Crusaders v Hurricanes
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Hurricanes:
1 Chris Eves, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Vaea Fifita, 6. Reed Prinsep, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Brad Shields
9 TJ Perenara (c), 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Vince Aso, 14. Cory Jane, 15. Jordie BarrettReserves: 16. Leni Apisai, 17. Ben May, 18. Loni Uhila, 19. Sam Lousi, 20. Toa Halafihi, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Otere Black, 23. Wes Goosen
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I'm looking forward to this game. On paper you would think it's the Crusaders forwards vs the Canes backs, but the Crusaders backs have been better than expected and the Canes pack has provided the platform for BB and co to function.
If the Crusaders focus on defending the cross-kick there will be space further in for the Canes to attack.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
If the Crusaders focus on defending the cross-kick there will be space further in for the Canes to attack.
Hope we aren't that stupid
... under Blackadder we definately were.I hope our plan is to smash them up front at scrum, maul and breakdown. Rush up on Barrett and the midfiled (I think Laumape and Aso have questionable distributuon skills)
Happy to see us use the rolling maul as much as possible, even from a long way out.
Stormers last week showed what a weakness this is for the canes. It's how we beat the highlanders earlier this year too.Not game enough to predict a crusaders win but it would be a huge statement if we manage it. Coming back from Africa against last years winners.
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@SammyC I reckon Gatland will be watching this one to see what sort of plans Razor and Leon can come up with to counter Barrett.
Overcoming the travel factor will be an important challenge - I'd be pretty surprised if we manage a win, but you never know. Really, I'd rather this game was being played in Wellington and the post-June match in ChCh.
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Tough to win after the trip from SA.
Big thing for the Crusaders will be stopping the Hurricanes backing up their scoring. This year it looks like they score points in clumps. Then they clock off because that was a bit easy, then they have another little spree (okay, v the Brumbies it was a 40 minute spree). In those bursts they look unstoppable, and that confidence sort of allows them to ride out the parts of the game where they look like shit.
Way easier said than done when you look at the weapons on offer.
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I'd feel a lot more comfortable if Whitelock was playing. He along with Todd have been unreal for us this year. Not that Romano and Barrett will let us down, but this is the best Super rugby form I can recall for Sam.
Hopefully a home crowd can lift us when the Canes do go on one of their trademark score in bunches runs.
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Crusaders
1 Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Matt Todd (C), 8. Jordan Taufua
9 Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David HaviliRESERVES
16 Ben Funnell, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Manasa Mataelehttp://crusaders.co.nz/news/1095-bnz-crusaders-team-to-play-the-hurricanes-2
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@Stargazer article says it is Matt Todds 100th Super rugby game too!
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@taniwharugby No, he played his 100th SR game in SA against the Cheetahs, but there will be a post-match presentation to celebrate/recognize it in front of the home crowd.
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@Stargazer sorry, yes will be presentation of the Mere that was for his 100th in SA.
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No word in that article about Dagg? I thought this was the game they had red circled for his return. All of the starting backs are in good form and even Mataele has been doing the business, but I would've still had him on the bench for this one.
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Looking very forward to this - hopefully it's a sell out.
My number 1 requirement is: no frickin injuries to the AB players please...
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@ACT-Crusader apparently he is playing club footy this weekend (according to the piece they had on the news this morning)
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@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
No word in that article about Dagg? I thought this was the game they had red circled for his return. All of the starting backs are in good form and even Mataele has been doing the business, but I would've still had him on the bench for this one.
Playing for University this weekend
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@cgrant said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
Samu - Todd - Taufua : is it the shortest backrow in Super Rugby ?
Speaking of backrows, just read the Canes team and saw Shields at no8 and Prinsep on the blindside. Shields has been excellent this season. Prinsep selected for a bit of inside knowledge aye....
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@ACT-Crusader said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
@cgrant said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:
Samu - Todd - Taufua : is it the shortest backrow in Super Rugby ?
Speaking of backrows, just read the Canes team and saw Shields at no8 and Prinsep on the blindside. Shields has been excellent this season. Prinsep selected for a bit of inside knowledge aye....
Gibbons injured so AS back to 7
