Crusaders v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

[SouthernMann]

Really dusty looking Highlanders team named for Friday's fixture. Thing are about to get a whole lot worse.

Ayden Johnstone
Andrew Makalio
Jermaine Ainsley
Paripari Parkinson
Will Tucker
Billy Harmon (C)
Sean Withy
Nikora Broughton
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
Freddie Burns
Connor Garden-Bachop
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
Jonah Lowe
Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma'u, 19. Max Hicks, 20. James Lentjes, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Mitch Hunt, 23. Mosese Dawai

[Duluth]

Not Available due to injury: Fabian Holland (knee) , James Arscott (knee), Fetuli Paea (calf) Vili Koroi (knee) Marty Banks (groin) Jona Nareki (foot) Marino Mikaele Tu’u (ribs) Hugh Renton (foot) Scott Gregory (knee) Jeff Thwaites (back)

[mariner4life]

So i can understand the 9 and 10 getting rissoled.

But what's with half the pack getting the chop?

[canefan]

@mariner4life said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

So i can understand the 9 and 10 getting rissoled.

But what's with half the pack getting the chop?

Keeping the powder dry?

[KiwiMurph]

@mariner4life said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

So i can understand the 9 and 10 getting rissoled.

But what's with half the pack getting the chop?

Highlanders presumably using a likely L to rest ABs De Groot and Frizell rather than rest them in a more winnable week?

[Stargazer]

Highlanders' media release:

Highlanders named for Super Round clash against Crusaders | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

Head Coach Clarke Dermody has made several changes to his starting team for the round 2 Super Round match against the Crusaders in Melbourne on Friday night.

All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Ethan de Groot will have the week off under the All-Black load management programme and are likely available, along with Aaron Smith, for the round three match against the Chiefs.

[Crucial]

Saders by a million.

[Kiwiwomble]

damn...even the team has written this one off...not overly looking forward to going now

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Saders by a million.

most redundant post nomination?

[Crucial]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Saders by a million.

most redundant post nomination?

Just thought I'd get in first.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial only slightly faster than the crusaders first try will be

[KiwiMurph]

I believe this is a Crusaders 'home' game (in other words without the Super Round this one would have been played in Crusaders country).

[Stargazer]

Crusaders media release:

Crusaders Team Named for Super Round v Highlanders

The Crusaders have named the squad that will take on the Highlanders at Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round in Melbourne. The team run out onto AAMI Park on Friday 3 March at 6:00pm AEDT (8:00pm NZDT).

After a starring debut at Orangetheory Stadium last week, Christian Lio-Willie takes a spot in the starting XV, while Cullen Grace undergoes further assessment after sustaining an injury versus the Chiefs.

Nothing about Newell's injury. It was his shoulder, wasn't it?

[Chris]

@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Crusaders media release:

Crusaders Team Named for Super Round v Highlanders

The Crusaders have named the squad that will take on the Highlanders at Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round in Melbourne. The team run out onto AAMI Park on Friday 3 March at 6:00pm AEDT (8:00pm NZDT).

After a starring debut at Orangetheory Stadium last week, Christian Lio-Willie takes a spot in the starting XV, while Cullen Grace undergoes further assessment after sustaining an injury versus the Chiefs.

Nothing about Newell's injury. It was his shoulder, wasn't it?

Knee injury

[Duluth]

It'll be interesting to see how long Tamati Williams lasts. He really struggled in his 30mins last week.

144kgs might be a bit much to carry around in SR this year

[mariner4life]

pretty fucking gutless from the Highlanders to rest their 3 highest profile players on the same weekend.

[Duluth]

@mariner4life said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

pretty fucking gutless from the Highlanders to rest their 3 highest profile players on the same weekend.

I hate the decision. Especially when you consider the following

• Crusaders looked off their game in week one
• Highlanders won the pre-season match between the sides (3 weeks ago)
• Last time they played competition match it was only 17-14 to the Crusaders
• It's just two years ago that the Highlanders won by 21 points in Christchurch

[African Monkey]

@Duluth They really should have won that fixture last year too. They blew chance after chance and turned down plenty of shots at goal.

[KiwiMurph]

Highlanders could be in a deep points difference hole early with Chiefs away in week 3.