Crusaders 2018
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George Bridge commits to BNZ Crusaders and Canterbury through to 2021/22 seasons
BNZ Crusaders speedster George Bridge has become the first player to ink a long-term deal with the club through to the 2022 season, and has also re-committed to Canterbury through to 2021. It has been a meteoric rise for the 23-year-old, who was born in Gisborne but moved to Christchurch and progressed through the Crusaders and Canterbury development programmes. In 2014, Bridge was named Canterbury Under 19 Player of the Year, and the following year he was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 squad that won the Junior World Championship in Italy. From there, he made the Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup team for the 2016 season, and did enough during Canterbury’s Premiership-winning campaign that year to earn a spot in the BNZ Crusaders squad for 2017. Bridge was the last year’s Crusaders’ Rookie of the Year, scoring eight tries during his debut season, including two hat-trick games in consecutive weeks against the Stormers and Cheetahs. He helped Canterbury to their third straight provincial title in October, and then received the call up to the Barbarians squad, who faced the All Blacks at Twickenham on 5 November. This season, the versatile back has featured in all but one of the BNZ Crusaders games so far, and has played the most minutes of anyone in the squad. BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said it was fantastic to secure a player of Bridge’s promise through to 2022: “George is one of the form players of the Super Rugby competition, who continues to impress us with his skillset, pace and attacking nous. He had a superb debut season for us last year and has made massive strides again this year - he’s a player who is knocking on the door of international rugby. “George has played some big minutes in 2018 but regardless of whether he’s on the wing or at fullback he delivers consistent performances for us which has been a hallmark of his career so far. At just 23 years of age his best rugby is still ahead of him, and we are thrilled he’ll be playing in a Crusaders jersey for at least the next four seasons,” Robertson said.Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock said Bridge is an exceptional talent who, despite his age, is already an important leader in the Canterbury backline: “George progressed through the academy programme and burst on to the provincial scene in a big way back in 2016. His game has moved from strength to strength in such a short space of time. “He’s a quick, instinctive player with plenty of energy and flair, but he also makes good decisions and knows his way to the try line so his is most certainly a star on the rise. We’re excited that he’ll continue to wear red and black and I know his voice will be important among our young playing group this season,” Maddock said. Bridge said he had no hesitation in re-committing to the BNZ Crusaders and Canterbury: “It’s fair to say I’ve had a busy couple of years, but the experience has been invaluable to me and the development of my game during that time has really cemented the fact that I am in the right place to further my rugby career. “Having been a part of the success of last season for the Crusaders and Canterbury, I want to continue to be a part of that and contribute as best I can to teams that mean a lot to me. "As a young player, it’s nice to have some certainty at this early point in my career and I have no doubt that the best decision for my rugby future is right here in Christchurch,” Bridge said. -
The closer Friday night gets, the happier I am to be out for a cosy birthday dinner with my betrothed as I'm fearful of another loss to the Canes here. Any forward dominance I thought we would have had with Moody, Franks and Whitelock in the side has now dissipated substantially and they have us in the backs, on paper at least.
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@shark Strangely the TAB currently has the Crusaders as favourites - though I suspect that will change when the teams are named.
At full strength our forwards should be able to plough the Canes forwards under, but we're going to be miles from that.
I can't see us having either Crotty or Mataele in the backs, so probably Bateman will be back in the midfield and Ennor on the bench.
Get on the Canes now is my advice!
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@stargazer Possibly.
I reckon he's a significantly better player this year than what he was last year and not far from being locked into the starting XV. To be honest, I think - given his lack of game time - Dagg is going to struggle to push George out of the team for the play-offs (assuming he's fit after the test window).
Given their relative ages, if someone was to be signed elsewhere I'd prefer it to be Israel.
Wouldn't have said that last year.
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Injury (etc) update
Just when you worry the Crusaders will be forced to dig into the weekend warrior ranks for replacement players, loosehead prop Joe Moody and fullback/wing Israel Dagg have come galloping over the horizon. Moody has served his time for whacking Waratahs midfielder Kurtley Beale a fortnight ago, while Dagg, who injured his knee against the Brumbies on April 28, played 75 minutes for his University club at the weekend.Midfield back Tim Bateman has a grade-two hamstring tear and could be out for up to a month, and wing Braydon Ennor damaged both ankles, which while not broken, require a scan on Monday. Blindside flanker Pete Samu has to go through concussion protocols.Another loosehead Tim Perry is still recovering from the hamstring he pinged at the All Blacks camp last week.The late withdrawal of No 8 Jordan Taufua, who tweaked a calf muscle at the All Blacks camp, could be in the 50-50 category. "It is a week by week thing for him," Robertson said. "Potentially he is available, we will see how he comes out of the All Blacks camp." Captain and lock Sam Whitelock, along with midfielder Ryan Crotty, will attend the second All Blacks camp in Christchurch through to Tuesday. Neither played the Hurricanes because of concussion, and will be monitored by the All Blacks doctor Tony Page prior to joining the Crusaders. Whitelock is understood to be in good spirits but Robertson will also be mindful that the big second rower will need to be given space to deal with the responsibility of leading the All Blacks for the first time on home soil the following weekend. Crotty continues his recovery from the head knock that prevented him playing the Hurricanes, and could be placed in cotton wool ahead of test duty. "Ryan felt much better by the end of last week and it is looking positive," Robertson stated. "Obviously the amount of due diligence and the amount of head knocks he has had … we will do the right thing for him as the week progresses." -
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Exciting Backrower Samu Signs for Plus500 Brumbies
The Plus500 Brumbies are delighted to welcome Pete Samu to the club after agreeing a deal for the powerful flanker to join for the commencement of the 2019 Super Rugby season. Samu has been in top form for the Crusaders during the 2018 season and will add extra physicality to the Brumbies backrow stocks, being a hard-running ball carrier, a tough tackler and a player with excellent energy levels. “We are delighted that Peter Samu has agreed to join the Brumbies for the 2019 Super Rugby season,” Plus500 Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar commented. “Peter is a powerful backrower with good speed and a skill-set that suits how we want to play at the Brumbies. He comes from a highly successful program and has enjoyed success at both Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby level. “Having been involved in trophy-winning sides in both those competitions, he brings a winning mind-set to the group and we look forward to his arrival.” The 1.85m and 102kg forward is highly effective at the breakdown and will add plenty of go-forward to the Brumbies attack. “I am thrilled by the challenge of joining the Brumbies and am looking forward to taking to the field for the club,” Samu commented. “The Brumbies are well-renowned throughout Super Rugby for being a successful club and for having a fantastic playing culture. I am excited to get to Canberra, settle in and get out onto the field. “I’d like to thank the Crusaders for giving me a chance at this level and wish them all the best for the future.” Born in Melbourne, Samu is eligible for Australian selection despite playing most of his club rugby in New Zealand. He originally played for Randwick in Sydney for two stints, either side of a spell with St. Ives in Cornwall, before switching to Ta$man from where he was spotted by the Crusaders and earned a Super Rugby contract in 2016. As part of the Crusaders Development Team, the Knights, Samu was Player of the Year in 2015 and was called into the senior Super Rugby squad as injury cover at the tail-end of that campaign. Samu made his Super Rugby bow for the Crusaders against the Blues in Christchurch in 2016 and has since gone on to appear in over 35 matches.With Tom Sanders & Ethan Blackadder on the Crusaders' pay-roll, and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis playing well, I think it's fair to say that Samu - despite playing well - won't leave a big hole in the Crusaders squad for 2019.
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@stargazer Yep totally; no great loss. His form has been good, but what position is he actually? When he was first selected in the main squad he was talked up as being able to cover all three lose forward positions but he's no fetcher and he's under-sized to play 6 or 8. We've already got a small 6 or 8 (who plays above his size) operating to a much higher level.
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
More proof Brenda has had too many head knocks.
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Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I'd probably start a fully fit Izzy Dagg over Havili'i who hasn't been a patch on last year's player and almost seems to be cruising. At least have him on the bench. Havili'i needs to know he has someone breathing down his neck.
I wouldn't.
I like they way they use havili defending in the line, his defense shows he's still trying. Just lacking the X factor of last year with ball in hand.
I watched Dagg play for University a few weeks ago before his comeback for the Crusaders, his lack of effort on defense was very noticeable
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
You need to poach better - no players that will get selected for higher honours.
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
@nepia We don't poach - we recruit!
Actually, only Hames of those players is a genuine poach - pretty sure all of the others made their provincial debuts for Ta$man.
Pfft, poaches are poaches (unless it's BBBR because we built him).
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