Highlanders v Crusaders

Stargazer

@taniwharugby Harsh. @MN5 has only one letter wrong.

MN5

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@mn5 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@chris-b said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Good news that we've got Sam Whitelock.

I read he missed the ABs camp, along with Crotty, so was fearing the worst.

Main thing that concerns me is a bit of lack of size in our backs, with Drummond, Hunt, Bateman, Bridge and Havili. Wonder whether this might have been a good game to start Mataele instead of Bridge?

Drummond gets a turn starting.

Always gonna be an issue with Fruean and Naholo leaving the franchise

You should probably refrain from commenting on the rugby...

I still do better than many commentators who actually get paid.

taniwharugby

@stargazer I bet in his head he was seeing Marika Vunibaka as he typed it

Chris B.

@sammyc said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@chris-b said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Good news that we've got Sam Whitelock.

I read he missed the ABs camp, along with Crotty, so was fearing the worst.

Main thing that concerns me is a bit of lack of size in our backs, with Drummond, Hunt, Bateman, Bridge and Havili. Wonder whether this might have been a good game to start Mataele instead of Bridge?

Drummond gets a turn starting.

glad that drummond is starting, we looked a lot better when he came on last week

Not a lot between Drummond and Hall, but I tend to generally think Mitch is more solid. However, seems like Razor and his team have a preference for Bryn.

I'm interested to see who the AB selectors choose in a couple of months - both of these two must be in the frame along with Weber and, just maybe, Pulu.

Tim

Hall has looked a little off the pace so far this year. Was quicker to the ball last season, and more accurate, IMO.

MN5

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@stargazer I bet in his head he was seeing Marika Vunibaka as he typed it

Luke Erenevula more like

cgrant

The Highlanders have a big chance to win this one as the Crusaders do not look as formidable without their best players (Moody, Franks, Read, Mounga, Crotty, Dagg) and a few others not yet performing (Tamanivalu, Todd, Crockett, Barrett). Their bench is weak, to say the least. But they cannot be totally written off as NZ derbies had their lot of surprises.

Bones

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@stargazer I bet in his head he was seeing Marika Vunibaka as he typed it

That is pure gold.
Who is Fruean?

MN5

@bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@stargazer I bet in his head he was seeing Marika Vunibaka as he typed it

That is pure gold.
Who is Fruean?

Great centre. Played outside Warwick Taylor. Craig Green got lots of tries running off him and Robbie Deans converted them.

Magpie_in_aus

Man I'm looking forward to Havili making a break this weekend and watching Aaron Smith chase 'After David'

Crucial

@magpie_in_aus said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Man I'm looking forward to Havili making a break this weekend and watching Aaron Smith chase 'After David'

took me a while.

MN5

@magpie_in_aus said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Man I'm looking forward to Havili making a break this weekend and watching Aaron Smith chase 'After David'

This is one of the best posts ever

akan004

Whitelock has been ruled out with lingering concussion symptoms.

Stargazer

@akan004 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Whitelock has been ruled out with lingering concussion symptoms.

Yes, and Romano takes his spot and Quinten Strange takes place on the bench.

Damn, I should have put money on that. My crystal ball works well this week:

@stargazer said in Crusaders 2018:

Crusaders Knights team to play the Highlanders Bravehearts (curtain raiser to Highlanders v Crusaders, kick-off 5pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)

etc etc

Quite a few changes compared to last week's game. No Quinten Strange, which makes me think that - if he's not injured - they keep him as an unnamed reserve, just in case Sam Whitelock might not be able to play on Saturday (despite being named at 5).

Stargazer

BNZ Crusaders injury update: Sam Whitelock & Mike Delany
Published: 16 March 2018
There have been 2 injury-enforced late changes to the BNZ Crusaders team to play the Highlanders on Saturday night.
 
Sam Whitelock has been withdrawn after developing some minor symptoms late yesterday. This has meant he cannot complete the Post-Concussion Return to Play process this week but he will continue to progress his activity under medical guidance. Luke Romano will start alongside Scott Barrett, and Quinten Strange has been brought on to the bench. Matt Todd will now captain the side and Tim Bateman will be vice-captain.
 
Mike Delany has jarred his knee at training on Thursday and has also been withdrawn from this weekend’s game after review this morning. He will be reviewed by the medical team on Monday. Brett Cameron has been brought in to the match day 23 as first five-eighth cover.

Stargazer

So in the Saders' injury ward are Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Pete Samu, Kieran Read, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg & Mike Delany. Am I missing anyone? Maybe Will Jordan, but anyone else?

Billy Tell

@magpie_in_aus said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Man I'm looking forward to Havili making a break this weekend and watching Aaron Smith chase 'After David'

Not chase. Soar.

Soar after David...

Gunner

@mn5 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@magpie_in_aus said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Man I'm looking forward to Havili making a break this weekend and watching Aaron Smith chase 'After David'

This is one of the best posts ever

Certainly the most liked post that I’ve ever seen on here.
Deservedly so

Gunner

Despite all the injuries, that is still a pretty handy Crusaders team.

Crucial

@gunner said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Despite all the injuries, that is still a pretty handy Crusaders team.

Yeah, at tipping time I got sucked into the injury talk but not so sure now.

The Silver Fern

Highlanders v Crusaders