Crusaders vs Blues
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I wouldnt want to lose Ofa for this game. The Crusaders scrum is still obe of the best in the comp and it would be a tough ask for Sheck and or Tupaea to come in.
I don't think this is a foregone conclusion as some would suggest. Cold nights in Chch are always tough for opposing sides.
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@Dan54 said in Crusaders vs Blues:
@george33 said in Crusaders vs Blues:
Can see Dalton starting , and resting for Chiefs , Clarke's missed a couple so should be good ,Reiko hopefully
I think they have done their AB rests, but can see a few important players being rested for finals.
Minutes is what they watch. Going into last weekend Papali'i wasn't far behind Telea who rested the last match. Clarke is a little further back
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@Duluth said in Crusaders vs Blues:
@Dan54 said in Crusaders vs Blues:
@george33 said in Crusaders vs Blues:
Can see Dalton starting , and resting for Chiefs , Clarke's missed a couple so should be good ,Reiko hopefully
I think they have done their AB rests, but can see a few important players being rested for finals.
Minutes is what they watch. Going into last weekend Papali'i wasn't far behind Telea who rested the last match. Clarke is a little further back
Genuinely thought it was training too mate. On rest week they (I thought) kept clear of a lot of the training.
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As a Canes fan this is a challenging one.
On one hand I want the Saders to win, so we can re take top spot (assuming we win our final 2 games).
But, on the other hand, I don't want the Saders to make the 8, so need the Blues to win.
I'm leaning towards wanting Blues this week, then for them to stumble against the Chiefs the final week. That'd do me nicely.
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The Press:
Assistant-coach Matt Todd confirmed on Tuesday that Barrett was unlikely to be over his back injury in time for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific match against the top-of-the-table Blues in Christchurch. The All Blacks captaincy contender has played just 13 minutes in the last three rounds and his absence has been keenly felt. But there were was better news about Ethan Blackadder - who missed the first seven rounds through injury, then played in the next three but has not played for almost a month. Todd said the All Blacks flanker “could be a chance” after training well “at the back end of last week’’. Blackadder will among a clutch of players was to be assessed ahead of the team naming on Wednesday. -
@Duluth said in Crusaders vs Blues:
But there were was better news about Ethan Blackadder - who missed the first seven rounds through injury, then played in the next three but has not played for almost a month.
Todd said the All Blacks flanker “could be a chance” after training well “at the back end of last week’’.
Will be cleared and then fall over and be out for 3 months when the team run out on match day.
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@Frank said in Crusaders vs Blues:
@Duluth said in Crusaders vs Blues:
But there were was better news about Ethan Blackadder - who missed the first seven rounds through injury, then played in the next three but has not played for almost a month.
Todd said the All Blacks flanker “could be a chance” after training well “at the back end of last week’’.
Will be cleared and then fall over and be out for 3 months when the team run out on match day.
Rushed back to get minutes before AB’s selection. Seen this before…… Poor Ethan can’t catch a break
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Are the Crusaders using the same S&C staff as the Waratahs?
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@antipodean said in Crusaders vs Blues:
Are the Crusaders using the same S&C staff as the Waratahs?
They tried the same coach!!!
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@Frank said in Crusaders vs Blues:
@Duluth said in Crusaders vs Blues:
But there were was better news about Ethan Blackadder - who missed the first seven rounds through injury, then played in the next three but has not played for almost a month.
Todd said the All Blacks flanker “could be a chance” after training well “at the back end of last week’’.
Will be cleared and then fall over and be out for 3 months when the team run out on match day.
Prolly dislocate his shoulder getting his jersey off the hook.
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@pakman Ta'avao to start, just so he can hold up the scrum. He's been a great pickup this year. Renata has improved too, but we need our best scrum out there to start as it's the one area the Crusaders could really hurt us, as the Brumbies found out last week.
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IOANE & PEROFETA RETURN FOR CRUSADERS — Blues Rugby
A couple of Blues heavyweights, Rieko Ioane and Stephen Perofeta return to the starting lineup this weekend as the team travel to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders in DHL Super Rugby Pacific. Ioane reclaims his spot at centre having returned from concussion, while Perofeta slots into
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2 Kurt Eklund
3 Angus Ta’avao
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
5 Sam Darry
6 Akira Ioane
7 Adrian Choat
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Taufa Funaki
10 Harry Plummer
11 AJ Lam
12 Corey Evans
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Tele’a
15 Stephen Perofeta16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Joshua Fusitu’a
18 PJ Sheck
19 Josh Beehre
20 Cameron Suafoa
21 Sam Nock
22 Cole Forbes
23 Caleb TangitauPlayers not considered: Lucas Cashmore (hamstring), Finlay Christie (groin), Caleb Clarke (managing workload), Meihana Grindlay (finger), Bryce Heem (calf), Jordan Lay (ankle, season), Marcel Renata (calf), Zarn Sullivan (knee), Dalton Papali’i (managing workload), Laghlan McWhannell (concussion protocol)
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Joe Moody, Codie Taylor (c), Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Quinten Strange, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Fergus Burke, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicholl
RESERVES: George Bell, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Jamie Hannah, Tom Christie, Mitch Drummond, Taha Kemara, Dallas McLeod
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Blackadder straight back into the starting line up after having multiple weeks off… when will they learn.
On a serious note, good to see him back.
Blues resting Caleb Clarke and Dalton Papalii is massive and I’m sure it comes across a certain way to the Crusaders and their fans haha.
Gonna be a good game to watch!
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Can someone tell me how the Crusaders have only won 2 games with that lineup?
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@African-Monkey Very weak backline, poor locks, mediocre loose forwards, and a has-been loosehead prop. Don't forget the coach ...
