. I think his experience will help the decision-making that is so crucial at first five. On the other hand, he could also be valuable at 12 in those circumstances (telling Cameron what to do if things don't go well).
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@shark I hope a lot of those young guys - Burke, McLeod, Finau, Grace have been mainly picked on development potential and we won't have to use them much this year. If we do, I think we'll be in trouble.
I've seen Grace's name pop up here occasionally over the past few years as one to watch, so let's hope that comes true.
The most exciting new signing that we didn't know about might be Fetuli Paea. I was very impressed with him for Ta$man - though it's a decent jump to Super rugby - or, at least, it used to be.
Seems to be a real scarcity of genuine second five options around NZ.
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@Stargazer crusaders rebranding comes out today. Something different but pretty good.
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Please tell me this is it!!!
Comedy!https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/117811512/could-this-be-the-new-crusaders-logo
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