Crusaders v Highlanders
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I wasn't taking a shot at the Crusaders - I was complimenting Cullen Grace - he went really well at 8 last week and I'm happy to see him picked there again - I want to see him keep up the form. Cripes.
Bully.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph He's kind of slow and sluggish for an 8, looks a bit like a rangy lock playing in the loose forwards.
though he's definitely too short to be playing lock, interestingly he looks & plays like James Blackwell.
they even have the exact same dimensions:
Grace has a lot more skill than Blackwell,highlighted with a couple of great pieces of handling v Chiefs last weekend.
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It is awesome to see both LF and Grace are starting for the Crusaders. It is a strong team but the Clan always lift for the southern derby. It is always a bit hard to choose who to support when the pig island is not involved.
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@old-samurai-jack North Harbour all the way.
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@bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@old-samurai-jack North Harbour all the way.
Harbourlanders… ahh the good ol’ days
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph He's kind of slow and sluggish for an 8, looks a bit like a rangy lock playing in the loose forwards.
though he's definitely too short to be playing lock, interestingly he looks & plays like James Blackwell.
they even have the exact same dimensions:
You'd take him, if the opportunity arose. He'd be at least as good for the Landers as all those other good local lads like Lentjes, Harmon, Manu and Dixon
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I was all for Matera strengthening the loose forward group, and I'm pretty sure I had him as the bench option with exactly the current trio starting. I was criticised for this because of the ill-feeling towards Grace who I had starting at 8. He was gone, I was told - corrected even - by several. As long as Matera was in the squad he had to start, I was told. Grace was picked too early for the All Blacks, undeservedly, and wouldn't be back, I was told. We're now seeing the comeback that should have been expected.
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@shark said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I was all for Matera strengthening the loose forward group, and I'm pretty sure I had him as the bench option with exactly the current trio starting. I was criticised for this because of the ill-feeling towards Grace who I had starting at 8. He was gone, I was told - corrected even - by several. As long as Matera was in the squad he had to start, I was told. Grace was picked too early for the All Blacks, undeservedly, and wouldn't be back, I was told. We're now seeing the comeback that should have been expected.
Nostradamus!
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@kiwiwomble said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Pleased to see Grace at 8 again after he went well last week - better for NZ rugby than Matera clogging up a spot.
There weren't complaints when Kazuki Hinemo started over Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for all of 2021's campaign? Hinemo was so influential throughout SRA & SRP he was awarded Highlanders MVP at their awards night, while Matera hasn't brought much at all to be fair.
pretty sure there were...even on here potentially
I not a Crusader's man by any stretch of the imagination, bit I buggered if I can see what the problem with playing Matera is (I like having the odd player from oversaes, star power etc for comp). I think any teams job is too make their own team as strong as possible.
Don't know if any of you fellas have watched the players from Aus playing in NPC etc, haven't seen any complaints.. We had Marchant in Blues backline in 2020 etc.
As I said fellas I far from a Crusader's man, but you have to be consistent if you want your argument to have relevance. -
Who said Grace would never be an All Black again? That seems completely made up. Why is that happening so much in this thread?
There were a few, including myself, who think he should be playing at 6 to have the best chance of making it back. One good game at 8 where doesn't change that for me. His skillset still looks best suited to the blindside
As for Matera he was the preferred option. He started the first four matches. His form has been a bit disappointing and he's drifted out of the starting side
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ouch....although not untrue
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Solomona’s chance to inject razzmatazz
Can Denny make a difference? Denny Solomona, that is - the former England international who has joined the Highlanders this month. The 28-year-old...
This is all I know about Solomona in rugby. At 3:43 in this clip he wins a Test for Engalnd
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@duluth Solomona was a teammate of mine at St Peters College. Him and Ben Lam were something else out wide in the same team thats for sure.
Always knew he'd kick on professionally in whatever code he chose but not in the path I expected him to take.
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@machpants said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Still would be the best 10 in the comp
Fully would be!
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@machpants Astute move if it is true
Cullen Grace - Wikipedia
