Crusaders 2018

[muddyriver]

Blues should have taken Delaney after black went down

[Tim]

@muddyriver Maybe they'll get Beaver?

[Duluth]

@tim

If Delaney is going to the Crusaders and Marty McKenzie is available he would be a reasonable option to replace Black.

He has a good combination with Perofeta at Taranaki where they swap between 10 & 15. The Blues could copy that and not use Collins..

[KiwiMurph]

I'd rather not have Delaney at the Blues.

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph probably be a good guy to have to mentor the young guys...otherwise is a lot of inexperience in that inside channel at the Blues.

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby I personally think that is overrated. The Blues 10s need game time to develop. Blues had similar thoughts when they signed Jimmy Cowan a few years back on the back of strong Mitre 10 Cup form - that didn't work.

Anyway back to the thread - Crusaders look like they will have a very settled and deep squad. They could be a real chance at the first repeat Super titles since the Chiefs of 2012-13.

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph What will probably hurt the Crusaders most is the unavailability of Moody and Franks until some time in May (and to a lesser extent Dagg's injury). Crockett and Ala'alato are fine replacements; I'm not so sure about the players who take their spots on the bench though.

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph fair enough...I wasn't meaning specifically at 10 either, if Pulu and/or SBW aren't there you end up with a very inexperienced 9/10/12 axis.

Having someone in the background is always a good thing, Dan Bowden said playing alongside Holwell was invaluable for him (years ago) and his learning (given Bowden saw himself more as a 10)

[booboo]

@stargazer said in Crusaders 2018:

@kiwimurph What will probably hurt the Crusaders most is the unavailability of Moody and Franks until some time in May (and to a lesser extent Dagg's injury). Crockett and Ala'alato are fine replacements; I'm not so sure about the players who take their spots on the bench though.

Apparently Ollie Jager is pretty good ...

[cgrant]

And Perry, too.

[Stargazer]

The Crusaders squad for 2018 has been announced. I have added the position where I think they'll most likely to play, even though they may officially also be capable of playing in other positions:

CRUSADERS SQUAD

PROPS
Michael Alaalatoa
Wyatt Crockett
Owen Franks
Oliver Jager
Joe Moody
Tim Perry

HOOKERS
Ben Funnell
Andrew Makalio
Codie Taylor

LOCKS
Scott Barrett
Luke Romano
Quinten Strange
Sam Whitelock

LOOSE FORWARDS
Ethan Blackadder
Mitchell Dunshea
Billy Harmon
Kieran Read
Pete Samu
Tom Sanders
Jordan Taufua
Matt Todd

HALFBACKS
Mitchell Drummond
Bryn Hall
Jack Stratton

FIRST FIVE-EIGHTHS
Mike Delany
Mitchell Hunt
Richie Mo'unga

MIDFIELD BACKS
Tim Bateman
Ryan Crotty
Jack Goodhue

OUTSIDE BACKS
George Bridge
Israel Dagg
Braydon Ennor
David Havili
Will Jordan
Jone Macilai
Manasa Mataele
Seta Tamanivalu

Jed Brown (injured) Ethan Blackadder
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis Billy Harmon
Leon Fukofuka Ere Enari (injured) Jack Stratton
Marty McKenzie Mike Delaney
Sean Wainui, Sione Fifita, Digby Ioane Braydon Ennor, Will Jordan

http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1158-seven-new-names-in-2018-bnz-crusaders-squad

[Stargazer]

[SammyC]

Good to see the back of Wainui, Fukafuka and MacKenzie....

Jeez they were some boneheaded signings by Blackadder. None deserved the multi year deals they were on.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/98452433/crusaders-unsure-if-all-blacks-captain-kieran-read-will-be-available-for-start-of-season

[Wurzel]

So with Read a likely non-starter and Taufua still recovering from his broken arm in the early rounds we might need to call up Whetu Douglas to cover No 8 again!

... or more seriously - and in a similar vein - I'd be happy to get Jordan Manihera involved for those early rounds.

[Billy Tell]

Happy enough with that squad. Only hope Delaney is there for a mentoring role and not to actually play any games...

[cgrant]

Harsh for Bedwell-Curtis who was very good during the 2017 SR season. Otherwise, I am rather happy with this squad. It looks stronger than the former.

[Crucial]

@billy-tell said in Crusaders 2018:

Happy enough with that squad. Only hope Delaney is there for a mentoring role and not to actually play any games...

Yep, exactly the situation with Kirkpatrick at the Blues. The young 10s will all benefit from having these guys run behind them at training pointing out options.
They may not be the best playing 10s but are the type that generally make good coaches and squaddies.

[Crash]

This is what I like to see - back to business as usual

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/99396021/sweat-set-to-flow-as-crusaders-launch-into-preseason-training-ahead-of-super-rugby-title-defence

[Stargazer]

Crusaders Knights squad 2018:

Player - Province
Ryan Coxon - Ta$man
Harrison Allan - Canterbury
Samuel Matenga - Canterbury
Blair Prinsep - Ta$man
Nathan Vella - Canterbury
Sam Moli - Ta$man
Hamish Dalzell - Canterbury
Ben Morris - Canterbury
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta - Ta$man
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Anty Burnett - Ta$man
Dylan Nel - Canterbury
Sam Godwin - Canterbury
Ryota Hasegawa - Crusaders IHPU
Jack Grooby - Ta$man
Harrison Kirk - Canterbury
Jonny Van der Valde - Canterbury
Brett Cameron - Canterbury
Rameka Poihipi - Canterbury
James Hawkey - Ta$man
Dallas McLeod - Canterbury
Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
Rupena Parkinson - Ta$man
Tima Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Takuya Yamasawa - Crusaders IHPU
Tomas Aoake - Ta$man
Zach McKay - Canterbury
Jamie Spowart - Ta$man

Crusaders Knights schedule 2018:

Sunday 25 February: v Hurricanes, 1pm at Linfield Park, Christchurch
Saturday 10 March: v Highlanders, 1:30pm at Linfield Park, Christchurch
Saturday 17 March: v Highlanders, 5pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1173-19-new-names-in-2018-crusaders-knights-squad