Crusaders 2018
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Injury (etc) update
Just when you worry the Crusaders will be forced to dig into the weekend warrior ranks for replacement players, loosehead prop Joe Moody and fullback/wing Israel Dagg have come galloping over the horizon. Moody has served his time for whacking Waratahs midfielder Kurtley Beale a fortnight ago, while Dagg, who injured his knee against the Brumbies on April 28, played 75 minutes for his University club at the weekend.Midfield back Tim Bateman has a grade-two hamstring tear and could be out for up to a month, and wing Braydon Ennor damaged both ankles, which while not broken, require a scan on Monday. Blindside flanker Pete Samu has to go through concussion protocols.Another loosehead Tim Perry is still recovering from the hamstring he pinged at the All Blacks camp last week.The late withdrawal of No 8 Jordan Taufua, who tweaked a calf muscle at the All Blacks camp, could be in the 50-50 category. "It is a week by week thing for him," Robertson said. "Potentially he is available, we will see how he comes out of the All Blacks camp." Captain and lock Sam Whitelock, along with midfielder Ryan Crotty, will attend the second All Blacks camp in Christchurch through to Tuesday. Neither played the Hurricanes because of concussion, and will be monitored by the All Blacks doctor Tony Page prior to joining the Crusaders. Whitelock is understood to be in good spirits but Robertson will also be mindful that the big second rower will need to be given space to deal with the responsibility of leading the All Blacks for the first time on home soil the following weekend. Crotty continues his recovery from the head knock that prevented him playing the Hurricanes, and could be placed in cotton wool ahead of test duty. "Ryan felt much better by the end of last week and it is looking positive," Robertson stated. "Obviously the amount of due diligence and the amount of head knocks he has had … we will do the right thing for him as the week progresses." -
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Exciting Backrower Samu Signs for Plus500 Brumbies
The Plus500 Brumbies are delighted to welcome Pete Samu to the club after agreeing a deal for the powerful flanker to join for the commencement of the 2019 Super Rugby season. Samu has been in top form for the Crusaders during the 2018 season and will add extra physicality to the Brumbies backrow stocks, being a hard-running ball carrier, a tough tackler and a player with excellent energy levels. “We are delighted that Peter Samu has agreed to join the Brumbies for the 2019 Super Rugby season,” Plus500 Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar commented. “Peter is a powerful backrower with good speed and a skill-set that suits how we want to play at the Brumbies. He comes from a highly successful program and has enjoyed success at both Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby level. “Having been involved in trophy-winning sides in both those competitions, he brings a winning mind-set to the group and we look forward to his arrival.” The 1.85m and 102kg forward is highly effective at the breakdown and will add plenty of go-forward to the Brumbies attack. “I am thrilled by the challenge of joining the Brumbies and am looking forward to taking to the field for the club,” Samu commented. “The Brumbies are well-renowned throughout Super Rugby for being a successful club and for having a fantastic playing culture. I am excited to get to Canberra, settle in and get out onto the field. “I’d like to thank the Crusaders for giving me a chance at this level and wish them all the best for the future.” Born in Melbourne, Samu is eligible for Australian selection despite playing most of his club rugby in New Zealand. He originally played for Randwick in Sydney for two stints, either side of a spell with St. Ives in Cornwall, before switching to Ta$man from where he was spotted by the Crusaders and earned a Super Rugby contract in 2016. As part of the Crusaders Development Team, the Knights, Samu was Player of the Year in 2015 and was called into the senior Super Rugby squad as injury cover at the tail-end of that campaign. Samu made his Super Rugby bow for the Crusaders against the Blues in Christchurch in 2016 and has since gone on to appear in over 35 matches.With Tom Sanders & Ethan Blackadder on the Crusaders' pay-roll, and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis playing well, I think it's fair to say that Samu - despite playing well - won't leave a big hole in the Crusaders squad for 2019.
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@stargazer Yep totally; no great loss. His form has been good, but what position is he actually? When he was first selected in the main squad he was talked up as being able to cover all three lose forward positions but he's no fetcher and he's under-sized to play 6 or 8. We've already got a small 6 or 8 (who plays above his size) operating to a much higher level.
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I wonder if he'll still play for Ta$man this season? He may be unavailable if he's in the Wallabies anyway (Brendan Cannon had him in his Wallbies back row last week, pre-empting the Brumbies deal).
More proof Brenda has had too many head knocks.
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Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I'd probably start a fully fit Izzy Dagg over Havili'i who hasn't been a patch on last year's player and almost seems to be cruising. At least have him on the bench. Havili'i needs to know he has someone breathing down his neck.
I wouldn't.
I like they way they use havili defending in the line, his defense shows he's still trying. Just lacking the X factor of last year with ball in hand.
I watched Dagg play for University a few weeks ago before his comeback for the Crusaders, his lack of effort on defense was very noticeable
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
You need to poach better - no players that will get selected for higher honours.
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
@nepia We don't poach - we recruit!
Actually, only Hames of those players is a genuine poach - pretty sure all of the others made their provincial debuts for Ta$man.
Pfft, poaches are poaches (unless it's BBBR because we built him).
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
What's wrong with Jordan? He's been hanging out with Havili'i at the Cafe opposite Rugby Park as if he's in a normal training pattern, from the little bit I've observed.
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@sammyc said in Crusaders 2018:
@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
I'd probably start a fully fit Izzy Dagg over Havili'i who hasn't been a patch on last year's player and almost seems to be cruising. At least have him on the bench. Havili'i needs to know he has someone breathing down his neck.
I wouldn't.
I like they way they use havili defending in the line, his defense shows he's still trying. Just lacking the X factor of last year with ball in hand.
I watched Dagg play for University a few weeks ago before his comeback for the Crusaders, his lack of effort on defense was very noticeable
I think a little bit of rotation might kick start him back into attacking form.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2018:
@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
Pete will be a loss for Ta$man - less so for the Crusaders, since it opens up a roster slot for Bidwell-Curtis and then there's Mitch Dunshea, Jed Brown and Billy Harmon in the mix as well for limited loose forward spots.
Ta$man are going to be victims of their own success this year - potentially missing many or even all of Hames, Perry, Frizzell, Taufua, Squire, Samu and Havili to international duty. Plus James Lowe has gone overseas and there's no sign of Will Jordan returning to playing.
What's wrong with Jordan? He's been hanging out with Havili'i at the Cafe opposite Rugby Park as if he's in a normal training pattern, from the little bit I've observed.
According to others on here he's another with long term concussion effects.
Makes sense since he was picked for the NZ U20s, but is out "injured". Doesn't appear to be playing club rugby and certainly hasn't played for the Crusaders or their development teams.
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@chris-b from what I’ve heard it could well be an early retirement for Will Jordan. That’s out of the chch club not crusaders.
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@chchfanatic Jesus - that would be terrible. He's barely played first class rugby.
Hope not!
