Crusaders 2019

[Chris]

@mariner4life Mate with that forward pack and inside backs/ midfield we could put Susan Boyle on the wing and still win a 10th Title

[Chris]

@chris-b Maybe not right away but I think he may force his way in over time

[Original Rugby]

[sparky]

It is conceivable after the Japan test that the Crusaders will be able to put out a CV entirely made up of test-capped All Blacks.

[antipodean]

@sparky said in Crusaders 2019:

It is conceivable after the Japan test that the Crusaders will be able to put out a CV entirely made up of test-capped All Blacks.

Anyone who gets their first test cap against japan in this coming fixture should instead be referred to as a midweek tourist.

[cgrant]

@chris-b said in Crusaders 2019:

The initial top 23 doesn't have many questionmarks...

1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Scott Barrett
5. Sam Whitelock (C)
6. Jordan Taufua
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. George Bridge
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Dagg/Mataele/Ennor/Jordan/Punivai? (I hope it's Jordan).
15. David Havili

RESERVES
16. Makalio or Funnell?
17. Tim Perry
18. Michael Alaalatoa
19. Luke Romano
20. Sanders/Douglas/Blackadder or Harmon?
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. Dagg/Mataele/Ennor/Jordan/Punivai? (If it's Jordan above, then Ennor).

Havili at 12 and Jordan at 15 when Crotty is inevitably injured.

[Darren]

Might as well just cancel next years comp and give them the title now. It is basically an All black team.

[antipodean]

@darren-nicholson said in Crusaders 2019:

Might as well just cancel next years comp and give them the title now. It is basically an All black team.

That will be managed for the RWC...

[Stargazer]

@antipodean Yup, it's already confirmed that they'll have the mandatory 2 games off again, on top of the byes.

[Nepia]

Damn, so some matches they'll only be able to play 15 ABs instead of 17.

[Stargazer]

@nepia Not to mention former ABs, almost ABs and future ABs.

[Nepia]

@stargazer said in Crusaders 2019:

@nepia Not to mention former ABs, almost ABs and future ABs.

Hey, it's no fun when you play along!

[Stargazer]

3 years

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/108262183/Crusaders-lock-in-highly-touted-Leicester-Faingaanuku-for-three-years

[Chris]

@stargazer Smart Move

[Stargazer]

@chris Yeah, and better than the 5 years the Canes signed Billy Proctor for, which is way too long for such a young player.

[Machpants]

I hate the way this is thing with long contacts to unproven players, is the route to producing prima donnas

[Chris]

@machpants That maybe so at some Super Rugby environments but not at the Crusaders

[Stargazer]

@machpants Three years is about the maximum for me. That gives them sufficient time to develop into SR players and get enough experience to grow, and for the coaches to get a good idea of whether the young players really are good enough for this level. That's provided they get enough game time, which can be a problem for some players (especially if there's a queue of good players ahead of them), although the Crusaders usually give opportunities to all their players.

Five years is IMO excessive, because if he players don't meet the expectations, it will be hard to get rid off them, unless there's some kind of out-clause in the contract that the franchises can use, or if de-listing players is a way to free up spots in the squad (like the Crusaders did with Fukofuka).

[mariner4life]

@chris said in Crusaders 2019:

@machpants That maybe so at some Super Rugby environments but not at the Crusaders

pffft hahaha oh shit stargazer you better up your game, this bloke wants your superfan title, and he's coming hard

[African Monkey]

@mariner4life Enjoy the cheap likes from all the regulars...