Crusaders v Western Force

[Chris]

1. Tamaiti Williams
2. Ricky Jackson
3. Oli Jager
4. Zach Gallagher
5. Sam Whitelock (VC)
6. Pablo Matera
7. Ethan Blackadder
8. Cullen Grace
9. Mitchell Drummond
10. Richie Mo'unga (VC)
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. David Havili (C)
13. Braydon Ennor
14. George Bridge
15. Will Jordan

RESERVES:
16. George Bell*
17. Finlay Brewis
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Dominic Gardiner
20. Sione Havili Talitui
21. Bryn Hall
22. Fergus Burke
23. Chay Fihaki

[Stargazer]

@Chris Geezus, more changes, now with an U20 hooker on the bench. Just when you thought the team couldn't get any weaker, it does!

Here's the media release:

George Bell set to debut for the Crusaders in Perth

[Grooter]

@Chris Ricky Jackson starting and the reserve hooker is George Bell who attended John McGlashan college😅

[Duluth]

Force

Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu'u (c), Santiago Medrano, Ryan McCauley, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Byron Ralston, Jake Strachan

Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Jeremy Thrush, Alex Masibaka, Ian Prior, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui

[Dan54]

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

[MajorRage]

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

Cantabs right now ….

[Grooter]

@Dan54 I don't know mate look who's on the right wing🙂

[Chris]

@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Western Force:

@Chris Geezus, more changes, now with an U20 hooker on the bench. Just when you thought the team couldn't get any weaker, it does!

Here's the media release:

George Bell set to debut for the Crusaders in Perth

I rate George Bell he is better than Klein and potentially McAlister it maybe a step up.

[macmanus]

@FakatavaFuture Otago boys with the Crusaders…

[Chris]

@FakatavaFuture said in Crusaders v Western Force:

@Chris Ricky Jackson starting and the reserve hooker is George Bell who attended John McGlashan college😅

Yep George Bell has been in the Crusaders academy for the last 2 years, he came up straight after school.I rate him he is a decent prospect.

[cgrant]

@Chris
Yes, he was very good in last year's Super Rugby U20.

[ACT Crusader]

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

We’ve been underdogs all season

[Dan54]

@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Western Force:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

We’ve been underdogs all season

Don't in anyway get me wrong, I don't consider them underdogs or even likely to lose. I just saying quite often we (well me anyway) have looked at Crusaders and thought, geez that is almost an unbeatable team at this level, I not sure the team named for this weekend make me think same thing.

[Nepia]

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

From Whitelock out they're all internationals aside from FABLF and in the pack they have FABZG and FABTW (fatties are apparently allowed now).

[Old Samurai Jack]

Only two current ABs in that pack.

[Dan54]

@Nepia said in Crusaders v Western Force:

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Is that my imagination, or is that a not too scarey Crusaders' team

From Whitelock out they're all internationals aside from FABLF and in the pack they have FABZG and FABTW (fatties are apparently allowed now).

Yep mate but I think we all suspect a few maybe ABs that weren't really frontliners?

[Old Samurai Jack]

Western Force have always been a bit of a bogey team for the Crusaders esp. in Perth, haven't they?
On the positives, through Zach Gallagher, Newell and Tamati Williams you can see the next generation coming through. Cullen is coming right in spurts and Blackadder will just get better. Got to admit though, it really seems a transition period of sorts at the moment. On a positive note, RM will get more experience with a less dominant pack....

[Duluth]

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Crusaders v Western Force:

Western Force have always been a bit of a bogey team for the Crusaders esp. in Perth, haven't they?

Yes. Crusaders have 3 wins, 2 losses and a draw in Perth

Last game there was 2016 and the Crusaders only won 20-19

Results: Crusaders in Perth

[Duluth]

Should be Crusaders by plenty this time though

Tab is offering an 18.5 point head start. That sounds about right (assuming no red cards or refs having a shocker)

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth typically the Crusaders hit Perth as the final stop on the way home from the Republic, which would play its part in thier performances.