Crusaders 2022
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This just my two-cents but Crusaders need to look outward for players, their recruiting has been far to insular post-2019. Simply relying on the academy to bring through the right types of players isn't exactly sustainable in the long-term, as we're seeing currently - and has been noticeable over the last 3 seasons (2020, 2021, 2022).
It seems that the Crusaders are desperately missing an explosive line-bending loose forward and some larger & more physical midfielders. Bryce Heem from the Blues for example is 103kg & a solid physical presence among the inside backs - he's probably their 3rd choice 12, yet he contributes far more upside on both attack & defence than the flaccid, paper towel David Havili does playing in the midfield. Christie, Blackadder, Grace etc.. are all quite passive on attack. Require an explosive Pacifica/Maori player in that loose forward mix (the other franchises have an abundance of them - MMT, Frizzell, Savea, B Iose, TK Howden, PGS, Finau, Vaa'i, A Ioane, Sotutu, Papali'i etc..) too many very similar players, a guy such as Taufua for example, offered them a point of difference at No 8.
In my opinion, Razor needs to recruit some players in the forwards and midfield that offer a point of difference to the others. More power and explosiveness at hooker, prop & in the midfield backs. McDonald and the Blues have recruited from far and wide (many of them being experienced campaigners), so couldn't Razor do the same & look for seasoned players elsewhere instead of just trusting their academy & bringing through the same types of players, many of them being extraordinarily green unproven rookies who've done nothing of note in the NPC.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders 2022:
This just my two-cents but Crusaders need to look outward for players, their recruiting has been far to insular post-2019.
It seems that the Crusaders are desperately missing an explosive line-bending loose forward and some larger & more physical midfielders. Bryce Heem from the Blues for example is 103kg & a solid physical presence among the inside backs - he's probably their 3rd choice 12, yet he contributes far more upside on both attack & defence than the flaccid, paper towel David Havili does playing in the midfield. Christie, Blackadder, Grace etc.. are all a bit passive on attack. Require an explosive Pacifica/Maori player in that loose forward mix (the other franchises have an abundance of them - MMT, Frizzell, Savea, B Iose, TK Howden, PGS, Finau, Vaa'i, A Ioane, Sotutu, Papali'i etc..) too many very similar players, a guy such as Taufua for example, offered them a point of difference at No 8.
In my opinion, Razor needs to recruit some players in the forwards and midfield that offer a point of difference to the others. More power at hooker, prop & the midfield. McDonald and the Blues have recruited from far and wide (many of them being experienced campaigners), so couldn't Razor do the same & look for seasoned players elsewhere of just trusting their academy & bringing through the same typIes of players, many of them incredibly green unproven rookies who've done nothing of note in the NPC.
Razor will continue to use the Crusader academies to bring young players through.
There are a few decent ball running LF'S coming through in George Methvan,Netani Baleisomosomo and Torian Barnes.I cant see where we need power in the props Newell and Williams bring that,Jager is ok at SR level,Moody is still playing well.
Agree about the MF it has frustrated the shit out of me that we have selected McLeod and Punivai the last 2 years.
We look better with LF in the MF. -
@kiwi_expat yeah c'mon Razor give Christian Lio-Willie & Charles Alaimalo a look! wish McLeod & punivai well in their future endeavors and Poach Gideon Wrampling from the chiefs & Levi Aumua from Pasifika
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@FakatavaFuture said in Crusaders 2022:
@kiwi_expat yeah c'mon Razor give Christian Lio-Willie & Charles Alaimalo a look! wish McLeod & punivai well in their future endeavors and Poach Gideon Wrampling from the chiefs & Levi Aumua from Pasifika
Wrampling would be a great pick up. Crusaders should never have let Poihipi go either, I can't believe they picked a dud in McLeod over him.
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@kiwi_expat McLeod is this decades Adam Whitelock just without all the game time
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@FakatavaFuture Good comparison.
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From stuff:
Fears prop Joe Moody’s Super Rugby season could be over has put a damper on the long-awaited return of midfielder Jack Goodhue. The Crusaders have already ruled Moody out for their four-match tour of Australia, but will have to wait until after a looming scan to have clarity on the seriousness of his knee injury. However, head coach Scott Robertson’s long pause was telling when asked if he was optimistic the All Black would front for his side again this year. “Unsure...it didn’t look good,” Robertson eventually said on Thursday morning. “Joe has got a decent injury. We’re just going to make sure we get the right scan, so we have got a full report on it. He definitely won't be with us in Australia, and potentially longer." -
Interesting article gives a glimpse into Razor as a coach and how he thinks.
This part about players training with the Storm this week was very interesting“We had (test backs) Dave Havili and Will Jordan spend a couple of days with them this week,” Robertson said. “They were blown away, both sides, it was a great experience for them. We might have to do a swap at pre-season just to keep things fresh.”
[link text](link url) https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/128450939/fair-trade-richie-mounga-for-cameron-munster-in-super-coach-lovein
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Bugger. Really bad news for the poor bloke!
The Crusaders medical team has provided the following update on the knee injury Joe Moody sustained in Round 9 against the Blues:
Following last week's update, Joe Moody has been seen by a specialist and it has been confirmed that he ruptured his ACL playing against the Blues. He will have surgery to repair this and has been ruled out of rugby for the remainder of 2022.https://www.crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/crusaders-injury-update/
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders 2022:
@Chris I think McAlister has been good as a squaddy, but have never rated Klein. Never understood why he was in the squad. Bell seems to have much more potential.
For me McAlister is the better player,klein would be my choice to let go.
The thing that might go against retaining McAlister is the consistent injuries over the last 3 seasons, he has missed large chunks of SR due to that reason. -
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2022:
Bell certainly made a good start! Looks to have some decent size about him, where Klein looks a bit on the small side.
Taylor, McAlister, Bell looks the best trio to me, as well.
Gallagher & Bell are the finds of the season for Crusaders.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders 2022:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2022:
Bell certainly made a good start! Looks to have some decent size about him, where Klein looks a bit on the small side.
Taylor, McAlister, Bell looks the best trio to me, as well.
Gallagher & Bell are the finds of the season for Crusaders.
Agree plus the further development of Newell as been very good.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders 2022:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2022:
Bell certainly made a good start! Looks to have some decent size about him, where Klein looks a bit on the small side.
Taylor, McAlister, Bell looks the best trio to me, as well.
Gallagher & Bell are the finds of the season for Crusaders.
Agree about Gallagher, but surely it's way too early to tell with Bell either way. Unless of course, you have seen more of him than I have.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2022:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders 2022:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2022:
Bell certainly made a good start! Looks to have some decent size about him, where Klein looks a bit on the small side.
Taylor, McAlister, Bell looks the best trio to me, as well.
Gallagher & Bell are the finds of the season for Crusaders.
Agree about Gallagher, but surely it's way too early to tell with Bell either way. Unless of course, you have seen more of him than I have.
I have seen him in the Crusaders u20s last season he was one of the stand outs in that.
I think he will be really good . Going forward. -
How fucking dumb are the crusaders? How on earth can you do your awards over a month before the season ends? At the point how you perform matters most, it is not counted as the awards are already done, I really don't understand this at all.
