How many Crusaders in your AB 23?
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@sparky said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Sparky's 23 to play Ireland
Moody, ST, Ofa T, Whitelock, Retallick, A.Ioane, Papalii, A. Savea, Smith, B.Barrett, Clarke, J.Barrett, R. Ioane, Reece, Jordan
Bench: Coles or Taylor, Hodgman, Laulala, S Barrett, Cane or Sotutu, Fakatava, Gatland, Tupaea
Am I missing something, why is Gatland on your bench? God help us if he even makes the All Blacks. Also, is Fakatava eligible?
I'd like to see De Groot somewhere near that 23, he's been a beast this year for the Highlanders.
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@FakatavaFuture said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@sparky if Ireland are touring here how about we run out Hewett, Hammett, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Razor, Marshall, Merts, Ralph, Mauger, Ennor, Lomu & Rangi ?
No love for Mark Robinson aye ?
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@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
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@ACT-Crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
I think we had both a fitness and skill advantage that we do not have now though.
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@gt12 said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@ACT-Crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
I think we had both a fitness and skill advantage that we do not have now though.
But that was developed over time, with results going for and against us. I think we are in that phase of building squad depth across all positions which isn’t an easy thing.
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@Asterik6 said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Coles and Samoni are more effective than Taylor at test level. Offer a lot more physicality and are superior defensively. I'd even have Aumua/Makalio ahead of Taylor.
On current form, the two best hookers are ST and Eklund. However, I don't see the latter earning a call in the squad.
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@sparky said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Sparky's 23 to play Ireland
Moody, ST, Ofa T, Whitelock, Retallick, A.Ioane, Papalii, A. Savea, Smith, B.Barrett, Clarke, J.Barrett, R. Ioane, Reece, Jordan
Bench: Coles or Taylor, Hodgman, Laulala, S Barrett, Cane or Sotutu, Fakatava, Gatland, Tupaea
There's no way that a fit Cane does not start. You do know he's Captain, aye?
If nothing else it means picking a new captain. From a squad where the only choices are themselves at the point where they might be dropped soon.
If Foster really wanted to destroy team morale, then dropping Cane would do it. I don't like Foster's coaching, but even he's not that mental.
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Moody
Whitelock
Reece
Jordan
Newell (bench)
Taylor (bench)
Mounga (bench)
Havili (bench)Flip a coin with Beaudy and Mounga and in reality there will always be injuries so others will come into it (Scott Barrett, Blackadder etc).
To me Blackadder either starts or he isn't in the 23. There is no answer at 6 right now so i'm sure Blackadder will get his chance but as there is no answer i'd like to see them try Papali'i at 6, Cane at 7 (though given the rate both get injured i'm sure others will be needed).
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So who do we have in the forwards who are good at jackling to produce turnovers? Cane and Savea are good, and Papalii is quite good. Taukei'aho and Taylor are quite good. Ioane is good at strips and holding players up. Blackadder? Sotutu is generally good over the ball, but has been less so this year. Any others?
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1. J Moody 16. E De Groot
2 . C Taylor 17. S Taukei'aho
3. O Tu'ungafasi 18. T Lomax
4. T Vaii 19. J Lord
5. B Retallick 20. D Papalli
6. E Blackadder
7. S Cane
8. A Savea
9. A Smith 21. F Christie
10. B Barrett 22. R Mo'unga
11. C Clarke 23. L Fainga'anuku
12. J Barrett
13. R Ioane
14. S Reece
15. W Jordan7 saders
Not sure when whitelock comes back?
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@Mackerzzzz said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
- J Moody 16. E De Groot
2 . C Taylor 17. S Taukei'aho - O Tu'ungafasi 18. T Lomax
- T Vaii 19. J Lord
- B Retallick 20. D Papalli
- E Blackadder
- S Cane
- A Savea
- A Smith 21. F Christie
- B Barrett 22. R Mo'unga
- C Clarke 23. L Fainga'anuku
- J Barrett
- R Ioane
- S Reece
- W Jordan
7 saders
Not sure when whitelock comes back?
This week
- J Moody 16. E De Groot
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@ACT-Crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@frank said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@act-crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
I’d have Jordan, Moody, Reece, Mo’unga, Whitelock and Taylor starting.
Mounga can't defend and Samisoni is better than Taylor.
Despite his defensive issues, it’s his kicking game that we need. Field kicking is far more important in test footy and even though I am a massive fan of Barrett’s, he is far too erratic in that.
Taylor starting is because Coles is out. Sami definitely in the 23.
I agree re: Barrett's kicking, but Mo'unga has just gone completely missing in every test where the heat is on to date. He's much better suited to the bench role while he gets used to test footy and builds a bit of confidence at that level.
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i am astounded how many people are happy to keep a limited player prone to red card offences like S Barrett in the 23.
Keeping him there actively stunts the development of players who may have a higher ceiling
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@mariner4life said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
i am astounded how many people are happy to keep a limited player prone to red card offences like S Barrett in the 23.
Keeping him there actively stunts the development of players who may have a higher ceiling
Experience counts.
Maybe Josh Lord steps up, maybe he doesn't. It's a risk. You know what you get with ScoBa.
That said, I reckon the end of year may be a different discussion
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@nzzp said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@mariner4life said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
i am astounded how many people are happy to keep a limited player prone to red card offences like S Barrett in the 23.
Keeping him there actively stunts the development of players who may have a higher ceiling
Experience counts.
Maybe Josh Lord steps up, maybe he doesn't. It's a risk. You know what you get with ScoBa.
That said, I reckon the end of year may be a different discussion
does it though? does playing lots of ordinary tests make you a better player?
take the fucking risk.
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@mariner4life said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@nzzp said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@mariner4life said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
i am astounded how many people are happy to keep a limited player prone to red card offences like S Barrett in the 23.
Keeping him there actively stunts the development of players who may have a higher ceiling
Experience counts.
Maybe Josh Lord steps up, maybe he doesn't. It's a risk. You know what you get with ScoBa.
That said, I reckon the end of year may be a different discussion
does it though? does playing lots of ordinary tests make you a better player?
take the fucking risk.
I'm not against that, but I can see the argument for picking him. Who's showing themselves to be more physical at this stage?
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@mariner4life As always, the questions go to who is available?
Senior locks are Whitelock and Retallick. Whitelock is playing pretty well, but didn't look great against Ireland or France. Retallick is there purely on reputation, hasn't done anything this year, and needs a hell of a Super Rugby playoff series, or test series against Ireland.
Tupou Vaa'i is OK-ish. Hasn't shown much so far to suggest a high ceiling.
Tuipulotu has disappointed at test level, and isn't capable of playing a more mobile role like Retallick. (Note to Foster: put him in the middle of the field and get him to carry, tackle, and hit rucks.)
Lord looks to have real ability and a bit extra in contact. Still very young.
Barrett is a bit of an inbetweener at lock, has discipline issues, and is prone to going off his feet at the ruck. Has performed consistently a little better than the other options over the last 18 months though.
