Waratahs vs Crusaders
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Israel Folau, Cam Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Alex Newsome, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Rob Simmons, Jed Holloway, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson-Holmes
Reserves: Andrew Tuala, Rory O’Connor, Chris Talakai, Lachlan Swinton, Michael Wells, Jake Gordon, Mack Mason, Karmichael Hunt
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Predictions:
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Crusaders by 28
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SCG to be bullshit like last time
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Hunt not starting at 12 means the backline will be as good as it was against the Brumbies. Not sure this would be worth the six hour round trip to watch.
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Crusaders
1 George Bower
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Quinten Strange
5 Sam Whitelock (c)
6 Jordan Taufua
7 Matt Todd (vc)
8 Whetukamokamo Douglas
9 Bryn Hall
10 Brett Cameron
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (vc)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Braydon Ennor
15 David HaviliReserves:
16 Andrew Makalio
17 Harry Allan
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Luke Romano
20 Tom Sanders
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Mitch Hunt
23 Will JordanThere are just two changes to the Crusaders side that was named to play the Highlanders last weekend, before that match was cancelled in Dunedin. Scott Barrett has been rested this week, Quinten Strange will start, and Luke Romano has been named on the bench. The only other change sees Brett Cameron come in at first five-eighth in place of Richie Mo'unga. Mitch Hunt has recovered from his concussion to provide cover for Cameron in the reserves. This will be Owen Franks' 150th game for the Crusaders (149th Investec Super Rugby game). -
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So they can make exceptions to the ABs rest breaks for Dmac and Retallick, but not for Mo'unga and Scott Barrett. Maybe because they expect the Chiefs not to reach the finals and the Crusaders to go all the way?
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@Stargazer Yeah seems strange one rule for some one rule for others.
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@Stargazer I would have expected last week to count as a rest, unless they count the training time as well?
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Maybe Razor was always planning on resting them this week and decided not to change his plan?
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@Kirwan That's exactly the reason given. Because they trained all week, it apparently doesn't count as a rest break, despite not playing the game on Saturday.
Richie Mo'unga and Scott Barrett will miss the Crusaders' emotional return to Super Rugby in Sydney on Saturday night. The pair are not permitted to play in the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to All Blacks enforced leave, despite last weekend's fixture against the Highlanders in Dunedin being cancelled in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack. Crusaders coach Scott Robertson confirmed the canned fixture did not reset their streak of played games because they trained with the team last week. The agreement with New Zealand Rugby is that the players sit out the week entirely. -
@taniwharugby said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Maybe Razor was always planning on resting them this week and decided not to change his plan?
After all, why take a full strength side to Sydney unless you're worried about for/against?
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@Stargazer ok, that makes sense then.
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Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?
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@Steven-Harris Well... it is shit in the context of what happened last week.
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@NTA perspective fair enough.
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@Steven-Harris Yeah not sure that kind of stat is going to matter when the Crusaders romp to yet another title.
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That's just dumb, the game was cancelled, they didn't play out a draw. FFS, fishheads are idiots sometimes.
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Well, official or not, their winning streak is only over on paper, not in the real world. You can't win, not-win, draw, lose or not-lose if you don't play.
Also, even if they've officially lost their winning streak, they still have a non-losing streak.
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@Nepia said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
That's just dumb, the game was cancelled, they didn't play out a draw. FFS, fishheads are idiots sometimes.
Defies logic and frankly, if true, belief.
However, these are the same people that have spent the past half dozen years working assiduously to kill the golden goose that is Super rugby, so it won't surprise me.
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@Stargazer said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Well, official or not, their winning streak is only over on paper, not in the real world. You can't win, not-win, draw, lose or not-lose if you don't play.
Also, even if they've officially lost their winning streak, they still have a non-losing streak.
QFT streak still going, fucking tossers
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@Steven-Harris said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?
Who is declaring it officially over?
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So, in the injury ward we have: Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Manasa Mataele, Oli Jager, Israel Dagg
Rested: Richie Mo'unga, Scott Barrett, Kieran Read
Not selected: Blackadder, Dunshea, Funnell, Harmon, Bateman, Drummond, Faingaanuku, Punavai
We've got a decent squad!
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@MajorRage said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
@Steven-Harris said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?
Who is declaring it officially over?
Duh. Mr Relayed!
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@Stargazer said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
So they can make exceptions to the ABs rest breaks for Dmac and Retallick, but not for Mo'unga and Scott Barrett. Maybe because they expect the Chiefs not to reach the finals and the Crusaders to go all the way?
It’s only the Tahs.....
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@Chris-B fancy sparing Dunshea for a few rounds. He would look great in Black and Yellow. 😃
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@Canes4life He would look like a bumblebee!
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@Chris-B said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
So, in the injury ward we have: Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Manasa Mataele, Oli Jager, Israel Dagg
Rested: Richie Mo'unga, Scott Barrett, Kieran Read
Not selected: Blackadder, Dunshea, Funnell, Harmon, Bateman, Drummond, Faingaanuku, Punavai
We've got a decent squad!
Oli Jager was named in the Crusaders Knights squad for their game, last Saturday. So he's no longer injured.
Isn't Sevu Reece signed as injury replacement for Mataele? -
@Canes4life Geez I know you guys are desperate for locks but are you really that desperate? He's average.
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@African-Monkey at 6cm taller than Blackwell - yes please.
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@African-Monkey Who are the tier of locks below the All Blacks?
(Whitelock, Barrett, Retallick, Romano, and Tuipulotu)
Strange, Parkinson, Scrafton? Anyone else? Walker-Leawere (1.97m) for the future?
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@Tim I'd say Franklin probably needs to be taken into consideration, having been there or thereabouts.
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@Canes4life Haha fair call.
@Tim Hemopo? He's still gonna play Super Rugby isn't he as well as in Japan? Fifita as well I guess would come into consideration if we had injury problems there.
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@African-Monkey said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Hemopo? He's still gonna play Super Rugby isn't he as well as in Japan?
Nah, he's off fully from the sounds of things.
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@Steven-Harris said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?
Who is the arbiter of what constitutes a winning streak? In my opinion it's srill going.
"Official" records may disagree.
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@booboo said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
"Official" records may disagree.
Cantabs never paid any mind to officials anyway
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@Tim Goodhue seems to be moving along nicely this season, getting good minutes under his belt which will help too
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@taniwharugby said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Goodhue seems to be moving along nicely this season, getting good minutes under his belt which will help too
He's developing well. I just want to see him throw his weight around a bit more
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@booboo said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
@Steven-Harris said in Waratahs vs Crusaders:
Just been relayed some information regarding the Crusaders winning streak..according to SANZAR even though the Saders v Landers match was abandoned,.therefore the Crusaders winning streak is officially over..a bit unfair if you ask me,after all no game was played even though there points for the draw given out.thoughts..?
Who is the arbiter of what constitutes a winning streak? In my opinion it's srill going.
"Official" records may disagree.
They haven't lost and they haven't drawn a game that was played.
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@Duluth yeah possibly a confidence thing (which is growing too) last couple of seasons everytime he looked to be finding his feet he got injured...
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@antipodean I agree,saw the press release from SANZAR..shows what idiots they are..even the Sky guys were shaking their heads
