Blues v Crusaders
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Sotutu should be back from suspension and maybe Mullan is available. Don't think any of the other long term injuries return.
What about Clarke and Ofa who were originally named last week?Most of selection questions are in the backs. Halfback? Does Perofeta start at 10 or 15? Does Taele start again?
Skimming through the training pictures there could be some hints from training jersey colours which normally indicates the 23
Cook in the 23? So maybe a trio of DP/Sotutu/Christie with Cook on the bench?
Perofeta, Forbes, Taele all in the main team jerseys. Not sure about Plummer and Evans. I'd expect Plummer to be in there unless injured so maybe Evans squeezed out?
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BLUES TO BATTLE PERENNIAL ADVERSARIES AT EDEN PARK — Blues Rugby
Buoyed by an outstanding showing in an excruciating one-point loss to the Chiefs, the Blues return home to host perennial foes, the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday. While the Blues lie in ninth place with one win, the team has shown improved form in recent weeks, highlighted by a quality showing
1. Joshua Fusitu’a (26)
2. Kurt Eklund (65)
3. Angus Ta’avao (71)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu© (114)
5. Josh Beehre (16)
6. Cameron Christie (3)
7. Dalton Papali’i (87)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (68)
9. Sam Nock (76)
10. Stephen Perofeta (69)
11. Caleb Clarke (68)
12. Xavi Taele (1)
13. Rieko Ioane (117)
14. Mark Tele’a (72)
15. Corey Evans (18).16. James Mullan (2)
17. Jordan Lay (23)
18: Marcel Renata (58)
19. Laghlan McWhannell (14)
20. Tristyn Cook (1)
21. Finlay Christie (59)
22. Harry Plummer (80)
23. Cole Forbes (21)
Players not considered with injury: PJ Sheck (shoulder), Zarn Sullivan (foot), Ben Ake (shoulder), Beauden Barrett (hand), Adrian Choat (knee), Taufa Funaki (shoulder), Reon Paul (shoulder), Ricky Riccitelli (chest), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (neck), Anton Segner (concussion), Sam Darry (shoulder, season), AJ Lam (leg)
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@Landers92 said in Blues v Crusaders:
@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:
rumour spreading that maca springer is dropped to the bench
Imagine scoring 5 tries and being dropped for Fihaki…
This is the opportune moment for any CEO/coach of another NZ team to go after Springer. With Lester coming back next year Springer may not even make the 23 so if you offered him a contract now he may just take it. Looking at you Avan Lee/Clark Laidlaw.
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@Canes4life said in Blues v Crusaders:
@Landers92 said in Blues v Crusaders:
@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:
rumour spreading that maca springer is dropped to the bench
Imagine scoring 5 tries and being dropped for Fihaki…
This is the opportune moment for any CEO/coach of another NZ team to go after Springer. With Lester coming back next year Springer may not even make the 23 so if you offered him a contract now he may just take it. Looking at you Avan Lee/Clark Laidlaw.
I don't think anyone is going to be beating down doors for Springer. At best, he'd be a slight upgrade on Jonah Lowe.
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@Bones I saw him play plenty in U20s, both super and for NZ in 2022. He and Bell were the two best players of that crop through those games, especially in a NZ team that went quite badly given some of the talent they had. Bell's had injury problems since obviously, not sure what happened to Springer last couple of years as I don't see Ta$man play and missed last years Super Rugby, but he was an excellent wing/fullback who didn't make many errors at U20 level and a good kicker. Would be very odd if he doesn't get plenty of gametime from here on out as he was excellent last week.
Worth noting despite going to a smaller school in Waimea he was player of the tournament in the Crusaders schools comp in 2020. Fair to suggest given his history at lower levels, he's been more on the AB coaches long term radar than many realise, similar to Bell last year.
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Important game this one for both sides. Blues obviously due to their position on the ladder, and especially for the Crusaders. If they win, then they have a case for being the 2nd best side in the competition behind the Chiefs, if not, then do they get the pretenders tag next to them for the time being?
Tough one to pick. The Crusaders always get up for the Blues no matter the situation, but the Blues are in a desperate situation so early in the comp, so they really need to show something if they want to stay alive in this years comp, and last weeks performance should give them hope that they can pull off a win.
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The Crusader defence has been poor so far this year and I don't see the Blues leaking points like the Reds and the Force. I think the Crusaders are pretenders.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Crusaders:
I think the Crusaders are pretenders
Quite possibly, but confidence (Inc lack of) can do odd things
