Crusaders 2022
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2022:
Seems like a pretty ordinary intake this year, with the obvious exception of Matera.
Lots of young Cantabs picked mainly on promise rather than delivery in NPC.
Yeah a couple I would question,Naholo is a good pick up looking good now he is over his injuries.
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Happy with the hookers, in Makalio's abence I don't see how we could strengthen that group. Immense ability and promise in that propping group with a good mix of three vets and three tyros coming through. However, across the front row if we were to lose two of Taylor, Moody, Jager and Bower at any given time, things look a bit green.
Good to see us secure Gallagher after letting go of Darry and Will Tucker over the last year or so.
Will be fascinating to see how Razor uses those loosies. Lots of utilty value in the group and I'm pleased to see we have one tall bloke in there (Gardiner) because it was starting to look a bit light on line-out options. I'd probably start with Grace (8), Christie (7) and Blackadder (6) though with Matera on the bench.
Hard to go wrong with those halfbacks. I wonder if the challenge of TTT being in the squad might even bring more out of Hall and Drummond.
Simon Hickey. FFS.
And so much talent and so many possible combinations in the midfield and outside backs it's not funny, even without Goodhue for quite a bit of the season.
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@chris-b said in Crusaders 2022:
In reality, lots will be dictated by who gets injured, but even if no-one does there will be lots of swapping about.
The top backline will likely end up being: Drummond, Mo'unga, Leicester, Havili, Goodhue, Reece, Jordan
But we'll probably see Havili at 1st five and maybe fullback as well, Goodhue at 2nd five, Leicester at centre and Jordan on the right wing.
George might defend his left wing vs Leicester and I reckon we'll also see him at fullback.
And Ennor will probably play both centre and wing.
Other outside backs will be probably part time soldiers until injuries mount or depending on absences.
That is an impressive number of players right there who are arguably not in their best position. But Bridge might well be a good fullback and DH offer something at 10...
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@shark said in Crusaders 2022:
I'd probably start with Grace (8), Christie (7) and Blackadder (6) though with Matera on the bench.
Surely Matera will start the big games?
I think Grace was a failure at 8 and should move back to 6. Matera can play a few positions but 8 might be his best spot for the Crusaders given the other options
So maybe:
7 Christie/8 Matera/6 Blackadder
7 Blackadder/8 Matera/6 GraceI prefer the second one
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@duluth I'd rather see the local guys get first crack and back them to secure those spots. But between the four of them, several combos would work.
Disagree re Grace. He had only just broken through at 6 and then he gets thrown in at 8, which was a little unfair on a youngster. He'll come back.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2022:
@duluth I'd rather see the local guys get first crack and back them to secure those spots. But between the four of them, several combos would work.
Disagree re Grace. He had only just broken through at 6 and then he gets thrown in at 8, which was a little unfair on a youngster. He'll come back.
Grace,Matera,Blackadder and probably Christie all rotated around as the 4 within the 23 is what I think will happen.
Young Kellow might get some useful game time as well, he has a decent build for a 7 and could handle the minutes. -
@shark said in Crusaders 2022:
Happy with the hookers, in Makalio's abence I don't see how we could strengthen that group. Immense ability and promise in that propping group with a good mix of three vets and three tyros coming through. However, across the front row if we were to lose two of Taylor, Moody, Jager and Bower at any given time, things look a bit green.
Good to see us secure Gallagher after letting go of Darry and Will Tucker over the last year or so.
Will be fascinating to see how Razor uses those loosies. Lots of utilty value in the group and I'm pleased to see we have one tall bloke in there (Gardiner) because it was starting to look a bit light on line-out options. I'd probably start with Grace (8), Christie (7) and Blackadder (6) though with Matera on the bench.
Hard to go wrong with those halfbacks. I wonder if the challenge of TTT being in the squad might even bring more out of Hall and Drummond.
Simon Hickey. FFS.
And so much talent and so many possible combinations in the midfield and outside backs it's not funny, even without Goodhue for quite a bit of the season.
Yep Agee great to see Zac Gallagher get a contract,I rate him highly.
Not sure on the Hookers I liked Makalio's physicality,Not sold on Klein yet and McAlister gets injured a fair bit.
Would like to see Liecester F get some time in the MF again especially with Goodhue out for up to 11 games.
Simon Hickey I just don't get that signing, I hope to be proved wrong by not my favourite signing.
I still would like to see more out of Punivai I thought he had a poor NPC.
McLeod as well, but he should stay at 2nd five,He was found out on D a lot when tried at center earlier in the NPC. -
@shark said in Crusaders 2022:
I'd rather see the local guys get first crack and back them to secure those spots. But between the four of them, several combos would work.
Disagree re Grace. He had only just broken through at 6 and then he gets thrown in at 8, which was a little unfair on a youngster. He'll come back.
I'd rather see local guys gets a chance too. Personally I don't think NZ franchises should be signing foreigners at all.
However he's in the squad, so I think Robertson will select him because he's better than the other players.
As for Grace - I think he disappointed at 8 because he lacks the skillset. I'm sure he'll go well back at 6. Compare him to the other franchises 8's from this year - Sotutu, Jacobson, Savea & Himeno. They are all better ball players than Grace and that seems to be the role at the moment. I think Matera can do that role better than anyone else in the Crusaders squad
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Looking at IG, Macca Springer from Ta$man has been training with the Crusaders.
Meanwhile, the new black training jersey is available on the Crusaders site. The fully branded standard jersey, training tee and singlet are widely available, but the white-dominant alternative jersey is off the shelf without a sponsors logo at the moment, or can be forward-ordered via Champions of the World with the logo but availability TBC.
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@shark said in Crusaders 2022:
Looking at IG, Macca Springer from Ta$man has been training with the Crusaders.
Meanwhile, the new black training jersey is available on the Crusaders site. The fully branded standard jersey, training tee and singlet are widely available, but the white-dominant alternative jersey is off the shelf without a sponsors logo at the moment, or can be forward-ordered via Champions of the World with the logo but availability TBC.
Yep Macca Springer in the WTG also Waisake Naholo in the squad as well.
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