Crusaders 2020

gt12

Someone on insta showed the team sheet with the names blacked out saying that the only ‘talking point’ was the choice of captain.

Stargazer

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if the Crusaders go for co-captains, a non-frontrow forward (maybe Douglas) and a back (maybe Havili, who was the Crusaders' vice-captain when Crotty got injured in the Finals and has been Ta$man's captain for two seasons).

antipodean

@Stargazer Havili would make sense - he's a nailed on starter. Isn't he a member of their leadership group now?

Chris B.

Probably a forward - experienced, nailed on starter, who will play lots of minutes - Taylor, Barrett or Douglas.

Nepia

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

Probably a forward - experienced, nailed on starter, who will play lots of minutes - Taylor, Barrett or Douglas.

Douglas played an average of less than 60 minutes per match this year so he might not be in the frame under that criteria. Although with Taufua gone he might get extended game time.

Chris B.

@Nepia More importantly, Read is also gone.

Nepia

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

@Nepia More importantly, Read is also gone.

Oh yeah that too, the RWC is barely over and it appears I have forgotten about him.

chchfanatic

@Stargazer Scott Barrett is captain

Chris B.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

@Chris said in Crusaders 2020:

Looks like these 28 players have signed for The Crusaders 20/20 as far as I can find out.A few Holes to fill if they haven't already

Taylor
Makalio
McAlister

Jager
Moody
Alaalatoa
Bower

Barrett S
Strange
Dunshea M
Romano

Harmon
Christie
Havili S
Roots
Blackadder
Douglas

Hall
Drummond
Enari

Mounga
Cameron

Goodhue
Ennor

Mataele
Reece
Fainga'anuku. L
Bridge

Jordan
Havili D

OK - at last count we needed eight more names. Based on previous discussions and a bit of speculation I'm going for:

Harry Allan (loosehead prop)
Isaac Salmon (tighthead prop)
Ratu Meli Naureau Naevo Derenalagi (blindside/lock) (hope I got the right Ratu Meli!)
Tom Sanders (loose forward)

Colin Slade (or someone like him - returning from abroad) (first five)
Rameka Poihipi (2nd five)
Fetuli Paea (centre)
Tima Fainga'anuku (wing)

Chris B.

@chchfanatic said in Crusaders 2020:

@Stargazer Scott Barrett is captain

Tried not to steal your thunder too much!

Chris

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

@Chris said in Crusaders 2020:

Looks like these 28 players have signed for The Crusaders 20/20 as far as I can find out.A few Holes to fill if they haven't already

Taylor
Makalio
McAlister

Jager
Moody
Alaalatoa
Bower

Barrett S
Strange
Dunshea M
Romano

Harmon
Christie
Havili S
Roots
Blackadder
Douglas

Hall
Drummond
Enari

Mounga
Cameron

Goodhue
Ennor

Mataele
Reece
Fainga'anuku. L
Bridge

Jordan
Havili D

OK - at last count we needed eight more names. Based on previous discussions and a bit of speculation I'm going for:

Harry Allan (loosehead prop)
Isaac Salmon (tighthead prop)
Ratu Meli Naureau Naevo Derenalagi (blindside/lock) (hope I got the right Ratu Meli!)
Tom Sanders (loose forward)

Colin Slade (or someone like him - returning from abroad) (first five)
Rameka Poihipi (2nd five)
Fetuli Paea (centre)
Tima Fainga'anuku (wing)

I would be happy with all of those but I reckon you maybe wrong on. Isaac Salmon,Ratu Meli Naureau Naevo Derenalagi,Colin Slade. I hope you are right,I like that 8 you have named.Although Tom Sanders worries me very injury prone.

Chris B.

@Chris Could easily be wrong on all of them.

I'm pretty certain I'll be wrong on Slade - but, I'm thinking it will be someone like him - a sort of Mike Delany signing. Tom Taylor, Tyler Bleyendaal etc, who's ready to come home. Maybe it's Dan Carter!

I don't think Razor will cut Allan or Sanders unless there's someone obviously better.

Chris

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2020:

@Chris Could easily be wrong on all of them.

I'm pretty certain I'll be wrong on Slade - but, I'm thinking it will be someone like him - a sort of Mike Delany signing. Tom Taylor, Tyler Bleyendaal etc, who's ready to come home. Maybe it's Dan Carter!

I don't think Razor will cut Allan or Sanders unless there's someone obviously better.

I hope we do find an experienced back up First Five otherwise its a Fergus Burke type youngster and that doesn't fill me with confidence.

Steven Harris

@Chris-B Isi Tuangafasi has reportedly not signed with Northland, and is off to Canterbury..

Stargazer

@Steven-Harris So that might mean he has signed with the Crusaders, too?

Chris B.

@Steven-Harris Probably gives him the inside running on that tighthead spot, then!

Chris

@Stargazer said in Crusaders 2020:

@Steven-Harris So that might mean he has signed with the Crusaders, too?

looks like it

Stargazer

@Chris-B I think Isi is a LH prop, not TH.

He was the third LH (behind Moody and Allan) for the Crusaders in 2019, not TH. I think he also played at LH - at least most of the time - for Northland.

Unless he's one of those props who can play both ... but that's not how he has been used by the Saders. We'll see. Maybe they only named him at LH, because George Bower is a TH.

Chris B.

@Stargazer Is he?

For some reason I had in my head he was a TH, but I haven't paid too much attention.

Chris

@Stargazer said in Crusaders 2020:

@Chris-B I think Isi is a LH prop, not TH.

He was the third LH (behind Moody and Allan) for the Crusaders in 2019, not TH. I think he also played at LH - at least most of the time - for Northland.

Unless he's one of those props who can play both ... but that's not how he has been used by the Saders. We'll see. Maybe they only named him at LH, because George Bower is a TH.

Yeah he subbed for the Crusaders at TH when Allen and he were on the Bench also George Bower plays both sides

The Silver Fern

Crusaders 2020