Crusaders 2024
-
@Chris Canes probably wouldn’t go for him already having Barrett and Higgins as 12 options, the latter in my view ironically I mentioned as being the best club player I had seen in Wellington for a long time a few years back.
The Canes also have young hot shot Jack O’Brien coming through who will likely start at centre for the NZ Under 20s this year.
-
@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2024:
The Canes also have young hot shot Jack O’Brien coming through who will likely start at centre for the NZ Under 20s this year.
There is plenty of depth in the midfield and two players from last year's squad available again (Tuivailala and Taele). I think Bell will be there as well as Josh Whaanga. We may see a centre end up on the wing. O'Brien is no certainty to make the squad.
-
@Bovidae O’Brien is quite versatile so can play on the wing aswell if need be. I remember him scoring 32 points on debut for Marist St Pats Prems two years ago. He’s a Hurricanes training squad member so he should be in there but I think he might be injured atm so he might not.
-
Bloody Canes supporters. They win a couple of games at the wrong end of the season and they polute every thread with their chat.
-
Since he's going north at the end of this comp, I wouldn't give him any time at all.
-
@antipodean Will they get any more out of him than they do with Hohepa currently?
-
@antipodean said in Crusaders 2024:
Since he's going north at the end of this comp, I wouldn't give him any time at all.
Yeah I sort of agree with that,I would put more effort in to developing Reihana and see if Hohepa can step up any further as a 3rd option for 2025.
-
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
-
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
-
-
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
-
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown.
-
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown?
No idea about convincing Goodman.
Razor has a long relationship with Holland same with McDonald I guess he trusts them and see something others do not,Holland may turn out to be a great assistant coach but like many don't step up well to HC.
He did try to get Brown on board but as well all know he decided to stay loyal to Joseph and Japan . -
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown?
No idea about convincing Goodman.
Razor has a long relationship with Holland same with McDonald I guess he trusts them and see something others do not,Holland may turn out to be a great assistant coach but like many don't step up well to HC.Goodman is now coaching Ireland's attack and I fear we'll be worse for it.
-
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown?
No idea about convincing Goodman.
Razor has a long relationship with Holland same with McDonald I guess he trusts them and see something others do not,Holland may turn out to be a great assistant coach but like many don't step up well to HC.He did try to get Brown on board but as well all know he decided to stay loyal to Joseph and Japan .
@Chris That was 2019, what about last year when Brown was a free agent?
Razor had given his word to Holland etc when the change was going to be made in SA.
Razor would not go back on his word. -
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown?
No idea about convincing Goodman.
Razor has a long relationship with Holland same with McDonald I guess he trusts them and see something others do not,Holland may turn out to be a great assistant coach but like many don't step up well to HC.He did try to get Brown on board but as well all know he decided to stay loyal to Joseph and Japan .
@Chris That was 2019, what about last year when Brown was a free agent?
Razor had given his word to Holland etc when the change was going to be made in SA.
Razor would not go back on his word.final question for you mate, who do you think will replace Ellison as an All Black assistant coach when Taimati inevitably takes the Crusaders top job ahead of the 2026 season?
-
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:
Difference of how they should play go wide at high tempo or a more restrained game reliant on set piece and drive up the middle before going wide.
Coaches on different wave lengths.
Some coaches saying they don't have the players for one sort of game other coaches saying the same about the other alternative.
Players a bit confused.Is this argument still happening? Based on Penney's comments just after halftime I guess he was in the high tempo camp?
It worked against the Chiefs but the squad really does seem better suited to playing a tighter game. There's no quality issues in the pack
I think they could adjust the back three for a more of a kick chase game too. McLeod for whatever reason struggle on defence in the midfield.. however he got into the AB squad basically as a tidy winger who chased kicks hard. McLeod & Reece on the wings with McNicholl at fullback
Yeah I could see that working Hopeha at First five is a handbrake as well,No threat to the defence at all.
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@ruggabee said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris why did Goodman not stay given he would've got the HC job last year, was it about more about money or does he see himself as an assistant coach and wanted to further his development and try to become a world-class backs coach overseas?
More about development than money I would think he is not really money orientated.
Did Razor make any effort to convince him to join the All Black coaching ticket last year? I can't get my head around why Razor rates a guy like Jason Holland over other coaches like Goodman or Tony Brown?
No idea about convincing Goodman.
Razor has a long relationship with Holland same with McDonald I guess he trusts them and see something others do not,Holland may turn out to be a great assistant coach but like many don't step up well to HC.He did try to get Brown on board but as well all know he decided to stay loyal to Joseph and Japan .
@Chris That was 2019, what about last year when Brown was a free agent?
Razor had given his word to Holland etc when the change was going to be made in SA.
Razor would not go back on his word.final question for you mate, who do you think will replace Ellison as an All Black assistant coach when Taimati inevitably takes the Crusaders top job ahead of the 2026 season?
It will be a role running the defence.
I don’t really know to be honest.
That job is there to be earned by someone over the next 18 months. -
Just saw this.
13 weeks early.
Best wishes to Tamaiti, partner Alice and especially little (very little) baby Kaea.
'Our little princess': All Black's touching social media post after daughter born 13 weeks early
'We have a long road ahead,' the rugby star says in a heartfelt post.
