Crusaders 2025
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@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.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
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@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris think he’s just gone up there for a change of scenery. Try and break Wellington team and get a contract from there.
That's super interesting, is Rova a winger?
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris think he’s just gone up there for a change of scenery. Try and break Wellington team and get a contract from there.
That's super interesting, is Rova a winger?
Mid field
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
Hannah/Strange on the Bench me maybe I would start Shalfoon over Strange.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
Williams, Taylor, Newell
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Kellow, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana
Havili, Ennor
Reece, Fihaki, JordanBell, Brewis, Bower, Shalfoon, Grace, Preston, OÇonnor, Aumua.
A very strong squad dominated by All blacks and AB XV players. All but one has been in an AB or AB XV environment in that starting XV. A few on the bench and a 60+ cap wallabie to top it off. Depth looks a lot better this year. Crusaders will be back in the top 4 and pushing for a championship again.
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@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
I'm not convinced he's tall enough to play lock. I think he was a part of the lineout problems last year.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
I'm not convinced he's tall enough to play lock. I think he was a part of the lineout problems last year.
Not tall enough? He's 1.99m, I thought Hannah was one of the better Crusader players last year. Really surprised he's not a lock to partner Barrett.
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@Canes4life He's listed at various heights - I'm pretty doubtful he's 1.99m. I thought during the season that his height looked a problem, so I'll stick with that observation for now.
I agree he looked good in general play.
The lineout certainly improved when Shalfoon took over in partnership with Strange - but, that was also around the time Taylor came back from sabbatical.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders 2025:
Paul Cully's Hard Luck XV article says that Hutchinson is in the WTG.
Are you able to share a link?
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
I'm not convinced he's tall enough to play lock. I think he was a part of the lineout problems last year.
Mate, he’s 6ft 6😂 if anything, there isn’t enough meat on the bones yet. Hes listed at 110+ but doesn’t look it.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@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!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
I'm not convinced he's tall enough to play lock. I think he was a part of the lineout problems last year.
Mate, he’s 6ft 6😂 if anything, there isn’t enough meat on the bones yet. Hes listed at 110+ but doesn’t look it.
That's the issue for me weight once he can pack on 10ks which I reckon would bring up to 115 or 116 ks because he isn't 110 ks yet imo.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris he’s listed at 114kg. As we know those are never accurate though
Yeah I don't think he is 114kgs using the eye test.
