Crusaders 2023
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders 2023:
Afoa isn't eligible to play in the finals but will be available against the Hurricanes this weekend.
But the article didn't say why not ie what are the rules that make them both ineligible
Thankfully they both aren't eligible though. As it makes SRP a bit farcical if one team recruits players from other teams (that have finished a competition) just before the finals. What's the difference between bringing in Crotty for eg as opposed to bringing in say Smith if the Highlanders don't make the final's. Crusaders shouldn't be allowed to use their position (having the future AB coach as coach or enough money or whatever) to do this.
And the Crusaders will just have to do what other teams do. Make do with players they have got. And if they are short of prop's tough luck. They have had enough warning to bring in the best NPC props to get them up to speed. Canes often make do with rubbish players. Like our replacement hooker.
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@Winger What a load of cr#p. The Crusaders aren't in a different position from other franchise because Robertson is the future ABs head coach. How do you even make that sh*t up? The rules are the same for every team and you would be in favour of bringing in experienced players from overseas if it was the Hurricanes being faced with all but one contracted prop being ruled out for the season.
Afoa was an emergency signing, not some kind of luxury signing. Other teams aren't in this situation, but if they were, they'd do exactly the same thing. Robertson has explained that they had investigated the availability of suitable props in NZ and there wasn't anyone available. The best NPC props, the next in the queue, are playing overseas. There's one at the Highlanders, and the rest isn't ready for SR level. If you had understood previous posts about this, you'd know it's a great health risks for club level props (which those currently available are, even if they play NPC), to let them play SR level rugby. The difference is too big. It's not just conditioning. It's a lot more than that.
Too bad, you can't complain about players not being ABs eligible anymore aye?
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@Duluth said in Crusaders 2023:
Do you know what the rule is? Was there a certain number of games he had to play to be eligible?
I vaguely remember the Chiefs couldn't use Messam several years ago, because he came back from overseas and hadn't played 3 round robin games before the finals? I think it was something like that.
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So they'll be able to call up a prop from within the NZ system in the finals (if they still have injury problems)
They probably should've done that from the start. Then they'd have someone who has been with them for a while and has already had a cameo
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@Stargazer These are the 2021 rules, but it says
Have been named in the match day 23 on at least one occasion in the current
regular season. If a Player from outside the teams official squad hasn’t been
named in the match day 23 on at least one occasion in the current regular
season, then in order to be eligible to play in the Final they must seek (and
be granted) dispensation from the respective National Union and SANZAR.
Such dispensation will only be granted in exceptional circumstances where,
for example, the ability of the Team to name a match day 23 is compromised
by injuries to otherwise eligible players in that Player’s position and health and
safety considerations.I doubt the Crusaders would have bothered flying in Afoa if they weren't going to be able to use him in the play-offs?
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@Duluth They have done that with Sykes-Martin. Seb Calder is also an Academy player. And now Rueben O'Neill.
There's not that much choice. They've been scraping an empty barrel. Several NZ props that would have otherwise been called upon, are now playing in the MLR.
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@Winger said in Crusaders 2023:
And the Crusaders will just have to do what other teams do. Make do with players they have got. And if they are short of prop's tough luck. They have had enough warning to bring in the best NPC props to get them up to speed. Canes often make do with rubbish players. Like our replacement hooker.
Sour grapes much? How about some praise for the Super Coach's performance in the face of such adversity? How many injuries, a record number for any SR squad ever?
And yet Razor still has the team at 2nd despite having to resort to Chiefs region discards like Dylan Nel & Ruben O'Neill. If he can win the title from this position it will be a revered achievement comparable to the Highlander's scalp of 2015.
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@Stargazer Have you seen Afoa being unavailable anywhere but that Newshub article? If not, I'm not going to treat it as gospel.
With Hotham gone, we probably have to give Chapman a run to ensure he's eligible for the play-offs.
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Blackadder and Jager should be back next week not sure about Heinz.
Gardiner I am not sure about I haven’t heard he is injured.
I think Afoa will be able to play Finals due to having all those injuries Afoa was 4 th choice replacement behind Calder,Skyes -Martin and O’Neill.
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Despite injuries, Crusaders remain on course for 2nd spot ahead of Super Rugby Pacific playoffs
A lesser team than the Christchurch-based Crusaders might have been laid low by the barrage of injuries and other setbacks which have dogged the latter part of the regular season in Super Rugby Pacific. The defending champion Crusaders have lost three All Blacks props to injury during the course...
Havili and Grace both are out for the rest of the Super Rugby season, bringing to nine the number of Crusaders players who will miss the playoffs. At the same time Afoa and Crotty likely won’t be eligible because rules require players to have played in New Zealand by April 1 to qualify for the playoffs.
The Crusaders could apply for dispensation to play Afoa if they do not have a full complement of props.
“There are obligations for us to put a team out that’s safe and players are ready.” Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said. “Essentially the rule is someone who has played in New Zealand before April 1 is eligible to play for finals and John (Afoa) definitely wasn’t that.”
