Crusaders 2024
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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.
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Robertson's selections are also part of the problem. How did the Crusaders come into this season with their 10's being Burke, Kemara and Reihana? They've had odd selections squad at 10 for years, the obvious example being calling up Hickey.
How can the Crusaders have Cashmore in camp, have a close look at him, then pick Kemara and Reihana over him? It's clear who has the most upside.
Incidentally I think Hohepa has done better than the other two so far. He has better kicking from hand and he isn't afraid to stand flatter. Will Penney keep him in the 23 when everyone is fit?
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@SBW1 said in Crusaders 2024:
Will Penney last the season, remember what happened at the Tahs, surely we aren't going to persevere with him after that many losses?
NZ don't tend to kick coaches to touch mid season. Actually, has any NZ Super coach been sacked mid season?
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@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
Robertson's selections are also part of the problem. How did the Crusaders come into this season with their 10's being Burke, Kemara and Reihana? They've had odd selections squad at 10 for years, the obvious example being calling up Hickey.
How can the Crusaders have Cashmore in camp, have a close look at him, then pick Kemara and Reihana over him? It's clear who has the most upside.
Incidentally I think Hohepa has done better than the other two so far. He has better kicking from hand and he isn't afraid to stand flatter. Will Penney keep him in the 23 when everyone is fit?
Yeah I have wondered about some of the Crusader squad selections over the years but I can sort of get the situation the Saders find themselves in at 10 this season. There has been a dearth at 10 depth in NZ for a while. I think it's a case of the eggs being in the Burke basket and that back fired when he got injured.
I haven't seen a lot of Cashmore, is he really that much better than what the Saders have or he much of a muchness?
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@george33 said in Crusaders 2024:
@Grooter that would be a kick in the guts for the crusaders if that rumour turns out being true
Unfortunately, given NZ's lack of options at 10, a bit of a worry at the national level too. When fit and firing he would only be an injury or two away from getting a run for the ABs.
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I think the other sides are in a better position at 10 though?
Chiefs: McKenzie, Ioane & Trask. Then they call up NPC player of the year Jacomb (another guy the Crusaders could've recruited)
Blues: Perofeta, Cashmore, Plummer, the mythical ability of Sullivan and maybe Barrett
Canes: They've been going well with Cameron, Godrey, Morgan & utility ability from Barrett & Love
Highlanders went for a Welshman but Ajay seem like a good bet for the future. Not sure about Millar
The Chiefs barely gave Reihana game time and I doubt anyone was in a rush to sign Kemara?
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@george33 said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris David Havilli didn't look good maybe out also, why don't the crusaders play McLeod in midfield?, Aumua looks lost to me ,
Yeah Calf strain at least 3 or 4 weeks.
McLeod may get his chance now he did play 2nd five against the chiefs and had a shocker.
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@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
I think the other sides are in a better position at 10 though?
Chiefs: McKenzie, Ioane & Trask. Then they call up NPC player of the year Jacomb (another guy the Crusaders could've recruited)
Blues: Perofeta, Cashmore, Plummer, the mythical ability of Sullivan and maybe Barrett
Canes: They've been going well with Cameron, Godrey, Morgan & utility ability from Barrett & Love
Highlanders went for a Welshman but Ajay seem like a good bet for the future. Not sure about Millar
The Chiefs barely gave Reihana game time and I doubt anyone was in a rush to sign Kemara?
Agree the other teams look better at 10, but realistically what options did the Saders actually have? I don't know how the contracting works and who may have turned the Saders down. Jacomb was uncontracted wasn't he(?) so he might have been a missed opportunity. Who knows he may have said no thanks.
Speaking of players saying no, I have been a bit concerned at the number of players who apparently turned down advances from the Saders the last few years.
