Crusaders v Chiefs

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="560694" data-time="1456365026">
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The reason the Chiefs are highly rated is simple - their halves and head coach.
 
Their halves are class and it's proven you can with with class halves while lacking in other areas but not visca versca. Also their coach has a record of 4 seasons for 2 titles and 2 other finals appearances. The two other final appearances occuring in years where they had injuries to their halves - whereas I believe Cruden played every game of the 2 title winning seasons. 
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Correct. Having the best first five in the comp goes a long way.
 
And while they don't have a plethora of All Blacks, they've still got some of the best young talent in the comp.

Bovidae

The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the BNZ Crusaders is:
1. Pauliasi Manu 
2. Rhys Marshall 
3. Hiroshi Yamashita 
4. Michael Allardice 
5. Brodie Retallick 
6. Taleni Seu 
7. Sam Cane (C) 
8. Tom Sanders 
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 
10. Aaron Cruden (C) 
11. James Lowe 
12. Charlie Ngatai 
13. Seta Tamanivalu 
14. Shaun Stevenson 
15. Damian McKenzie
 
Reserves: 
16. Nathan Harris 
17. Mitchell Graham 
18. Siate Tokolahi 
19. Maama Vaipulu 
20. Johan Bardoul 
21. Brad Weber 
22. Anton Lienert-Brown 
23. Latu Vaeno
 
Not considered for selection:
Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Andrew Horrell, Hika Elliot, Toni Pulu, Augustine Pulu, Dominic Bird, Sam McNicol and Glen Fisiiahi.
 
Yikes! Marshall at hooker. I'll call it now and say the Chiefs' lineout will be poor. Last man standing on the right wing. The Chiefs team could be so much stronger.

pukunui

It's funny isn't it. Both these teams have been battling it out to be top of the NZ teams for a few years now but both got upstaged by the Highlanders and Hurricanes last year. Now they have both lost a whole lot of experience and quality.
I can see this one being a hell of a battle again with two somewhat different styles going at it.
Good to see Cruden back after a long lay off.

Unco

Interesting to see Yamashita thrown straight in at the deep end.
 
Not a great Chiefs team, especially in the front row, but I think it should still be way too much for a Saders team who always start the season at a snails pace and are lacking Richie, DC, Slade, Taylor and the all important Luke Whitelock.
 
Edit: Oh and very interested to see how Sanders, Seu, Stephenson and Tamanivalu go. Hope they step up.

Stargazer

Crusaders line-up for Saturday:
 
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3.Owen Franks 4. Scott Barrett 5.Samuel Whitelock (c) 6. Jordan Taufua 7. Tim Boys 8. Kieran Read
9. Andy Ellis 10. Richie Moâ€™unga 11. Nemani Nadolo 12. Kieron Fonotia 13. Sean Wainui 14. Jone Macilai 15. David Havili
 
Reserves :
16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Mike Alaalatoa 19. Jimmy Tupou 20. Reed Prinsep 21. Leon Fukofuka 22. Ben Volavola 23. Johnny McNicholl

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="560728" data-time="1456374742">
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Crusaders line-up for Saturday:
 
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3.Owen Franks 4. Scott Barrett 5.Samuel Whitelock (c) 6. Jordan Taufua 7. Tim Boys 8. Kieran Read
9. Andy Ellis 10. Richie Moâ€™unga 11. Nemani Nadolo 12. Kieron Fonotia 13. Sean Wainui 14. Jone Macilai 15. David Havili
 
Reserves :
16. Ben Funnell 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Mike Alaalatoa 19. Jimmy Tupou 20. Reed Prinsep 21. Leon Fukofuka 22. Ben Volavola 23. Johnny McNicholl
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Toddy blew his chance to install Taufua at 7 and Tupou at 6. I
 
WTF has happened to the skinny white boys backline?

KiwiMurph

While there are plenty of questions on first-five on out for the Crusaders, that is a pretty tidy outfit jerseys 1 to 9, 5 current ABs and 1 former AB.

SammyC

Exciting team, very happy with the 2 Fijians on the wings

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="560731" data-time="1456376628">
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Toddy blew his chance to install Taufua at 7 and Tupou at 6. I
 
WTF has happened to the skinny white boys backline?
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Tupou's a better impact player off the bench in my view.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="560736" data-time="1456377941">
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Exciting team, very happy with the 2 Fijians on the wings
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The ingredients are there and add to them Havili at fullback, there is plenty of speed and power.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="560737" data-time="1456378277">
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Tupou's a better impact player off the bench in my view.
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Someone else at 6 then - as I've stated in the past (probably a billion times) IMHO Taufua's career is going to stagnated unless he swaps to openside due to his height.

Tim

Jeez that's a weak Chiefs frontrow.

Bovidae

Is Drummond injured or dropped?

Dice

This bulky guy has to mark Nadolo in his debut game.
 
<img src="http://www.mooloo.co.nz/assets/Uploads/_resampled/SetWidth612-shaunywell15.jpg" alt="SetWidth612-shaunywell15.jpg">

wildman

How long are Crotty & Fruen out for? 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="wildman" data-cid="560770" data-time="1456383976">
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How long are Crotty & Fruen out for? 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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According to this article, Crotty will miss the opening 2 rounds and Fruean is out until April. The article is from mid January though; I haven't seen an update.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/crotty-fruean-to-miss-start-of-crusaders-season-2016011414#axzz41A6G2q3E'>http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/crotty-fruean-to-miss-start-of-crusaders-season-2016011414#axzz41A6G2q3E</a>

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="560719" data-time="1456371063">
6. Taleni Seu 
8. Tom Sanders 
14. Shaun Stevenson 
23. Latu Vaeno.</blockquote>
Who the fuck are these guys? 
Clearly didn't pay much attention to the last ITM Cup.

Milk

Fish out with an injury? If only there was a way we could have known he was injury prone before we bought him? For example, some sort of google search consisting of the words: glen fisiiahi + injury

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="560795" data-time="1456395061">
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Who the fuck are these guys? 
Clearly didn't pay much attention to the last ITM Cup.
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Rennie has plucked some unknown players from the ITM Cup, as usual.
 
I'm most familiar with Stevenson as he plays for Waikato. He's more suited to FB but is fast and ellusive. Only 19 and a future star. 
Sanders is from Canty and played for the NZ U20s. The Cantabs on here seem to rate him.
Seu is from Auckland, ex basketballer, 2 m+ loosie/lock. While I'm not surprised to see him at 6 he's not your typical abrasive no.6.
I know nothing about Vaeno but a Tongan outside back from Taranaki.
 
More info here:
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://chiefs.co.nz/team/team/2016-player-list'>http://chiefs.co.nz/team/team/2016-player-list</a>

bobily

Sanders was the best forward in the NZU20 team in 2014. He is big and fast, runs the ball well, and from memory, his breakdown work was pretty good too.
Seu makes meters for fun on attack, and apparently he has been putting in a lot of big hits on defense. Rennie said he has probably been their best defender in the preseason games. Long-term, he is probably seen as a lock.
Vaeno starred for the Taranaki 7s side a couple of years back, and did well in the ITM Cup last year, though his defense needs a bit of work.

The Silver Fern

Crusaders v Chiefs