2021 Crusaders
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Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor is unlikely to be rushed back on to the park, despite confirmation fellow midfielder Jack Goodhue is done for the season with a serious knee injury.
However, head coach coach Scott Robertson, ... didn't slam the door entirely shut on the possibility of an early return from the knee injury which has sidelined him since last September.
All Black Ennor ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing in the North v South match and has long been scheduled to return for the Trans- Ta$man competition, which kicks off the week after the Super Rugby Aotearoa final on May 8.
“He plays club rugby next weekend. So, he gets two weeks. That final, it would have to be a pretty special couple of weeks playing in club footy level to be available,” Robertson said.
“It’s still that game against the Brumbies, our first Trans- Ta$man game [on May 15], which we’re pitching for him.” -
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@stargazer said in 2021 Crusaders:
@shark Are you @ACT-Crusader reincarnated?
No he’s not because I at least name a pack to go with that brilliant, selected on form and franchise, backline.
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@yeetyaah There is an interview with Matera in the Midi Olympique. That article itself is behind a paywall, but it's the source of an article in l'Équipe (below).
In the interview, Matera says that Stade Français had offered him a 3-year contract extension, but that - at this stage of his career; he turns 28 in July - he doesn't want to stay at one place for the next 3-4 years. He - and his family - would like to see something of the world, experience other cultures, learn a different style of rugby etc (basically some of the same reasons NZ players go to Europe and Japan, except the dollars). Stade Français was very understanding and suggested that he'd go to the Southern Hemisphere for one year to play Super Rugby, and then come back to Stade Français to play the final year of his contract (2022-2023).
He had had several contacts with SR franchises, but nothing about signing a contract and no name of a specific SR franchise.
Top 14 : Pablo Matera (Stade Français) souhaite rejoindre le Super Rugby
Dans un entretien au Midi Olympique, Pablo Matera, le troisième-ligne du Stade Français et des Pumas, a expliqué qu'il souhaitait rejoindre le Super Rugby la saison prochaine avant de terminer son contrat dans la capitale.
In other media, French and Argentine, the same story, without mentioning a franchise. There is some speculation though:
I guess we'll have to wait and see, but it's likely only to be a signing for one year. -
The NZH has used Pandaram's article as a source, the lazy buggers using third hand info.
However, Matera acknowledged overnight that getting a deal finalised is no easy task for foreign players in New Zealand.
"It's not easy to join a franchise from New Zealand. Firstly you need a visa. The teams have a quota on foreign players," Matera told French newspaper Midi Olympique.
"They prioritise their young players, from their academies. It's very good, but you can't take place of a youngster," he added.And then some blah blah about that racist-tweets (from when he was in the Argie U20s) incident, last year.
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@canes4life I sincerely wish the Crusaders would just fuck off, honestly. How the fuck do they need Pablo fucking Matera?
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Ethan, you've played so well this year that we've decided to bring in your replacement.
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@derpus said in 2021 Crusaders:
@canes4life I sincerely wish the Crusaders would just fuck off, honestly. How the fuck do they need Pablo fucking Matera?
Adds to their depth. Loose forward has been a weak point the last couple of years. Whether or not that should be a foreigner? Crusaders aren't the first team to look overseas.
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This post is deleted!
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@kiwi_expat said in 2021 Crusaders:
Honestly the level of discord on here is reaching a new low..
Derpus is an ozzie, and has been hoping for more variety of tournament winners ...
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but but culcha! internal development! intangibles!
good move, there isn't a team in the world that wouldn't do this deal (although doesn't he play the same position as their two best loose forwards) but let this be the end of the sanctimony aye? The Crusaders are good because the accumulate good talent, and have a coach who points them in the right direction.
i really hope this happens. It's always good to get good players playing here. If i won lotto i would buy players for the Chiefs.
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@toddy said in 2021 Crusaders:
They knew Matera would be a good fit into their culture once they saw the racist tweets.
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@bovidae said in 2021 Crusaders:
Grace or Blackadder will be riding the pine.
Could he play openside instead? Generally the other Argentinean flanker is a lock/loose forward like Kremer, so I don't think Argentina necessarily view flankers in the same way we do.
Confirmed: Controversial Puma signs with Crusaders
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