Crusaders 2018
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@chris said in Crusaders 2018:
@stargazer Do you Rate him ? I have seen a bit of him but can't make my mind up on him as yet.
Yes, I do rate Jonah Lowe. He is a fast & strong player (not one of those big units), who can play at both wings, but his preferred spot is centre. He knows his way to the try line and, I've noticed, often scores intercept tries. His defence is good and he has a huge workrate.
We have had several terrible seasons with Hawke's Bay, and he was one of the few who showed he can play well, even with a shit game plan and half the team out due to injury. The coach started playing him at the right wing and someone else at 13, which didn't work because the other guy can't tackle (he wasn't the only one). Then finally Lowe was moved to centre, and the midfield started working better. No coincidence.
He was also good for NZ U20s in 2016, and scored several tries for the Canes during the 2018 preseason (3 against Crusaders Knights). Apart from the 11 minutes in his SR debut in the Crusaders v Hurricanes game a few weeks ago, he hasn't had any chance to get some experience at SR level.
His problem is that he doesn't get game time at the Canes because he has Proctor, Aso, Savea, Goosen, Lam, NMS all ahead of him for a centre or wing spot (and all those players have re-signed). So we can only go by what he's shown for the Canes in preseason games, in U20s or Development games, for Hawke's Bay and the NZ U20s in 2016.
Obviously, Razor knows him from NZ U20s.
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@stargazer @Chris (the red one) I think Lowe's a bit like Bucky was, everyone not from HB are like who the hell is this guy and why are people from the Bay hyping him, but I think he just needs the chance like Buckman eventually got.
I still remember the shit Buckman got after his first Highlanders game.
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@taniwharugby said in Crusaders 2018:
@nepia it's pink, not red.
I can't even get the colours right today. :disappointed_but_relieved_face:
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Was hoping Hall would return to the Blues, but he has wisely stayed away.
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Nah it's best for both parties that Bryn stays at the Crusaders. He was terrible at the Blues and his style of play is far more suited to the Crusaders. It shows how good the Crusaders are that they can make average players like Bryn, Bedwell-Curtis etc. look like world beaters.
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So the second re-signing of the week isn't a player!
Ronan O’Gara re-signs as BNZ Crusaders’ Backs Coach for 2019
BNZ Crusaders’ Backs Coach Ronan O’Gara will remain in New Zealand post the 2018 Investec Super Rugby campaign, having extended his contract with the club through to the end of the 2019 season. The former Ireland international, who joined the Crusaders’ coaching group at the start of 2018, was previously an assistant coach for French Top 14 team - Racing 92 - before making the move to New Zealand. BNZ Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach said the club is excited to have secured O’Gara’s coaching expertise for another season: “Ronan has proved a fantastic fit with our existing coaching group and we are thrilled he has made the decision to remain in Christchurch. “We know it was a big decision moving to the other side of the world with his young family, but his vast experience and coaching nous has been invaluable this season and we are delighted to have continuity in our coaching group leading in to 2019 campaign,” Riach said. BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said O’Gara’s contribution has been immense: “Ronan’s coaching style has been hugely valuable to us in just his first season with the club. He has quickly formed great relationships with our playing group, and has effective means of passing on his knowledge which really resonates with the team. “We hoped at the start of the season that Ronan would provide us with a new perspective in 2018, and he has done exactly that. He brings fresh eyes and knowledge to the coaching group and we are certainly seeing the benefits of his extensive skillset and experience. We’re pleased that Ronan and his family are settled in Christchurch and he’ll continue his important contribution in 2019,” Robertson said. O’Gara said he is enjoying his first season of Super Rugby and looking forward to another year with the Christchurch-based club: “I’m delighted to be extending my contract for another season. I have always been an admirer of rugby in New Zealand and to get the opportunity to work with a club like the Crusaders is a fantastic experience. "Besides being a great bunch of guys to work with, the professionalism of everyone associated with the club is incredible. It’s no wonder this part of the world has the success they do. I’m delighted my wife and family have come on this journey with me and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone again next season,” O'Gara said. Ronan O’Gara played as first five-eighth for Ireland from 2000 – 2013. He holds the record for the most points scored for Ireland and holds the fourth highest total points haul in the world, with 16 tries, 176 conversions, 202 penalties and 15 drop goals for his national team. He is also the sixth most capped international player in the world, and as well as his 128 games for Ireland, he has played for the British and Irish Lions in their 2001, 2005 and 2009 tours. He has also captained Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. -
@stargazer said in Crusaders 2018:
So the second re-signing of the week isn't a player!
Ronan O’Gara re-signs as BNZ Crusaders’ Backs Coach for 2019
BNZ Crusaders’ Backs Coach Ronan O’Gara will remain in New Zealand post the 2018 Investec Super Rugby campaign, having extended his contract with the club through to the end of the 2019 season. The former Ireland international, who joined the Crusaders’ coaching group at the start of 2018, was previously an assistant coach for French Top 14 team - Racing 92 - before making the move to New Zealand. BNZ Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach said the club is excited to have secured O’Gara’s coaching expertise for another season: “Ronan has proved a fantastic fit with our existing coaching group and we are thrilled he has made the decision to remain in Christchurch. “We know it was a big decision moving to the other side of the world with his young family, but his vast experience and coaching nous has been invaluable this season and we are delighted to have continuity in our coaching group leading in to 2019 campaign,” Riach said. BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said O’Gara’s contribution has been immense: “Ronan’s coaching style has been hugely valuable to us in just his first season with the club. He has quickly formed great relationships with our playing group, and has effective means of passing on his knowledge which really resonates with the team. “We hoped at the start of the season that Ronan would provide us with a new perspective in 2018, and he has done exactly that. He brings fresh eyes and knowledge to the coaching group and we are certainly seeing the benefits of his extensive skillset and experience. We’re pleased that Ronan and his family are settled in Christchurch and he’ll continue his important contribution in 2019,” Robertson said. O’Gara said he is enjoying his first season of Super Rugby and looking forward to another year with the Christchurch-based club: “I’m delighted to be extending my contract for another season. I have always been an admirer of rugby in New Zealand and to get the opportunity to work with a club like the Crusaders is a fantastic experience. "Besides being a great bunch of guys to work with, the professionalism of everyone associated with the club is incredible. It’s no wonder this part of the world has the success they do. I’m delighted my wife and family have come on this journey with me and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone again next season,” O'Gara said. Ronan O’Gara played as first five-eighth for Ireland from 2000 – 2013. He holds the record for the most points scored for Ireland and holds the fourth highest total points haul in the world, with 16 tries, 176 conversions, 202 penalties and 15 drop goals for his national team. He is also the sixth most capped international player in the world, and as well as his 128 games for Ireland, he has played for the British and Irish Lions in their 2001, 2005 and 2009 tours. He has also captained Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.Really happy about this, had assumed we’d only have him for a year.
Apparently he’s had a huge influence on Richie’s game this year. The improvement in his kicking in general play has been very noticeable
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@sammyc said in Crusaders 2018:
Really happy about this, had assumed we’d only have him for a year.
Apparently he’s had a huge influence on Richie’s game this year. The improvement in his kicking in general play has been very noticeableGood person to learn from. Ronan's kicking was superb.
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2018:
@sammyc Richie's goal-kicking seems much improved as well. Not sure whether that's O'Gara, but it's likely.
Richie's flying skills have improved heaps this year too. The helicopter is buzzing everywhere and most of the time it's under the radar. Don't know how he gets away with it. Not sure if it is O'Gara.
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Loose forward Whetu Douglas will provide short-term cover for the Crusaders as they continue to wait for All Blacks captain Kieran Read to recover from back surgery. That's the good news. The problem is Douglas won't be eligible to represent the defending champions during the Super Rugby playoffs which will be played in July and August.He was initially expected to resume his career in New Zealand with Canterbury during the Mitre 10 Cup, but Crusaders coach Scott Robertson rushed Douglas back on to the reserves bench for the match against the French Barbarians in Christchurch on Friday night because his back row stocks were depleted by injuries and All Blacks being on test duty. After the game, which the Crusaders won 42-26 at AMI Stadium, Robertson confirmed Douglas would join his squad for the competition games against the Highlanders and Blues. "Yes, he is around now. He becomes eligible for the last two round-robin games but is not eligible for the finals," Robertson said. Sanzaar regulations prevent Douglas having the chance to play for the defending champions at the sharp end of the season because at the start of the year all teams were required to forward a list of players - outside of specialist front rowers - who will participate in the playoffs. Because Douglas was playing in Italy, and presumably had not signed a deal with the Crusaders at that point, he was not added. "So you just can't bring anyone in, you have to have a list of players that you would like to be eligible … and Whetu is not on that list," Robertson added.Whether he will get much game time for the Crusaders in this Super Rugby campaign would depend on who else is available. As it stands, Robertson is looking at a casualty ward that contains a number of loose forwards who are nursing injuries. In addition to Read yet to play this year after having spinal surgery in December, and while it is hoped he might play some Super Rugby there are no guarantees, Jordan Taufua has a calf tear and has been ruled out of the All Blacks' tests against France. Tom Sanders has been knocked out of the Super Rugby campaign because of a serious ankle injury, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis wasn't considered for the game against the French Barbarians because of a niggle and Billy Harmon had to leave the field during that fixture because of a painful knee problem. -
For those who didn't read this in the exodus thread:
Matt Todd re-commits to BNZ Crusaders for 2019
BNZ Crusaders vice-captain Matt Todd has re-committed to the club for the 2019 season. BNZ Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach said: “Matt Todd has signed a short term deal with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, which he will commence at the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season. We are thrilled to confirm that Matt will then return to New Zealand, having re-committed to the BNZ Crusaders and NZR for 2019.” BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said: “Matt is a phenomenal player and this is a great opportunity for him to head over to Japan, experience a different brand of rugby over there, and freshen up ahead of our 2019 season. To have a player of Toddy’s calibre and leadership ability re-commit to the BNZ Crusaders is hugely exciting for us - he’ll bring plenty of great experience to Japanese rugby under Robbie Deans, and we wish him all the best for the upcoming season.” Todd said: “I am very excited about the opportunity to sign and play for Panasonic Wild Knights. I know they are an extremely successful club who play a great style of rugby, and are also very well coached. My family and I are really looking forward to getting up to Japan and experiencing Ota and the Japanese way of life. I will be returning to the Crusaders and NZR in 2019 and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”
