Crusaders all time XV
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@chris-b said in Crusaders all time XV:
Actually, I considered everyone who was mentioned (and many who haven't been, because they're all listed on the Crusaders website). But:
Hammer vs Flynn was a toss-up.
I opted for Chris Jack's lineout prowess over BBBT, plus Jacko was a hundred percent man for the Crusaders - never held anything back.
I was vaguely tempted to play Kieran Read at blindside to include Cribb at No. 8.
Midfield was the toughest choice - in eighteen months I expect to be picking Crotty and Goodhue, but it's a bit premature for that. Mauger, Laulala and Gibson all got considered, but SBW was good in his season for us, without having a substantial body of work.
Wing - a toss-up between Nadolo or Berryman - both played the same role really as go to men. Norm was more successful in terms of titles, but I was lured by Nemani's extra size. Also considered So'oalo and Vuni - and Bubbles and Ralph, but I thought to go with the less controversial options!
I cant even see Nadolo on that list. Was looking for his points per game to see if they get near So'oalo and Vunibaka
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@canefan said in Crusaders all time XV:
@bones said in Crusaders all time XV:
@canefan that's being pretty generous to Marshall...
He did win a bunch of Super titles, more than any of the othersIt's that kind of thinking that could get people pondering Macdonald over Cullen...
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@bones said in Crusaders all time XV:
@canefan said in Crusaders all time XV:
@bones said in Crusaders all time XV:
@canefan that's being pretty generous to Marshall...
He did win a bunch of Super titles, more than any of the othersIt's that kind of thinking that could get people pondering Macdonald over Cullen...
Yeah. Nah...
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@comets said in Crusaders all time XV:
Vunibaka: 35 tries in 50 games for crusaders
Gear: 39 tries in 75 games for crusaders and blues
Nadolo: 27 tries in 40 games for crusaders
Berryman: 15 tries in 30 games for crusadersso who would you really pick on the wings?
Yep, Hands Like Feet any day.
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1 W Crockett
2 C Flynn
3 O Franks
4 C Jack
5 S Whitelock
6 R Thorne
7 R McCaw
8 K ReadI think that pack picks itself. Only real options are Hammett for Flynn, Moody for Crockett and Thorn for Jack. A reserves bench of Moody, Hammett, Somerville, Thorn and Robertson is pretty ludicrous in a good way.
9 J Marshall
10 D Carter
12 A Mauger
13 R Crotty
11 I Dagg
14 R Gear
15 L MacDonaldBloody hell the backs are hard. The lack of a stand out centre dictates the equal-best 12 plays there. Ellis is the clear #2 behind Marshall at 9, then this team really does not need a bench 10 specialist, but how can it not?? So Mehrts is in. This leaves one back reserves spot for a guy who must be able to play wing so it’ll be one of Berryman, Nadolo, Ralph and FABSH. A combination of sentiment, the desire to have a power wing available, the ability to also play centre and a completely different role to Crotty, and some crazy happy memories of tries against a really good Sharks team sees Stormin’ Norman take this spot.
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@shark said in Crusaders all time XV:
1 W Crockett
2 C Flynn
3 O Franks
4 C Jack
5 S Whitelock
6 R Thorne
7 R McCaw
8 K ReadI think that pack picks itself. Only real options are Hammett for Flynn, Moody for Crockett and Thorn for Jack. A reserves bench of Moody, Hammett, Somerville, Thorn and Robertson is pretty ludicrous in a good way.
9 J Marshall
10 D Carter
12 A Mauger
13 R Crotty
11 I Dagg
14 R Gear
15 L MacDonaldBloody hell the backs are hard. The lack of a stand out centre dictates the equal-best 12 plays there. Ellis is the clear #2 behind Marshall at 9, then this team really does not need a bench 10 specialist, but how can it not?? So Mehrts is in. This leaves one back reserves spot for a guy who must be able to play wing so it’ll be one of Berryman, Nadolo, Ralph and FABSH. A combination of sentiment, the desire to have a power wing available, the ability to also play centre and a completely different role to Crotty, and some crazy happy memories of tries against a really good Sharks team sees Stormin’ Norman take this spot.
No love for James Kerr? Surely he's never had to buy a beer in Cantab land for the last 20 years.
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Now for an assembly of talent, how about an all-time squad of 38??? Ok don’t mind if I do......
Crockett
Moody
Somerville
Franks
Hewitt
Nepia
Hammett
Flynn
Taylor
Jack
Thorn
Whitelock
Williams
Thorne
Blackadder
McCaw
Todd
Robertson
Read
CribbMarshall
Ellis
Hurst
Mehrtens
Carter
Mo’unga
Mauger
Mayerhofler
Williams
Crotty
Goodhue
Ralph
Berryman
Gear
Nadolo
Hamilton
Dagg
MacDonaldCrazy. I could have easily picked capped players over the likes of Nepia and Hurst but both made enormous contributions to Crusaders teams. A couple of one season guys demanded selection also via their deeds on the park, and a couple of young guys just starting to stamp their mark also make the cut. Given the size of this squad and the scratch nature of how I put it together, I’ve probably missed a couple of guys from consideration but even if I have it’d be hard to see where they’d fit in.
The talent who can’t make my squad includes Sexton, Kopelani, Feek, B Franks, Perry, Maxwell, Ross, O’Neill, Lancaster, Romano, Gardiner, Taufua, two Whitelock loosies, Latimer, Tuai’ili (sp), Surridge, Senio, Drummond, Slade, Taylor, Brett, McIntyre, Alatini, Matson, Robinson, Laulala, Maitland, Guildford, McNicholl, Vunibaka, So’oalo, Havili’i and Lilley.
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@shark said in Crusaders all time XV:
1 W Crockett
2 C Flynn
3 O Franks
4 C Jack
5 S Whitelock
6 R Thorne
7 R McCaw
8 K ReadI think that pack picks itself. Only real options are Hammett for Flynn, Moody for Crockett and Thorn for Jack. A reserves bench of Moody, Hammett, Somerville, Thorn and Robertson is pretty ludicrous in a good way.
9 J Marshall
10 D Carter
12 A Mauger
13 R Crotty
11 I Dagg
14 R Gear
15 L MacDonaldBloody hell the backs are hard. The lack of a stand out centre dictates the equal-best 12 plays there. Ellis is the clear #2 behind Marshall at 9, then this team really does not need a bench 10 specialist, but how can it not?? So Mehrts is in. This leaves one back reserves spot for a guy who must be able to play wing so it’ll be one of Berryman, Nadolo, Ralph and FABSH. A combination of sentiment, the desire to have a power wing available, the ability to also play centre and a completely different role to Crotty, and some crazy happy memories of tries against a really good Sharks team sees Stormin’ Norman take this spot.
Well if you put Dagg to the bench he can cover wing,full back and of course the position 'everyone' wanted him to play 10.
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@mn5 said in Crusaders all time XV:
@crucial said in Crusaders all time XV:
Vunibaka over Nadolo.
Forget all this Fijian flair. It wouldn't be a Crusaders team without slow and steady Ralph and Hamilton on the flanks.
Any of these clowns taking about an all time great team without the cart horse aren't real cantabs.
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@shark said in Crusaders all time XV:
Now for an assembly of talent, how about an all-time squad of 38??? Ok don’t mind if I do......
Crockett
Moody
Somerville
Franks
Hewitt
Nepia
Hammett
Flynn
Taylor
Jack
Thorn
Whitelock
Williams
Thorne
Blackadder
McCaw
Todd
Robertson
Read
CribbMarshall
Ellis
Hurst
Mehrtens
Carter
Mo’unga
Mauger
Mayerhofler
Williams
Crotty
Goodhue
Ralph
Berryman
Gear
Nadolo
Hamilton
Dagg
MacDonaldCrazy. I could have easily picked capped players over the likes of Nepia and Hurst but both made enormous contributions to Crusaders teams. A couple of one season guys demanded selection also via their deeds on the park, and a couple of young guys just starting to stamp their mark also make the cut. Given the size of this squad and the scratch nature of how I put it together, I’ve probably missed a couple of guys from consideration but even if I have it’d be hard to see where they’d fit in.
The talent who can’t make my squad includes Sexton, Kopelani, Feek, B Franks, Perry, Maxwell, Ross, O’Neill, Lancaster, Romano, Gardiner, Taufua, two Whitelock loosies, Latimer, Tuai’ili (sp), Surridge, Senio, Drummond, Slade, Taylor, Brett, McIntyre, Alatini, Matson, Robinson, Laulala, Maitland, Guildford, McNicholl, Vunibaka, So’oalo, Havili’i and Lilley.
All those names and you still miss out a guy that won a title with the Crusaders and played 21 Internationals for France including a Grand Slam 6N win.
I think he may just have been good enough to at least sit on the bench.
