How many Crusaders in your AB 23?
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@gt12 Paps has improved his carrying and linking games this year, but could still improve his jackling, and his ability to play to the ref over the ball.
He is pushing Cane hard though. If he plays six then we need a lineout option at 8 who is also a power player.
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@Tim I think maybe similar to McCaw, Cane and Papa don't need to stand out so much with jackals as they do so much more defensively to help create more for others. Anyway, haven't seen stats but I feel like he's been performing well there! I'd have him ahead of Cane (how awesome would it be having Cane on the bench).
By the way, virtual likes to you and @gt12 as I've hit my limit of 20 it seems
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If names and captain's titles were taken out, Dalton would be the first on the starting 15 players' list. He is big and abrasive enough to play 6 but that would mean a complete shuffle in the loosie trio, wouldn't it? You would need Akira or Sotutu at 8, right? Sotutu has been bloody impressive in the last 2 games. Even runs like Mexted (favorite player as a kid) with the ball.
Savea, Dalton, & Cane - all deserving a start but three no.7s................ -
Sparky's 23 to play Ireland
Moody, ST, Ofa T, Whitelock, Retallick, A.Ioane, Papalii, A. Savea, Smith, B.Barrett, Clarke, J.Barrett, R. Ioane, Reece, Jordan
Bench: Coles or Taylor, Hodgman, Laulala, S Barrett, Cane or Sotutu, Fakatava, Gatland, Tupaea
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@sparky said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Sparky's 23 to play Ireland
Moody, ST, Ofa T, Whitelock, Retallick, A.Ioane, Papalii, A. Savea, Smith, B.Barrett, Clarke, J.Barrett, R. Ioane, Reece, Jordan
Bench: Coles or Taylor, Hodgman, Laulala, S Barrett, Cane or Sotutu, Fakatava, Gatland, Tupaea
Am I missing something, why is Gatland on your bench? God help us if he even makes the All Blacks. Also, is Fakatava eligible?
I'd like to see De Groot somewhere near that 23, he's been a beast this year for the Highlanders.
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@FakatavaFuture said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@sparky if Ireland are touring here how about we run out Hewett, Hammett, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Razor, Marshall, Merts, Ralph, Mauger, Ennor, Lomu & Rangi ?
No love for Mark Robinson aye ?
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@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
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@ACT-Crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
I think we had both a fitness and skill advantage that we do not have now though.
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@gt12 said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@ACT-Crusader said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@Tim said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
@booboo We need to stop chasing games, and make better starts. Last year we were too often well down when the reserves came on. Best players to start, especially if they are front-rowers who have more power in the clean and when carrying.
I don’t think there is necessarily anything wrong with chasing games given the ebbs and flow of a test match. We did so quite a few times under Henry and Hansen with great effect using our bench.
I think we had both a fitness and skill advantage that we do not have now though.
But that was developed over time, with results going for and against us. I think we are in that phase of building squad depth across all positions which isn’t an easy thing.
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@Asterik6 said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Coles and Samoni are more effective than Taylor at test level. Offer a lot more physicality and are superior defensively. I'd even have Aumua/Makalio ahead of Taylor.
On current form, the two best hookers are ST and Eklund. However, I don't see the latter earning a call in the squad.
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@sparky said in How many Crusaders in your AB 23?:
Sparky's 23 to play Ireland
Moody, ST, Ofa T, Whitelock, Retallick, A.Ioane, Papalii, A. Savea, Smith, B.Barrett, Clarke, J.Barrett, R. Ioane, Reece, Jordan
Bench: Coles or Taylor, Hodgman, Laulala, S Barrett, Cane or Sotutu, Fakatava, Gatland, Tupaea
There's no way that a fit Cane does not start. You do know he's Captain, aye?
If nothing else it means picking a new captain. From a squad where the only choices are themselves at the point where they might be dropped soon.
If Foster really wanted to destroy team morale, then dropping Cane would do it. I don't like Foster's coaching, but even he's not that mental.
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Moody
Whitelock
Reece
Jordan
Newell (bench)
Taylor (bench)
Mounga (bench)
Havili (bench)Flip a coin with Beaudy and Mounga and in reality there will always be injuries so others will come into it (Scott Barrett, Blackadder etc).
To me Blackadder either starts or he isn't in the 23. There is no answer at 6 right now so i'm sure Blackadder will get his chance but as there is no answer i'd like to see them try Papali'i at 6, Cane at 7 (though given the rate both get injured i'm sure others will be needed).
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So who do we have in the forwards who are good at jackling to produce turnovers? Cane and Savea are good, and Papalii is quite good. Taukei'aho and Taylor are quite good. Ioane is good at strips and holding players up. Blackadder? Sotutu is generally good over the ball, but has been less so this year. Any others?
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1. J Moody 16. E De Groot
2 . C Taylor 17. S Taukei'aho
3. O Tu'ungafasi 18. T Lomax
4. T Vaii 19. J Lord
5. B Retallick 20. D Papalli
6. E Blackadder
7. S Cane
8. A Savea
9. A Smith 21. F Christie
10. B Barrett 22. R Mo'unga
11. C Clarke 23. L Fainga'anuku
12. J Barrett
13. R Ioane
14. S Reece
15. W Jordan7 saders
Not sure when whitelock comes back?
