Crusaders 2025
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Pleased with the Savier Saifoloi signing,he adds some more size and ball carry abilty to the LFs.
Aki Tuivailala. pleased with that signing as well he looks very promising.
Kyle Preston another great signing.
Disappointing to lose Brodie McAlister but good luck I see why he has moved.
Jone Rove unlucky he had a pretty good NPC.Over all a stronger squad than last season pleased with the squad.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2025:
Jone Rova as an out is an interesting one. He has came through the academy system, Canterbury NPC, Crusaders and NZ20’s. Hasn’t quite clicked at super level yet but still only 22. Could be a nice little steal for another squad
Yeah he is unlucky Jone had a good NPC looked like he was coming on as a player.
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Having gone with 8 Loose Forwards in a 22 forward 16 back split there will be some useful Loosies sitting out the match day squad each week.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Crusaders 2025:
Having gone with 8 Loose Forwards in a 22 forward 16 back split there will be some useful Loosies sitting out the match day squad each week.
Maybe a 6-2 split a lot of versatility in the backs.
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No Isaac Hutchison??
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@upthelanders said in Crusaders 2025:
No Isaac Hutchison??
I hope we see him named in 20 minutes time…
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Outs: Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody, Ryan Crotty, Owen Franks, Leigh Halfpenny, Willi Heinz, Manasa Mataele, Heremaia Murray, Jone Rova, Fergus Burke, Zach Gallagher
Ins: Stu Loe, Steve Lancaster, Angus Gardiner, Steve Surridge, Aaron Flynn, Mark Mayerhofler, Tony Marsh
It’s great to see the crusaders abandoning their back to the future policy.
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@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders 2025:
Outs: Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody, Ryan Crotty, Owen Franks, Leigh Halfpenny, Willi Heinz, Manasa Mataele, Heremaia Murray, Jone Rova, Fergus Burke, Zach Gallagher
Ins: Stu Loe, Steve Lancaster, Angus Gardiner, Steve Surridge, Aaron Flynn, Mark Mayerhofler, Tony Marsh
It’s great to see the crusaders abandoning their back to the future policy.
thank Fuck.
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@Chris signed with Wellington apparently
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@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris signed with Wellington apparently
No SR contract ? WTG for Canes I suppose.
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@Chris think he’s just gone up there for a change of scenery. Try and break Wellington team and get a contract from there.
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Mqinly a good squad.
If one of the first fives plays decently and we don't have too many injuries it should be well capable of winning the title. To me, the odds @Duluth posted elsewhere don't seem like a vote of confidence in the coaches - but, we will see.
Seems like the propping rotation is as good as we can do. No quibbles there.
The locks don't really enthrall me. Beyond SBarrett, which of them are future All Blacks? Cahill? I don't see the next Sam Whitelock.
Some future proofing in the loosies though. Looks like a good group - can't racall seeing Saifoloi, but he looks to be the right size of unit!
Halfbacks - I guess I'm OK with Drummie getting one more year, but I hope the other two guys get most of the game time. Hope Louie Chapman is in the WTG.
Frst fives - are what they are - Bridge to Teri...Mo'unga. Hopefully one of them is decent Super standard.
Midfield more or less as expected. Maybe a player light - with an extra loosie.
Outside backs - same. We need Jordan to stay fit, because otherwise there's a shortage of X-factor in the backs.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
Mqinly a good squad.
If one of the first fives plays decently and we don't have too many injuries it should be well capable of winning the title. To me, the odds @Duluth posted elsewhere don't seem like a vote of confidence in the coaches - but, we will see.
Seems like the propping rotation is as good as we can do. No quibbles there.
The locks don't really enthrall me. Beyond SBarrett, which of them are future All Blacks? Cahill? I don't see the next Sam Whitelock.
Some future proofing in the loosies though. Looks like a good group - can't racall seeing Aki Tuivailala., but he looks to be the right size of unit!
Halfbacks - I guess I'm OK with Drummie getting one more year, but I hope the other two guys get most of the game time. Hope Louie Chapman is in the WTG.
Frst fives - are what they are - Bridge to Teri...Mo'unga. Hopefully one of them is decent Super standard.
Midfield more or less as expected. Maybe a player light - with an extra loosie.
Outside backs - same. We need Jordan to stay fit, because otherwise there's a shortage of X-factor in the backs.
Aki Tuivailala. is really a centre than can play wing, we might also see Amua and Mcleod covering wing sometimes.
I like the squad the additions are good Preston looks like a great pick up at HB.
Aki Tuivailala impressed in the NZ under 20s at centre he went ok on the wing for Waikato.Xavier Saifoloi is a big unit 195 m and 114 kgs adds some size to the LF mix.I went back and watched some of his NPC games hits hard in the tackle good extra Line out option and uses his height well to off load in some tight situations.
The 2 young props add more around the field.
Shalfoon I Iike he doesn't take a backward step and he played really well in the 3 starts he had at the end of the season.
If someone takes the lead at First five we will be a contender.
Stronger squad than last season imo. -
@Chris Don't disagree with much of that.
Except if Fergus Burke had stayed fit, I think we would have done much better - and we need O'Çonnor or Reihana (most probably) to step up. So in terms of overall squad strength, I think that's the main question mark - someone needs to be as good as Burke (was at the back end of the season). To be honest, it's not that high of a bar.
Among the locks, I wish we had a young guy in the mix who is more than two metres. But if Scott is fit, we can pair him with probably any of the others and be highly competitive.
Williams, Taylor, Newell
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Kellow, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana
Havili, Ennor
Reece, Fihaki, JordanBell, Brewis, Bower, Shalfoon, Grace, Preston, OÇonnor, Aumua.
Pretty decent if they're all fit!
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
Except if Fergus Burke had stayed fit, I think we would have done much better - and we need O'Çonnor or Reihana (most probably) to step up. So in terms of overall squad strength, I think that's the main question mark - someone needs to be as good as Burke (was at the back end of the season). To be honest, it's not that high of a bar.
Yep 100% this is the key.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
Pretty decent if they're all fit!
That's it though aye, all the sides look to have a decent 23 until they start getting injuries. Will be a pretty interesting season to see how things pan out.
