Highlanders v Crusaders
-
@Victor-Meldrew said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
JRK has had a good game. Dangerous on attack and some excellent touches on defence.
Looks a very competent player.
-
@Chris said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@darylmitchell said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris Ellison was Crusaders top assistant last year was he not? He was Penney's 2IC.
How has Mooar made such a positive improvement to the group when Razor didn't rate him at all - yet Ellison on the other hand gets such big wraps by Razor?
Maybe Razor is an authoritarian like Eddie Jones & wants to surround himself in Yes men instead of good coaches like MacDonald and Mooar who challenge him?
Not a very good look.
No Dave Perrin is and wa s Pennys 21c
Ellison was further back in the pecking order.Foster got rid of Moar as well
Brad is a bit of a stubborn fella.I think we're all curious to know how Mooar was the recipient of very poor reviews by the All Black's players during his 3 years there yet he's apparently an instrumental figure in Crusaders domination of everyone bar the Chiefs since he returned in 2025.
Did Foster bribe someone to doctor those end of year reviews or something?
-
@darylmitchell said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@darylmitchell said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris Ellison was Crusaders top assistant last year was he not? He was Penney's 2IC.
How has Mooar made such a positive improvement to the group when Razor didn't rate him at all - yet Ellison on the other hand gets such big wraps by Razor?
Maybe Razor is an authoritarian like Eddie Jones & wants to surround himself in Yes men instead of good coaches like MacDonald and Mooar who challenge him?
Not a very good look.
No Dave Perrin is and wa s Pennys 21c
Ellison was further back in the pecking order.Foster got rid of Moar as well
Brad is a bit of a stubborn fella.I think we're all curious to know how Mooar was the recipient of very poor reviews by the All Black's players during his 3 years there yet he's apparently an instrumental figure in Crusaders domination of everyone bar the Chiefs since he returned in 2025.
Did Foster bribe someone to doctor those end of year reviews or something?
Moar has added to the Crusaders improvement but he is not the sole reason just a piece in the puzzle.
A lot of things the Crusaders tweaked and changed from 2025.
The team had a heap of injuries to key players
Taylor only played the last 3 weeks.
Jordan was out the whole of SR.
Williams missed a large chunk of SR with a torn hamstring.
Burke only got back from injury in the last 3 weeks.
Ennor was gone for the season,
Blackadder,Grace Barrett ,Havilli,Brewis ,Bell,,Gardiner,Kemera,Reihana were injured for large periods.
Plus Mounga Whitelock,LF were all gone.
A large chunk of the experienced top end players hardly played or didn’t play.
That was hard to overcome . -
@Chris For a good part of the season you could construct a very strong "Missing XV" from injuries and gone from the previous year - have to play Richie at halfback. Would certainly have given what we were fielding a good drubbing.
Brewis, Taylor, Williams
Barrett, Whitelock
Sione Havili, Blackadder, Dunshea
Mo'unga, Burke
Goodhue, Ennor
Faingaánuku, Nanai, Jordan -
-
@Chris But key thing is the Crusaders are not just converting wins in games that would've been narrow losses last season, they are rolling teams- look at their points differential
I don't think you can solely point to the injuries in 2024, there's obviously been a huge change to their tactics and shape on attack.
Will Jordan was praising Mooar's impact on the group in an article last week.
-
@darylmitchell said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris But key thing is the Crusaders are not just converting wins in games that would've been narrow losses last season, they are rolling teams- look at their points differential
I don't think you can solely point to the injuries in 2024, there's obviously been a huge change to their tactics and shape on attack.
Will Jordan was praising Mooar's impact on the group in an article last week.
No I think it is a combination of a lot of things
Certainly injuries to key players is a major factor in results. -
@george33 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris-B think Blues also had up to 15 missing, but only top 6 , and think they will actually get there looking at the games ahead.,
Far from out of it - but, the Canes beating the Brumbies was a bad result for the Blues.
With a top 6 and the most level playing field in a long time, I don't think there will be any soft play-off games. A couple of away from home upsets wouldn't surprise me.
Overall, it looks to me like it could be the Chiefs year, but "there's many a slip between cup and lip".
-
@Chris-B said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Chris For a good part of the season you could construct a very strong "Missing XV" from injuries and gone from the previous year - have to play Richie at halfback. Would certainly have given what we were fielding a good drubbing.
Brewis, Taylor, Williams
Barrett, Whitelock
Sione Havili, Blackadder, Dunshea
Mo'unga, Burke
Goodhue, Ennor
Faingaánuku, Nanai, JordanThe Canes have had just as many injuries this year and are still in contention so it’s not always just injuries. Every team goes through that.
Interestingly both the Crusaders and Canes really struggled when they had Hohepa at 10 for a long period. I think as long as you have key players in key positions then you can cope.
