Crusaders vs. Highlanders
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Highlanders: Ben Smith (cc), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Richard Buckman, Marty Banks, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Ash Dixon (cc), Aki Seiuli, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Joe Wheeler, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Lima Sopoaga, Matt Faddes. -
I know there is a lot of talk about Sopoaga but Elliot Dixon has been benched which is interesting. He did not have his best game vs the Tahs last week.
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BNZ Crusaders team to play the Highlanders
The BNZ Crusaders will play the Highlanders for the second time this season in an afternoon derby at AMI Stadium. Head Coach Scott Robertson has made ten changes to the starting line-up that beat the Rebels last weekend.
The entire front row has changed, with Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks starting, and Wyatt Crockett, Mike Alaalatoa and Ben Funnell sitting on the bench.
The other changes in the forwards are at lock, with Luke Romano staring and Quinten Strange shifting to the reserves, and at loose forward with Matt Todd returning at number 7 in place of Pete Samu.
In the backs, Mitchell Drummond starts at halfback this week. George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu take the wings, and Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue start in the midfield. Bryn Hall will cover halfback while Mitchell Hunt and Israel Dagg will cover the rest of the back line.
The last time the BNZ Crusaders and Highlanders played each other was in round two of the season, and the Crusaders snatched a last minute win down in Dunedin. The BNZ Crusaders have won every game since, while the Highlanders have dropped just one game since and won their last nine in a row.
Kick-off is at 2:35pm on Saturday at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.
BNZ Crusaders team to play the Highlanders:
1 Joe Moody
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Luke Romano
5 Sam Whitelock (C)
6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
7 Matt Todd (VC)
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Mitchell Drummond
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (VC)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Seta Tamanivalu
15 David HaviliRESERVES
16 Ben Funnell
17 Wyatt Crockett
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Quinten Strange
20 Jed Brown
21 Bryn Hall
22 Mitchell Hunt
23 Israel Dagg -
fuck that is a good Crusaders team.
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Fucking Glen Jackson 2 weeks in a row.
I was happy we got him last week as I thought there was no chance we'd get him this week
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@SammyC yea but you are at home, so you're sweet.
The 'landers however, are about to get fucked.
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Pretty much what ACT and I agreed on, except Dagg is benched and Bridge will start.
In last year's NPC Final, one of Razor's key plans was to rattle Marty Banks and (unfortunately) it worked. Though this time Marty will be getting the ball from Aaron Smith instead of Billy Guyton and will have Rob Thompson helping him instead of hassling him.
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@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:
Pretty much what ACT and I agreed on, except Dagg is benched and Bridge will start.
In last year's NPC Final, one of Razor's key plans was to rattle Marty Banks and (unfortunately) it worked. Though this time Marty will be getting the ball from Aaron Smith instead of Billy Guyton and will have Rob Thompson helping him instead of hassling him.
Good to see Razor is listening to the faithful
Expect to see Crotty and Todd putting that same sort of pressure on Marty.
Against the Rebels we played extremely flat in attack with a high number of offloads. Rebels were far too passive in defence. I expect us to be a little more conventional against the Landers defence which is solid in the pack and excellent in the midfield.
It will be interesting to see how Razor uses Dagg in the second half.
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What's happening?
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@Tim Crusaders up 7-0.
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This is already a cracking game. Crusaders on fire.
Glad I turned down lunch with the wife
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12-0 now after a cracking wide ball from Goodhue gave Tamanivalu an easy stroll over the line.
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Goodhue with a cracking wide pass and it's 12-0 with kick to come
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Crotty looking awesome so far.
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Jackie has missed at least two knock one by the Crusaders so far.
Todd with a great turnover, Highlanders look ok but the saders are at another level.
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Matt Todd and Sam Whitelock excellent over the ball.
Been watching Moody closely and he covers a lot of ground in defence.
Landers attack a little predictable so far.
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Dumb play.
Saders down to 14.
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Sumo is retarded
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Agree with Highlanders attack being predictable. Sopoaga at 10 would make a huge difference in that regard.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:
Matt Todd and Sam Whitelock excellent over the ball.
I can't imagine him getting selected ahead of Cane but I think Todd is clearly the best openside in NZ. That's probably been true for a few years now
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Banks is just shoveling it along. Smith got fucking monstered there.
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Poor kick by Mo'unga. Good run by Fekitoa. Saders scramble well.
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Far too compressed in that defensive line off the scrum.
Easy try to Landers.
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wow, saders defence way too far in there.
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So being on your feet in a ruck and playing the ball with your foot is penalisable? and cardable?
This game is unrecognisable.
I can't keep up, what happened to those NPC rules are year or so ago when every one was toehacking the ball out of rucks?
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A few too many turnovers at the ruck in the last few minutes. Todd's absence noticeable.
Saders back to 15
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Bedwell-Curtis is in.
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some dumb play out there
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Aaron Smith shying away from the ball not a great look.
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superb try, some great work by Goodhue to get it there
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19-10 with the first half almost complete
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Time for the hype train: Goodhue looks to me like the most promising midfielder in a good while. It's hard to find work-ons. Surely he should be off to Europe in November.
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Also, Matt Todd has been excellent. Again. I'll be quite gutted for him if he misses out on the AB squad. Which I don't think he will.
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haha, leave the poor buggars alone as they head into the sheds!
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A wild pass from Aaron Smith...not for the first time.
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@KiwiMurph wasnt that wild...he likes to hit players pretty flat, wasnt much in that one
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Merhts turning into the NZ version of Kearns in this game.
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foot on the line, out
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Surprised the TMO actually got it right.
My expectations are that low.
