Crusaders v Hurricanes
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Competition for spots is fierce, something this week fuelled by the return of All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Codie Taylor for Saturday night’s season opener against the Hurricanes in Dunedin. They’re two of six returning All Blacks expected to be named in the Crusaders’ 23 on Thursday, joining four others – Scott Barrett, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge and Joe Moody – who featured in the pre-season finaleThose All Blacks that featured against the Hurricanes in Arrowtown can play up to 60 minutes this weekend, while Whitelock, Taylor, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, David Havili and George Bower are in the first step of their 40-60-80 return-to-play protocols. -
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@bovidae said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
If ABs were good to go it would have been better to play them for 40 mins last weekend so they could play 60 mins in Rd 1.
it is absolutely idiotic to expect a coach of a professional rugby side to put a player in and only play them for a half in a competition game.
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@canes4life strong team, but why the f%ck would you have Prinsep on the bench instead of someone like Caleb Delany? Not only has Delany looked good in pre-season but he can cover lock and 6, something Prinsep cannot do.
I would also have Tevita Mafileo over Ben May, and Bailyn Sullivan starting over Julian Savea. Rayasi must be injured.
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@duluth good spotting, didn't notice that with the Crusaders. Weird selections tbh.
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Dunshea has had some games in the loose forwards. Primarily a lock though. I guess it says something about the two teams game plans?
I hope the Canes have been practising the maul defence
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@duluth said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
One side doesn't have a lock on the bench, the other side has two
TBF, the Canes only have one lock in the starting pack.
I assume superstar RWC 6 Barrett will switch to loose forward if need be for the Crusaders.
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@canes4life said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
@canes4life strong team, but why the f%ck would you have Prinsep on the bench instead of someone like Caleb Delany? Not only has Delany looked good in pre-season but he can cover lock and 6, something Prinsep cannot do.
Maybe Holland forgot about lock cover. Hope Sangster doesn't go down in the first 5 minutes. As we end up with 1.90 Blackwell and maybe 1.93 Flanders. Against 2 ABs
9 starting ABs verse 4. Hope the Canes can at least compete. I will be satisfied with a 5 - 15 point loss. It wasn't that long ago I was disappointed without a win in these matches
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@canes4life said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
@canes4life strong team, but why the f%ck would you have Prinsep on the bench instead of someone like Caleb Delany? Not only has Delany looked good in pre-season but he can cover lock and 6, something Prinsep cannot do.
I would also have Tevita Mafileo over Ben May, and Bailyn Sullivan starting over Julian Savea. Rayasi must be injured.
Whether he is or not probably does not matter as he is not one of Mr. Holland's pets so unlikely to be selected anyway.
Surprised to see Jacob Devery on the bench TBH as he is i) an injury/AB replacement draftee from the Ranfurly Shield Holders and with two fellow Shield Holders in the run on XV he will exceed the allotted allocation for HB players and ii) the coke snorter/touch judge abuser J. O'Reilly is a fully contracted player. -
@duluth said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
Dunshea has had some games in the loose forwards. Primarily a lock though. I guess it says something about the two teams game plans?
I hope the Canes have been practising the maul defence
Perhaps it says more about the need to replace both Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock after 40 mins due to the graduated return to play protocols?
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@nepia said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
@duluth said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
One side doesn't have a lock on the bench, the other side has two
TBF, the Canes only have one lock in the starting pack.
I assume superstar RWC 6 Barrett will switch to loose forward if need be for the Crusaders.
Can one of the Steamers followers give us a run down on whether the guy Sangster is any good as I can't recall noticing him during the NPC?
