Crusaders Outside Backs 2018
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What a difference a year makes. About this time last year we were signing Digby Ioane and I was telling Hamish Riach at the supermarket that the outside back aisle was over there. It was NOT looking good. Nadolo and McNicholl were gone, you didn't know what you were going to get with Israel Dagg, Jone Macilai was still an unknown quantity, Havilii could have been used anywhere or nowhere and Jordie Barrett had forsaken Canterbury and the Crusaders for Taranaki and the Hurricanes. And Robbie Freuan? A helluva talent who was never able to fulfil his potential.
Then we win the Super Rugby title with Havilii a revelation at fullback and a centre and fullback on the wings doing admirable jobs. Goodhue has a breakout season, Macilai, Mataele and Ioane are barely required and George Bridge slots into the back three with class.
Come the NPC, Brayden Ennor is unleashed by Canterbury and quickly signed, and Will Jordan (Crusaders academy) also bursts onto the senior scene. Add to that the possibility of Josh McKay being around the squad and its a real rags to riches story. The great thing is these exciting young outside backs will now want to be part of the Crusaders for their style of play and ability to be promoted through to the national side, which you never would have said under Blackadder.
Looks bloody exciting for 2018.
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Tumua Manu and Mark Telea and decent wing/centre options too.
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The Crusaders would have to be excited with their outside backs performance in the Mitre 10 Cup so far. I know Macilai didn't play at all for them this year but he has been brilliant for Northland. He's probably only played about 6 or 7 games yet still ranking highly in a lot of the stats. Northland could definitely do with him back for this weeks game against Wellington!
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Deviating a little from topic, but it's easily possible that Mo'unga and Goodhue will make their All Black debuts over the next few weeks, in which case we could suddenly have an AB back three, midfield and 10, with just the halfback position lacking a current or recent AB. Also not a position I thought we'd be in coming into 2018, at the start of this year.
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@shark said in Crusaders Outside Backs 2018:
Deviating a little from topic, but it's easily possible that Mo'unga and Goodhue will make their All Black debuts over the next few weeks, in which case we could suddenly have an AB back three, midfield and 10, with just the halfback position lacking a current or recent AB. Also not a position I thought we'd be in coming into 2018, at the start of this year.
Whaddayamean?! @ACT-Crusader has been calling for 15 ABs all year.
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Maybe it's a bit too early but Fainganu'uku (the younger brother) is another outstanding prospect.
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@crucial said in Crusaders Outside Backs 2018:
@shark said in Crusaders Outside Backs 2018:
Deviating a little from topic, but it's easily possible that Mo'unga and Goodhue will make their All Black debuts over the next few weeks, in which case we could suddenly have an AB back three, midfield and 10, with just the halfback position lacking a current or recent AB. Also not a position I thought we'd be in coming into 2018, at the start of this year.
Whaddayamean?! @ACT-Crusader has been calling for 15 ABs all year.
Hansen’s definitely been reading the fern, that I am certain
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No loss at all. We now have a bit of a log-jam at wing with Seta, Bridge, Dagg, Macilai, Mataele, Ennor and possibly McKay all vying for spots next year.
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@shark Yes, he was also injured most of the 2017 season. This frees up a place for someone else. He was signed to replace Nadolo as a power winger. Tamanivalu has proven to be more than capable to fulfil that role. Maybe they can now keep his nephew.
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Well that was a fucking waste of money.
