QF - Lions v Crusaders

G-Man

Lions news
 
Warren Whitely could make a return and will have to pass a late Thursday fitness test.
 
The 25 man squad for the QF
 
Dylan Smith, CornÃ© Fourie, Julian Redelinghuys, Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der Merwe, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Lourens Erasmus, Warren Whiteley, Ruan Ackermann, Warwick Tecklenbrug, Jaco Kriel, Cyle Brink, Faf de Klerk, Ross CronjÃ©, Elton Jantjies, Jaco van der Walt, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Ruan Combrinck, Andries Coetzee, Sylvian Mahuza, Howard Mnisi, Lionel Mapoe
 
Crusaders news
 
So far I saw that Nadolo and Ellis is out for this game. Anyone can confirm?

Chris B.

Nadolo is definitely out - as far as I know, Ellis is on the plane and rated 70/30 to play.
 
Joe Moody is definitely out. From another thread
 
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Crusaders 25 man travelling squad:</div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">FORWARDS:</div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Wyatt Crockett, Alex Hodgman, Mike Alaalatoa, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Ben Funnell, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Kieran Read Â©.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">BACKS:</div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Andy Ellis, Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Richie Moâ€™unga, David Havilli, Kieron Fonotia, Jone Macilai, Johnny McNicholl, Ben Volavola, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Jack Goodhue.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a class="bbc_url" href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/ellis-and-whitelock-included-in-crusaders-squad-take-lions" title="External link">https://www.tvnz.co....quad-take-lions</a></div>

G-Man

Craig Joubert to officiate.

Stargazer

antipodean

Hard to tell with this fixture. Lions have been playing some very good football and are clearly the best South African team running around. Ellis coming back in is a big plus, but with Nadolo out, what are they going to do on attack?
 
Think the lions should have this.

hurricane

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="598539" data-time="1469086581">Hard to tell with this fixture. Lions have been playing some very good football and are clearly the best South African team running around. Ellis coming back in is a big plus, but with Nadolo out, what are they going to do on attack? Think the lions should have this.</blockquote> I think I posted in another thread, but yes the Lions should win. Plus I have Joubert also down as a bit of a hometown ref.

booboo

Really? 
That's a good looking Saders forward pack. 
I'm picking Saders. 
So go out and put the house on the Lions ...

Stargazer

Lions
 
1 Dylon Smith 2 Malcolm Marx 3 Julian Redelinghuys 4 Andries Ferreira 5 Franco Mostert 6 Jaco Kriel 7 Warwick Tecklenburg 8 Warren Whiteley Â© / Ruan Ackermann 
9 Faf De Klerk 10 Elton Jantjies 11 Courtnal Skosan 12 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg 13 Lionel Mapoe 14 Ruan Combrinck 15 Andries Coetzee
 
Replacements: 
16 Armand Van Der Merwe 17 Corne Fourie 18 Jacques Van Rooyen 19 Ruan Ackermann / Lourens Erasmus 20 Cyle Brink 21 Ross Cronje 22 Howard Mnisi 23 Jaco Van Der Walt / Sylvian Mahuza
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.facebook.com/lionsrugbyunion/photos/a.158198030912132.39349.151843218214280/1111571422241450/?type=3&theater'>https://www.facebook.com/lionsrugbyunion/photos/a.158198030912132.39349.151843218214280/1111571422241450/?type=3&theater</a>

G-Man

Warren has passed the fitness test and will captain the Lions side.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="AntonM" data-cid="598611" data-time="1469102670">
Warren has passed the fitness test and will captain the Lions side.</blockquote>
 
Few things worse as a flanker than not having full confidence in a shoulder.

G-Man

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="598613" data-time="1469103065">
<div>
Few things worse as a flanker than not having full confidence in a shoulder.
</div>
</blockquote>
Well if he was not 100% he would've not played.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="AntonM" data-cid="598616" data-time="1469105793">
Well if he was not 100% he would've not played.</blockquote>
Never played huh? 
A fitness test proves you can play with the discomfort. If he was 100 he wouldn't need a fitness test. 
He's back two weeks early. He'll be battling. 
But that's what Voltaren/Cortisone + Adrenaline is for I suppose.

G-Man

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="598619" data-time="1469107637">Never played huh? 
A fitness test proves you can play with the discomfort. If he was 100 he wouldn't need a fitness test. 
He's back two weeks early. He'll be battling. 
But that's what Voltaren/Cortisone + Adrenaline is for I suppose.</blockquote>
He is isn't called Captain Fantastic for nothing. 
Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="598561" data-time="1469089032">
<div>
I think I posted in another thread, but yes the Lions should win. Plus I have Joubert also down as a bit of a hometown ref.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
On the other hand, history is somewhat against the Lions. We've only lost to them (Lions/Cats) once since 2001 (in 2007 during the Henry's R&R programme) and I think the tally over that period is about 14-1 to us.
 
Definitely the hardest assignment of the NZ teams, but far from a foregone conclusion. I've got it in the too hard to call basket depending on whether the Crusaders who played the Rebels or the ones who played the Canes turn up.

No Quarter

The Saders are a great chance. In fact I think this comp is still wide open. Highlanders play the best patterns of any team so will be tough to beat, but there's no team that is clearly above the rest. The Canes came out on top due more to a bit of luck then anything else. Home town advantage makes them only slight favourites. Going to be a facinating weekends rugby.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="598742" data-time="1469160345">
<div>
The Saders are a great chance. In fact I think this comp is still wide open. Highlanders play the best patterns of any team so will be tough to beat, but there's no team that is clearly above the rest. The Canes came out on top due more to a bit of luck then anything else. Home town advantage makes them only slight favourites. Going to be a facinating weekends rugby.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I certainly think we can win this one. I don't really think we can travel back to NZ and beat both the Hurricanes and Highlanders on consecutive weekends, which looks the most likely scenario. The Chiefs have the same problem in reverse.
 
Only reasonable path for those two teams is for the Sharks to tip up the Canes - and then Crusaders and Chiefs to travel back from SA to play one another - and then presumably the Highlanders in the final.
 
In any case the Chiefs have the wood on us and the Highlanders have the wood on them (and probably us), so Toddy and Rennie would both need to solve those riddles.

broughie

I am hoping the Saders win. Without Nadolo though I am not sure and the pack is not as strong through injury. Have to give home field advantage as the decider.

taniwharugby

saders by 8 (23-15 type score)

No Quarter

Lions 32 - 35 Crusaders.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="598747" data-time="1469161300">
<div>
I am hoping the Saders win. Without Nadolo though I am not sure and the pack is not as strong through injury. Have to give home field advantage as the decider.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I'm not too worried about the starting pack - we're really only missing Moody. Biggest problem is the bench - we've really got nothing fearsome, in fact it's a little bit shit. I presume we've got both Barrett and Tupou on the bench, because we haven't got a dispensation for Jed Brown - no real seven cover, but we will manage! :)
 
Nadolo missing is pretty huge - watching the highlights of the round robin game on the breakdown the other night, seemed like he set up several tries. On the other hand, we coped OK when he was binned for three weeks earlier in the season - and if we get through this one hopefully he and Moody will be well rested for whomever.
 
Interestingly if you flick back to the team we used in the round robin vs the Lions, we started with Moody, Whitelock and Taufua on the bench and got away with it.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php/topic/41873-lions-v-crusaders/'>http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php/topic/41873-lions-v-crusaders/</a>

The Silver Fern

QF - Lions v Crusaders