Crusaders 2020

Stargazer

Crusaders pivot Richie Mo'unga isn't expected to miss any time due to the knee/groin injuries which troubled him against the Waratahs on Saturday night. 

The 25-year-old didn't kick goals in the Crusaders' 43-25 bonus point win in Nelson and needed medical attention throughout the first half.

Coach Scott Robertson confirmed All Black Mo'unga handed the kicking duties to fullback David Havili before kickoff after he felt "tightness" in his groin during the warm-up.

He took an early knock to his left-knee during the match and had it strapped, but played on. 

As was always the plan due to All Blacks rest protocols, Mo'unga was substituted for Brett Cameron at halftime, when the Crusaders led 24-6.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/119194414/super-rugby-groin-and-knee-not-expected-to-sideline-crusaders-richie-mounga

Stargazer

Contradicts what's written in the article in my previous post. Not sure how reliable these "whispers" are.

Stargazer

Just read on the Havelock North Rugby instagram that Hugh Renton has been called into the Crusaders squad.

He was going to play 7s for HNR this weekend, but had to pull out.

Machpants

@Stargazer what position does he play?

Stargazer

@Machpants He's a loosie who can play at 6, 7 and 8.

Stargazer

First re-signing of the season!!!

Higgins

@Stargazer I though he was a Hastings RSC player following his old man who played at Hastings Old Boys.

Nepia

@Stargazer Does the fact he was playing for Havelock mean that he has re-signed with the Magpies?

Stargazer

@Higgins That's very well possible in XVs, but there are fewer club 7s teams, so maybe that's how he ended up with Havelock North.

Stargazer

@Nepia No, not necessarily. Players signed elsewhere sometimes play 7s in their home province (or wherever it suits them). In November, both Sullivans and Leo Thompson played 7s for Napier Pirates.

Stargazer

Crusaders Development XV to play Hurricanes Hunters in Porirua on Sat 15 Feb 2020 (k/o 1.00pm):

1 Isi Tuungafasi
2 Brodie McAlister
3 Tamaiti Williams
4 Sam Darry
5 Antonio Shalfoon
6 Hugh Renton
7 Jacob Norris
8 Ethan Roots
9 Ereatara Enari
10 Rameka Poihipi
11 Leicester Faingaanuku
12 Dallas McLeod
13 Inga Finau
14 Manasa Mataele
15 Chay Fihaki

RESERVES:
16 Shilo Klein
17 Harry Allan
18 Fletcher Newell
19 Mahonri Ngakuru
20 Josh Bokser
21 Luke Donaldson
22 Isaiah Punivai
23 Fetuli Paea
24 Sam Gilbert

https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1402-crusaders-development-xv-named-to-play-hurricanes-hunters

shark

Poihipi at 10!? Has he played there before? He'd be one of the bigger first fives going around!

Chris

@shark said in Crusaders 2020:

Poihipi at 10!? Has he played there before? He'd be one of the bigger first fives going around!

Yes he played his school rugby as a 10

chchfanatic

Cullen Grace , best kid razor has seen since Richie. Tough kid only going to get better and better.

shark

Yeah he went well. Razor wasn't done any favours at all by Canterbury last year as a handful of the tyros he was always likely to have in the Crusaders squad because of their ability, were hardly used by Maddock, or used out of position. So for Grace to come in and play so well immediately must be another endorsement for FABC(INLO)SR.

cgrant

Shalfoon ? Isn't he from Waikato ?

Stargazer

@cgrant He's studying at Lincoln Uni and was named in the 2019 Canterbury Wider Training Group, but not the Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup squad. He indeed played for Waikato in the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup.

Edited to add that he attended Lincoln High School before going to uni.

cgrant

Thanks a lot for the quick (and detailed) answer.

Stargazer

chchfanatic

@Stargazer he’s graduated from Lincoln uni.

The Silver Fern

Crusaders 2020