How many Crusaders in your AB 23?
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@gt12 said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
And we've never had a player who saw a bit of scandal become an AB captain and media personality.
Muliaina was never "All Black Captain". He was occasional on-field captain, as a reward for long service. That's a very different thing.
Aaron Smith is a very good rugby player. He is also not suited to be the public face of a very high profile team. They're different roles.
And it's not my over-reaction. I just recognise what sponsors want. And indeed, demand.
On top of that, he's in exactly the same position as Cane -- no longer a certainty to start in the RWC. So making him captain does not solve the problem, it merely repeats it. Especially since he will be replaced quite early in a lot of games regardless.
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@Chester-Draws said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
On top of that, he's in exactly the same position as Cane -- no longer a certainty to start in the RWC.
Disagree strongly. He's clearly the best halfback in New Zealand and relative form doesn't suggest that will change in the next 18 months.
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@Chester-Draws if Aaron Smith isn’t a certainty then we have massive problems ahead.
He’s still a class above.
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@FakatavaFuture said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Billy-Tell makes sense, although throughout the annals of time there's been the odd player i.e Scott Hamilton that felt just like a crusader somehow someway in a black jersey
Something about digestible head wear ...
Edit: or was that Sam Broomhall?
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@booboo said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@FakatavaFuture said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Billy-Tell makes sense, although throughout the annals of time there's been the odd player i.e Scott Hamilton that felt just like a crusader somehow someway in a black jersey
Something about digestible head wear ...
Edit: or was that Sam Broomhall?
FABSH was one of the few predictions that came to fruition!
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None
LOL
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@taniwharugby said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Damo Codie Taylor was poor, missed a crucial tackle and poor throwing, Ethan Blackadder were anonymous.
I thought Reece was one of thier better players.
Blackadder didn't play lol
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@taniwharugby said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Damo Codie Taylor was poor, missed a crucial tackle and poor throwing, Ethan Blackadder was anonymous.
I thought Reece was one of thier better players.
Yeah blackadder. Could make it.
Reece is popular but I don't really rate him. I don't have him in my 23.
Codie needs to get back to his best. He mightht be past it.
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@Damo said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Reece is popular but I don't really rate him. I don't have him in my 23.
I like his workrate and his ability to pop up in the right place, he seems to read the game pretty well, his biggest issue is that he can often miss some easy tackles.
I also dont get the glee some get in the saders losing, for me, I want every single NZ team to win over any foreign opposition, although MP & the Drua have created a conundrum there as I want both to do well.
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@taniwharugby said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
I also dont get the glee some get in the saders losing, for me,
Its for the good of SRP. One team always winning and Aussie team always losing will almost kill it
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@Damo said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Reece is popular but I don't really rate him. I don't have him in my 23.
I really rate him. His workrate is strong, his work over the ball is superb (see the penalty he won last night), the first two steps are electric (see the SA game in 2019).
That said, he's light. If you carry him, you compromise - need to carry bigger players around. It's like the loosies all over again; if you pick Cane cos he's captain, you need a lineout option at 6 or 8 ... and if you want your best athlete in Ardie at 8, then yo uneed peak Jerome equivalent at 6, who can also kick goals, drive the bus, coach teh side, etc ... I jest, but the compromises start to bite when yo uneed a world beater or two at 6 (one to cover bench/injury).
Reece is the same for me, but slighly less so because of where he plays. Some really really good things, but some weaknesses too
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@Damo said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Is there any glee? I hadn't noticed any.
But in any event a competition where the results are predictable makes for a boring watch.
The Crusaders losing occasionally is no bad thing.
More frustration IMO, as the players struggling have been struggling in the ABs as well.
One person’s reputation that improved yesterday was Richie Mounga. He’s been papering over some pretty large cracks by the looks of things.
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@Kirwan said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@sparky said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Kirwan He can't tackle though.
Not disagreeing, just pointing out that the Crusaders rely on him doing something special to cover their talent/depth issues
And they have for a while. Go back to the blues game two years ago, he single handedly won it for them.