Crusaders v Highlanders
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Denny on the bench and garden bachop is back at 15
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@kiwiwomble said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Denny on the bench and garden bachop is back at 15
Not sure why they'd go back to Banks on the bench, but looking at that team, if they can avoid using him for as long as possible, and if Fakatava improves, you've got some impact for the last 20.
TJ is a huge loss against the Saders but Gregory is better at 12, so hopefully you guys can get points whenever they are on offer and steal one.
Edit: I'm expecting Dawai to see plenty of contestables this weekend - I would say that the Saders will see a similar weakness with your boys as ours and your back three (especially Dawai) will get a work out.
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@kiwiwomble will put a Kate sheppard on Makalio 1st try against his former side as it worked out for Billy Harmon in chch last yr
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Crusaders team to play the Highlanders:
1 Joe Moody
2 Codie Taylor (VC)
3 Fletcher Newell
4 Scott Barrett (C)
5 Quinten Strange
6 Ethan Blackadder
7 Tom Christie
8 Cullen Grace
9 Mitch Drummond
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 David Havili (VC)
13 Leicester Fainga'anuku
14 Sevu Reece
15 Will JordanRESERVES:
16 Shilo Klein
17 George Bower
18 Tamaiti Williams
19 Zach Gallagher*
20 Pablo Matera
21 Bryn Hall
22 Fergus Burke
23 Braydon Ennor*denotes Crusaders debut
... as does Sevu Reece - who last week overtook Dan Carter to become the third top try scorer of all time for the Crusaders.
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Crusaders by a thousand
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Pleased to see Grace at 8 again after he went well last week - better for NZ rugby than Matera clogging up a spot.
There weren't complaints when Kazuki Hinemo started over Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for all of 2021's campaign? Hinemo was so influential throughout SRA & SRP he was awarded Highlanders MVP at their awards night, while Matera hasn't really brought much at all to be fair.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Pleased to see Grace at 8 again after he went well last week - better for NZ rugby than Matera clogging up a spot.
There weren't complaints when Kazuki Hinemo started over Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for all of 2021's campaign? Hinemo was so influential throughout SRA & SRP he was awarded Highlanders MVP at their awards night, while Matera hasn't brought much at all to be fair.
pretty sure there were...even on here potentially
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Pleased to see Grace at 8 again after he went well last week - better for NZ rugby than Matera clogging up a spot.
There weren't complaints when Kazuki Hinemo started over Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for all of 2021's campaign? Hinemo was so influential throughout SRA & SRP he was awarded Highlanders MVP at their awards night, while Matera hasn't really brought much to be fair.
He didn't really.
MMT was injured for the season during SRA. Prior to that MMT, Renton and Hinemo had shared the role. MMT also was stood down for 2 matches (I think, but at least 1) due to off field stuff.
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@kiwi_expat It's just something some people like to throw at the Crusaders (usually cheap shots), while ignoring the likes of Himeno, Ardron, Marchant, van Wyk etc etc. Best to ignore. Matera actually adds something because he's a very good player with international experience who can be helpful in developing the young players they have. The same cannot be said of all the other players I mentioned. Having said that, that doesn't mean I'm totally in agreement with signing players of his calibre.
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I wouldn't call that accurate, a few seasons back Ardron appeared to carry the Chiefs pack almost single-handedly at times during their injury crises/locking woes.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Wouldn't call that accurate as a few seasons back Ardron appeared to carry the Chiefs pack almost single-handedly through an injury crises.
He also played in the NPC so made a commitment to stay in NZ for rugby.
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I wasn't taking a shot at the Crusaders - I was complimenting Cullen Grace - he went really well at 8 last week and I'm happy to see him picked there again - I want to see him keep up the form. Cripes.
Yeah Grace had a big game, I am pleased to see him start again.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I wouldn't call that accurate, a few seasons back Ardron appeared to carry the Chiefs pack almost single-handedly at times during their injury crises/locking woes.
I said:
The same cannot be said of all the other players I mentioned.
Note that I used the word "all".
It's accurate for players like van Wyk or Marchant. -
@kiwimurph He's kind of slow and sluggish for an 8, looks a bit like a rangy lock playing in the loose forwards.
though he's definitely too short to be playing lock, interestingly he looks & plays like James Blackwell.
they even have the exact same dimensions:
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I wasn't taking a shot at the Crusaders - I was complimenting Cullen Grace - he went really well at 8 last week and I'm happy to see him picked there again - I want to see him keep up the form. Cripes.
Bully.
Cullen Grace - Wikipedia
