Crusaders 2023

[African Monkey]

@Duluth Sad but true, and Blake Gibson never came back the same from them. Obviously for Grace's sake I hope he can reach his full potential, but they must be taking a lot out of him.

[SBW1]

Surely they bring in a few more academy guys. Harford surely must be getting a start.

[Chris]

@SBW1

They have some academy members training with them they have all season.

Harford wont start RM will play through now unless he gets injured.Harford has been training with the Crusaders for a few weeks now.

[Chris B.]

Nine gone for the season - Moody, Bower, Brewis, Newell, Bell, Dunshea, Grace, Havili, Reece?

Makings of a good team there!

If everyone was fit, I wouldn't have expected Brewis, Bell or Dunshea to be in the matchday 23s for the play-offs.

[SBW1]

@Chris He will get a start from the bench, is what you are saying? That is a descent outcome. Not expecting miracles from him, we do need to improve our depth at 10.

[Chris]

@SBW1

Not likely if Jordan is back at FB then Burke will be the bench option.

Unless Jordan or Ritchie go down injured.

[SBW1]

The way things are going the depth is already being tested.

[Chris B.]

So our best 23 for the play-offs - currently...???

Williams, Taylor, Jager, Strange, Whitelock, Barrett, Christie, Blackadder
Drummond, Mo'unga, Fainga'anuku, Goodhue, Ennor, McLeod, Jordan

Sykes-Martin, McAlister, Afoa, Havili-Talitui, Lio-Willie
Heinz, Burke, Patafilo

[KiwiMurph]

@Chris-B still a formidable 23.

[Chris]

@Chris-B

I think me might see

Taylor
Williams
Jager
Barrett
Whitelock
Christie
Blackadder
LILO-Willie
Drummond
Mounga
LF
Goodhue
Ennor
McLeod
Jordan

Reserves
McAlister
Sykes-Martin
Afoa
Strange/Gallagher
Havilli
Heinz if fit
Burke
Fihaki

[Chris B.]

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2023:

@Chris-B still a formidable 23.

Far from terrible, but Moody, Newell, Grace, Havili and Reece in the starting XV would be significantly stronger - and the bench would get better as well.

Front row worries me against the top teams.

Test will be if we lose more players, because we're getting stretched in plenty of places.

[Chris B.]

@Chris Yeah - the main question is whether we play the AB 6 at 6.

If we had Grace, I'd be less inclined to - but, there'd still be a temptation to play 6. Barrett; 7. Blackadder. 8. Grace.

[Chris]

Ryan Crotty training with the crusaders today.

[SBW1]

Is he likely to be brought in this week? Last played for Saders and All Blacks in 2019.

[gt12]

@Chris said in Crusaders 2023:

Ryan Crotty training with the crusaders today.

Just won over here, they were excellent.

I couldn’t go the game but my wife is a member of the supporters club.

[Crucial]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2023:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders 2023:

@Chris-B still a formidable 23.

Far from terrible, but Moody, Newell, Grace, Havili and Reece in the starting XV would be significantly stronger - and the bench would get better as well.

Front row worries me against the top teams.

Test will be if we lose more players, because we're getting stretched in plenty of places.

Surely Havili wont be available. That looked a fairly decent hammy pull.

[Chris B.]

@Crucial Can't see it - unless he flies to Fiji for that special leaf treatment that Naholo(?) got.

If it's not as bad as it looked and if Dave is a fast healer he might get back late in the piece if we're still alive.

I guess that's the miracle they're talking of.

[SBW1]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300893160/crusaders-call-on-another-former-all-black-as-injury-crisis-deepens Pretty descent cover, from a Crusader legend 151 games, even has a stand named after him, wonder how that will work in the new stadium.

[SBW1]

[Duluth]

Havili out for two months

No exact date on Grace but he won't play any more SR this year