Crusaders 2018
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@stargazer That's a handy signing, but I wonder - does that mean Bidwell-Curtis doesn't get a contract - or does someone who currently has one miss out?
Dunshea? Blackadder?
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@stargazer Yes - but, Bedwell-Curtis didn't initially get a Crusaders' squad contract this season. I was somewhat anticipating that HBC would get Samu's.
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@chris-b I think you have to look at the bigger picture. How many games will Kieran Read still play for the Crusaders, for example? I think Douglas will cover 8 the next two years (with Read probably leaving after the RWC); not sure if Douglas can also play 6 or 7.
Taufua will probably move back to 6 and is a guaranteed starter; Read as well, if fit. With Todd a certainty at 7, all the other guys will fight for the 20 jersey, including Tom Sanders.
Bedwell-Curtis is probably one of the players who'll have to compete with guys like Jed Brown for a spot in the squad.
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@stargazer Yeah I'm not unhappy to sign Douglas - he's got height that some of the others don't.
I'm just wondering who is going to miss out - will surely be one of HBC, Blackadder or Dunshea.
I think Jed Brown will be competing with Billy Harmon for the second openside spot.
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@stargazer Would be a pity to lose any of them. A bit rough if they pass over HBC again, given that he's played a heap of games in the last two seasons.
If Razor was to be brutally hard-nosed, the guy who wouldn't get the contract might be Kieran Read.
I'll be a bit surprised if he makes it onto the field for the Crusaders this year, next year he's probably going to be more focused on RWC and, given that he'll be 34 end of next year, there's a pretty high probability that next year will be his last.
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Locking Matt Todd into a new deal will be one of the biggest priorities for the Crusaders as they map-out strategies for 2019. Openside flanker Todd, called into the All Blacks as injury cover this week after originally being overlooked for the squad for the French series, will be a free agent at the end of this year if he doesn't recommit to New Zealand Rugby or the Crusaders.The Crusaders roster for 2019 is already heaving with All Blacks, including Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Jordan Taufua, Richie Mo'unga, Jack Goodhue, Israel Dagg, David Havili, Whitelock and Crotty. "We have got the 2019 World Cup coming up and a few guys have to make decisions around that – after playing [in the tournament] – and who is the next person to come in," Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said. "Recruitment and retention are something you are really mindful of. Things like 'what does 2020-21 look like for us?'; with experienced players coming off contract and getting the young guys ready to come over and take these leadership roles."Robertson is contracted until the end of the 2019 season. Given he guided the Crusaders to a title in his first year in charge in 2017, and has them well placed to win the minor premiership this year, the board are expected to want to re-sign him as quickly as time permits. Recently former Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul encouraged the Australian Rugby Union to chase Robertson to be their national coach when Michael Cheika finished-up. "I'd be hounding that guy," Paul said. "I know we want to be able to produce our own coaches but I believe Scott Robertson is the best coach in Super Rugby...he's an incredible coach." However Robertson emphasised he wanted to remain in New Zealand and since replacing Todd Blackadder at the end of his tenure, the former has carved-out a formidable record with 29 wins from 32 Super Rugby games. "All of our contracts have review clauses at the end of the second year, and you then start talking in your third year about what your contract looks like," Robertson said. "I love what I do. I cannot see myself anywhere else at the moment." -
@stargazer Crusaders about to announce resigning of Bryn Hall and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis ?
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@stargazer crusaders due to announce 2 resigning tomorrow morning the word is Hall and Bedwell-Curtis
If so the loose forward mix will be interesting Blackadder,Saunders or Harmon to miss out
Taufu,Read,Douglas,signed already and Todd I hear will resign or will they drop a lock Dunshea and carry 7 lose forwards will be interesting -
@chris Yes, just looked at the Crusaders FB page. Bryn Hall is definitely one of them. The other one is a player with a beard, indeed most likely Bedwell-Curtis. Sanders is already signed for 2019. Not yet re-signed, Todd, Romano, Mataele, Macilai. Not sure about others such. I can't imagine them not re-signing Blackadder and Strange.
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@chris In a season when they've not had Will Jordan at all and Israel Dagg has been injured for so much of it (as well as heaps of other injuries), they've still only had to pick Jone Macilai once - or maybe twice.
I reckon they could probably sign one less outside back and keep one more loose forward.
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@chris-b Yeah good point mate 7 looses with 6 local derbies in the first 9 weeks and first bye week 9, 2nd bye the week before playoffs could be a tough
first part of Super Rugby for the Crusaders forwards who will take the brunt so depth will be crucial.
They willl need another mid field recruit with Seta and Bateman probably both gone.Havilli could cover in the midfield, still will need another option.
They could replace Bateman with another MF replace Seta with an outfield back and drop the Macilai spot. -
@chris Big Seta is a huge loss - despite that Mataele has stepped up and is a useful replacement on the wing - Seta's ability to give high class cover to the midfield is huge.
If Jordan can play next year, he could help free Havili up to play in the midfield when necessary - and presumably they're hoping to slowly develop Braydon Ennor as a midfielder as well.
Wondering what stones Razor is looking under for the replacement for Seta, though - and whether any of them might have Ma'a Nonu underneath!
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@chris-b Maybe Ricky not signed at the Blues yet or one out of the box. Jordie Barrett not resigned by the Hurricanes yet his GF is still at Lincoln Uni. I know Razor hasn't given up on getting him back.Just thought I would throw a out there option.
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Two Chris' are confusing me. I just thought that red @Chris was @Chris-B and that he'd decided to favour the Crusaders over Ta$man in his change of colour to red.
@Chris-B You know the Ioane brothers will head to the Chiefs if they leave the Blues. They're good family boys and wont want to be too far away in case they need to protect their Dad in the future. You guys can always poach another Fijian (or ex Lindersfarne student) to fill your outside backs spot.
Edit: Now I can't do @ ChrisB - it just goes to @Chris - is this a flaw in the software? Or am I going crazy?
