Crusaders 2019
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Great news for the Crusaders and All Blacks: Sam Whitelock has re-signed for four more years!
All Blacks, BNZ Crusaders and Canterbury lock, Samuel Whitelock, and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have agreed a new deal, with the Test centurion signing through until 2023.Under the terms of the deal, Whitelock will take a break from New Zealand rugby at the end of this year to take up a short-term contract with Japanese club Panasonic. He will miss the 2020 Investec Super Rugby season and return to New Zealand at the end of the Japanese Top 14 season in May 2020.Tew said NZR’s Board had also given NZR approval to allow Whitelock to be selected for the All Blacks in 2020, a decision made on the basis of his long-standing and outstanding service to New Zealand Rugby and the fact he had signed a four-year deal. Whitelock also has exit clauses in his contract. Whitelock had already been signed through to 2020 but had decided to negotiate a longer contract early.http://www.allblacks.com/News/34051/samuel-whitelock-locks-in-four-year-deal
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders 2019:
@Tim Only just had time to read this article.
Minus captain Sam Whitelock and midfielder Ryan Crotty, who are both on All Blacks rest weeks and won't play against the Sharks at home on Friday night, the Crusaders trained in heavy rain at their Rugby Park headquarters to kickoff the week.It will be interesting to see whether Bateman will come in for Crotty, or whether they'll move Havili to 12 to start Jordan at fullback. Or Bateman at 12, Jordan at fullback, and Havili covering both from the bench.
I'm guessing we won't see Bateman. Razor has all of those young guns clamouring for starts.
This week I'm going to guess - 11. Bridge, Goodhue, Ennor, Reece, 15. Jordan - 23. Havili
But Razor could easily shuffle that pack a different way.
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@Chris-B I think Havili is better as a starter than as an impact player though. So I'd start him at 12 or 15, start Goodhue at 13 and bring Jordan or Ennor on from the bench. Goodhue often doesn't play 80 minutes, so Ennor on the bench makes sense if they start Havili at 12 and Goodhue at 13, or Jordan on the bench if they start Goodhue at 12 and Havili at 15 (and move Havili to 12 in the 2nd half).
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@Chris I think most of the recruiting will be done via the Crusaders Knights (development contracts) or the bench; most of the direct replacements of these players are already playing for the Saders.
Franks - Alaalatoa, then Jager
Whitelock - Strange, then Dunshea
Read - Douglas, then Blackadder?
Taufua - Sanders (if he can stay in one piece), new back-up needed
Crotty - moving Havili or Goodhue - Jordan to 15 or Ennor to 13, then Punivai to bench
Todd - Billy Harmon, new back-up needed
Romano - hardly plays, so already overtaken by Strange and Dunshea
Bateman - see Crotty -
@Chris Yeah - I was already thinking that, even before Sam Whitelock's sabbatical news came through.
It is quite handy to have guys like Romano and Bateman in the squad - in the twilight of their careers and presumably happy enough to ride the pine and be good squaddies. Be good if both are up for another year.
Owen Franks is going to be difficult to replace - good tighthead props don't grow on trees and I've yet to be really impressed by Jager.
I hope Todd sticks around as well - Sanders/Blackadder/Douglas/Harmon isn't quite as fearsome as what we have this year.
Another challenge for Razor is keeping all our young outside backs happy. Blues and Highlanders doubtless sniffing around for outside backs especially fullbacks.
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@Chris-B Yeah a 3rd TH will be tough to find especially as Jager is really unproven need an experienced TH from somewhere
next year if Moodey and Alaalatoa get injured ,The starting props maybe Jager and Allen.With 2 other young pups on the bench as I don't trust Tim Perry to get through a full season he's lucky to make 3 games. -
@Stargazer The Question is are there players in the Knights good enough watching the u/20s Newell at TH has not impressed nor Mcleod maybe Grace could step up not sure about Burke or Gilbert either thats from a Crusaders region perspective. Seems to be a bigger drop off this season of quality in the u/20s which is a worry.
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2019:
Some Interesting Recruitment needed for 2020 by the Crusaders they will need to find replacements for
Owen Franks
Sam Whitelock
Kieran Read
Jordan Taufua
Ryan. Crotty
and maybe Matt Todd,Luke Romeno and Tim BatemanWorst case scenario that we lose all those players - we'll be trading our Rolls Royce pack in for a Honda.
Moody, Taylor, Alaalatoa, Barrett, Strange, Sanders, Harmon, Douglas
Perry, Makalio, Jager, Dunshea, Blackadder
It's OK, but most teams won't lose sleep over it. Think we need to retain Todd and Romano.
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@Chris-B especially losing that much experience Todd and Romano would be great to keep hold of.
Tamati Williams I noticed played on TH side for NZ U/20's V Japan so may shape up as a Franks replacement being able to play both sides.Hes a big unit and looks able to handle himself. -
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