Crusaders 2024
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2024:
Just thinking aloud here, but I wonder if this is a sign that the losses to MLR etc are starting to bite at the next level down.
Maybe there is a shortage of players deemed physically up to Super Rugby. It's all very well wanting to throw in some youngsters but if they are not physically ready it could be counter productive.
Totally disagree,Super Rugby is a faster game now than it was even last season.
And we bring in 36 and 33 year old outside backs.
We have Fihaki,Reece,Springer,Murray,Mataele also McLeod can cover wing all are not injured.
We have Taine Robinson and Blair Murray who have been training with the squad since December playing pre season games.Cooper Roberts a u/20 player has been training with them and Jack Gray another young wing from Ta$man went on the tour to Munster and Bristol.
Really short sighted selections picking these old players who will be to slow for the modern SR game.
Why bring in players with no upside and not bring in youngsters to develop. -
@Chris yeah I don't know, but while the game might be faster the players are still bigger etc.
Not saying the decision was right to sign a player like Arnold, I was just trying to think of why.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris yeah I don't know, but while the game might be faster the players are still bigger etc.
Not saying the decision was right to sign a player like Arnold, I was just trying to think of why.
Yeah but we are not talking about tight five Loose forwards or MF backs where the major collisions are,we are talking about outside backs young guys who can cover the outside gaps and if put in to space have pace to finish something off.
36 and 33 year old backs look like weak points to me.
Most outside backs are really young when they make SR then peak early by the time a outside back is 28 to 30 their time could be done, -
I think it says a lot about how team management are viewing the on field decision making that they want experience out there.
I fear the real root cause is that the team cant get to grips with the new structures and the young guys are struggling with that AND coping with the step up to SR. As noted there are plenty of the last two years pack there but its just not coming together .... and still looks like preseason play.
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@Lancaster-Park said in Crusaders 2024:
Who was Penny against for the job? (cant remember)
It was never open but rumours were similar to this
It’s understood former Canterbury and Waratahs coach Rob Penney is the favourite, although former Fiji and Scotland coach Vern Cotter and Chiefs assistant Ross Filipo remain in the hunt to become the franchise’s new head coach.
The Crusaders are continuing extended talks with all three, having whittled down what was a group of six, which included former All Blacks and Crusaders assistant Brad Mooar.. -
@Lancaster-Park said in Crusaders 2024:
I think it says a lot about how team management are viewing the on field decision making that they want experience out there.
I fear the real root cause is that the team cant get to grips with the new structures and the young guys are struggling with that AND coping with the step up to SR. As noted there are plenty of the last two years pack there but its just not coming together .... and still looks like preseason play.
What structure there is no structure to the attack for one.
Most of this squad are in their 2 nd and 3rd year and have been on the field at times during that time and we were winning.
Last year we had a heap of injuries and never looked this bad.
And that included Whitelock,Goodhue,Blackadder,Havilli,Jordan,Reece,
Grace,McAlister,Ennor,Jager,Bower,Moody all out for extended times during the season and some for the entire season. -
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@Machpants said in Crusaders 2024:
@Lancaster-Park said in Crusaders 2024:
Who was Penny against for the job? (cant remember)
It was never open but rumours were similar to this
It’s understood former Canterbury and Waratahs coach Rob Penney is the favourite, although former Fiji and Scotland coach Vern Cotter and Chiefs assistant Ross Filipo remain in the hunt to become the franchise’s new head coach.
The Crusaders are continuing extended talks with all three, having whittled down what was a group of six, which included former All Blacks and Crusaders assistant Brad Mooar..It was reported that Cotter made himself unavailable. There was a time he was talking to both sides. I presume he would've got the job ahead of Penney.. unless internal Crusaders politics is really screwed up
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@sparky said in Crusaders 2024:
@Tim Now name a backline. The Crusaders golden era is finish. Ding, ding the wicked witch is dead!
Are you 5 years old?
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@Tim said in Crusaders 2024:
Come the playoffs they should be able to put out a good pack, so upsets are possible ...
1 Williams
2 Taylor
3 Newell
4 Barrett
5 Gallagher
6 Blackadder
7 Christie
8 Lio-WillieEven making the playoffs might be a stretch at this rate.
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see my analysis here, probably only takes one upset:
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@Billy-Tell Nope but after years and years and years of cocky Crusaders fans. It's very interesting indeed to observe the current state of things.
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@sparky said in Crusaders 2024:
@Billy-Tell Nope but after years and years and years of cocky Crusaders fans. It's very interesting indeed to observe the current state of things.
Besides basking in the Crusaders looking quite poor, what do you find interesting? Hopefully it's more than just nah, nah nah.
I find it interesting just how much difference a change in coach can make (looking at the Hurricanes and Blues here too). Are we seeing how influential Razor was? Are we seeing a team that was more reliant on the missing key players than many realised? A combination of both?
I suspect it is both. I find it hard to believe a Razor coached team with this year's personal and a Penny coached team with last year's personal would have been this poor.
Hoping from an AB perspective it's the Razor factor.
