Crusaders 2016 and 2017
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<p>Underwhelmed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We had AB-ineligible and very average Volavola this season, now we have AB-ineligible and 31 year old Digby Ioane, who I think made no waves at all during his time at Stade Francais.</p>
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<p>Wing is a young man's game...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="crusadersfan" data-cid="600926" data-time="1469680067">
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<p>Looks like the Crusaders are going to continue along the same lines as before, wouldn't know a good back if it bit them on the arse.</p>
<p>I cant see an aging ex wallaby that been playing touch footy for the last 5 years is going to fix our back line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Would rather they get some young raw talent and build for the future, will not mind a couple of years building strenght if we could see some potential.</p>
<p>Not like the last eight seasons where we got progressivly worse and they still did squat about it.</p>
<p>Thank gods we at least have Dagg and Crotty.</p>
<p>Mo'unga is showing plenty of promise and he is young so hopefully a long term answer, more signings like this please</p>
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<p>He left the Reds after the 2013 season, so it's not 5 years.</p>
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<p>There's a bit of young talent coming through in the backs... Barrett and Goodhue both seem like good long term options. Nice to have a short term option whilst those 2 develop</p>
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<p>And he comes from Japan with a recommendation from Robbie. That's good enough for me.</p>
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<p>Will certainly be a step up from Fonotia if he ends up at 13. He was playing well there at the Reds before he left and was picked by many to be a future wallaby in that position.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="600932" data-time="1469680659">
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<p>Underwhelmed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We had AB-ineligible and very average Volavola this season, now we have AB-ineligible and 31 year old Digby Ioane, who I think made no waves at all during his time at Stade Francais.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Wing is a young man's game...</strong></p>
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<p>Cory Jane hasn't been that bad ...</p> -
<p>Cory Jane is, and always has been, a far superior player to Ioane though.</p>
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<p>I was never taken with Digby to the extent some were. I saw a lot of metres run, but not many of those were forwards, there was a lot of crab stuff. Couldn't catch a high ball either. </p>
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<p>Now that he is less dynamic on his feet, he better have developed some of his other footy skills or this is going to be an underwhelming signing. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="600935" data-time="1469680828">
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<p>Cory Jane hasn't been that bad ...</p>
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<p>Exception does not the prove the rule.</p>
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<p>I see Sammy C mentioned him as a step up from Fonatia. That is damning with the faintest of praise. But I would be happy if he turns out to be a viable 13 option.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="600938" data-time="1469681024">
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<p><strong>Cory Jane is, and always has been, a far superior player to Ioane though</strong>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was never taken with Digby to the extent some were. I saw a lot of metres run, but not many of those were forwards, there was a lot of crab stuff. Couldn't catch a high ball either. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now that he is less dynamic on his feet, he better have developed some of his other footy skills or this is going to be an underwhelming signing. </p>
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<p>I should have worded it differently. I only meant to say that being over 30 doesn't necessarily mean he can't play well as a winger (or midfielder).</p>
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<p>I didn't mean to compare the two players (other than with respect to age), because they're entirely different players (also physically).</p>
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<p>What I find a much bigger "problem" than his age is that Ioane been out of SH rugby/Super Rugby for some years now, and players don't tend to get better when they're playing in Europe or Japan. But Nadolo proved it can be done, so I will give Ioane the benefit of the doubt.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="600784" data-time="1469659902">
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<p>Throwing lots of money at a man who's never played 15s? Not knowing whether he'll convert into an SBW or a Benji Marshall? Yeah right.</p>
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<p>Ah yeah I probably should have included one of these :fishing:</p>
<p>Although I reckon it would have been a better signing than Digby Ioane.</p>
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<p>On a more serious note, how long is Laumape contracted to the canes for? He didn't seem to get a look in after a decent start to the season. Poach him!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="601087" data-time="1469714604"><p>
Ah yeah I probably should have included one of these :fishing:<br>
Although I reckon it would have been a better signing than Digby Ioane.<br><br>
On a more serious note, how long is Laumape contracted to the canes for? He didn't seem to get a look in after a decent start to the season. Poach him!</p></blockquote>
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Don't know but him or Goosen should really be on the bench instead of Savea.<br><br>
Julian's confidence isn't going to magically get better starting from the bench. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="600933" data-time="1469680730">
<div>And he comes from Japan with a recommendation from Robbie. That's good enough for me.</div>
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<p> </p>
<p>And if anyone knows how to develop outside backs it is Deans. The most dynamic outside back he produced in 8 years at the Crusaders was Leon MacDonald - quite the achievement.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They had to name Berryman at 14 in one of their all time teams because they were so have been so historically poor on the wing. James Kerr was denied. Caleb Ralph was on the other from memory.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="601377" data-time="1469840371"><p>
And if anyone knows how to develop outside backs it is Deans. The most dynamic outside back he produced in 8 years at the Crusaders was Leon MacDonald - quite the achievement.<br><br>
They had to name Berryman at 14 in one of their all time teams because they were so have been so historically poor on the wing. James Kerr was denied. Caleb Ralph was on the other from memory.</p></blockquote>
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Broken record time. <br><br>
I'll trust the man with 5 super titles in 8 seasons thank you. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="601387" data-time="1469844724"><p>
Broken record time. <br><br>
I'll trust the man with 5 super titles in 8 seasons thank you.</p></blockquote>
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Fair enough. In a much similar way I get most of my rugby opinions from Phil Kearns because he won 2 out of 3 World Cups. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="601401" data-time="1469851021"><p>
Fair enough. In a much similar way I get most of my rugby opinions from Phil Kearns because he won 2 out of 3 World Cups.</p></blockquote>
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Apples and oranges, Kearns isn't a coach and I doubt he was responsible for the team selection in those world cups (which is what we are discussing isn't it?)<br><br>
Fucking great player though. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="601377" data-time="1469840371">
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<p>And if anyone knows how to develop outside backs it is Deans. The most dynamic outside back he produced in 8 years at the Crusaders was Leon MacDonald - quite the achievement.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They had to name Berryman at 14 in one of their all time teams because they were so have been so historically poor on the wing. James Kerr was denied. Caleb Ralph was on the other from memory.</p>
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<p>Poor old James Kerr couldn't even get a mention on that NZ Battlers FB page, he must have pissed someone off cos if anyone came up against some huge names in NZ Rugby ( and to be honest did pretty well ) in the 90s and 2000s it was him</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="601404" data-time="1469851232"><p>
Apples and oranges, Kearns isn't a coach and I doubt he was responsible for the team selection in those world cups (which is what we are discussing isn't it?)<br><br>
Fucking great player though.</p></blockquote>
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I guess the general point was just because they won those titles it doesn't mean aspects of that team weren't beyond criticism.<br><br>
Deans' Crusaders won through their loosies and 9-10-12 axis, not with blistering backlines. Similarly his Australian backlines underwhelmed. If Tana is to believed he was also the guy that completely bungled the '03 backline in the semi. The only reason to think he is an outstanding attacking mind is that he understood he needed to basically blood the entire '03 Henry Blues backline to be competitive that season.<br><br>
His opinion is interesting and worth listening to like any professional coach with a decent record but I'll look at his baffling backline decisions of the past and take it with a massive grain of salt. He isn't Wayne Smith. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="601406" data-time="1469851736"><p>
I guess the general point was just because they won those titles it doesn't mean aspects of that team weren't beyond criticism.<br><br>
Deans' Crusaders won through their loosies and 9-10-12 axis, not with blistering backlines. Similarly his Australian backlines underwhelmed. If Tana is to believed he was also the guy that completely bungled the '03 backline in the semi. The only reason to think he is an outstanding attacking mind is that he understood he needed to basically blood the entire '03 Henry Blues backline to be competitive that season.<br><br>
His opinion is interesting and worth listening to like any professional coach with a decent record but I'll look at his baffling backline decisions of the past and take it with a massive grain of salt. He isn't Wayne Smith.</p></blockquote>
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Fair enough, and to be honest I can't be fucked getting into the same argument I've had with you several times on here before. I knew you'd bring up Tana sooner or later.<br><br>
I've read Tanas book, and it's basically one big whinge against everyone he doesn't like. Only Norm Hewitt ranks alongside him in the crybaby stakes in my opinion.<br><br>
We disagree on Deans, let's move on<br><br>
I'm a bit biased as I was a massive digby fan, he was an outstanding athlete in his prime, I'm hoping he's still got that and brings it to the crusaders next year. You and I won't know until we see him play -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="600897" data-time="1469674607"><p>
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If he crosses the chalk I hope he pulls out the "Caterpillar" again.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="
Anyone that grew up in the 80s and was a fan of hip hop culture /breakdancing will know that's not the caterpillar :)<br><br>
I believe it's called the jackhammer
