Crusaders 2016 and 2017
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<p>I think some of the "under-achieve" calls might be because at the end of that run where they played a bunch of overseas teams, they looked like the best team in the comp. They were brutally direct, being directed well by their halves, the big unit on the wing was a hyped threat, and Dagg was keen as fuck to be an All Black again. And then early in a derby game they looked really good (highlanders?) before being run over.</p>
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<p>I would say their position in the NZ conference was probably as expected, but their overall points haul, and playing a final was above what most would have expected at the start of Feb (before it became clear the overseas teams were fucking rubbish)</p> -
Yeah that is probably more accurate , next year will be interesting with a blues squad in the mix that is seemingly on the improve under Tana .
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<p>These were the TAB odds in Feb:</p>
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<div>1 Chiefs $6.50</div>
<div>2 Hurricanes $7.00</div>
<div>3 Highlanders $7.00</div>
<div>4 Crusaders $8.00</div>
<div>5 Waratahs $8.50</div>
<div>6 Brumbies $8.50</div>
<div>7 Stormers $11.00</div>
<div>8 Sharks $13.00</div>
<div>9 Jaguares $13.00</div>
<div>10 Bulls $18.00</div>
<div>11 Blues $26.00</div>
<div>12 Reds $41.00</div>
<div>13 Lions $31.00</div>
<div>14 Rebels $61.00</div>
<div>15 Force $101.00</div>
<div>16 Cheetahs $101.00</div>
<div>17 Kings $151.00</div>
<div>18 Sunwolves $501.00</div>
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<div>So yeah about as expected. Lions at $31!</div> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="600555" data-time="1469579081">
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<p>At the risk of being called out for "Crusader bashing"...</p>
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<p>They were certainly better then the majority of overseas opposition, which is where they picked up enough points to make the 8, but were quite comfortably the 4th best team in NZ as the results bear out. I'm not sure that is "better then I expected", <strong>probably more "a bit worse then what I expected given the strength of their pack"</strong>.</p>
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<p>I don't agree with you, mostly because of that last phrase. It's a 15 man game and you don't win games and competitions just by having a great pack. The expectations were moderately low at the beginning of the season because the Crusaders lost all their playmakers, in addition to already having a failing backline in the previous years and the team starting with Dagg, Crotty and Fruean all out injured from the beginning of the season.</p>
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<p>I think most people were surprised they did well, and when Dagg and Crotty came back firing (and before Nadolo's suspension), they smashed the Brumbies in Canberra and suddenly some people started thinking they could go all the way. Then Nadolo got suspended and Blackadder had a brain fart by starting Havili and putting Crotty on the bench against the Highlanders, and the backline fell apart again. That was the main reason they were smashed by the Highlanders. Then the June break happened and their momentum was gone (and Blackadder didn't stop having brain farts, such as starting Macilai against the Chiefs in Fiji instead of McNicholl, who was not injured).</p>
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<p>If Robertson wants to win a Super Rugby title, a better game plan, better selections and rebuilding a good backline should be his main focus. Mo'unga has huge potential but needs experience around him. I see his situation not different to that of West at the Blues. The Blues have signed some awesome and experienced players in the backs (with Pulu, SBW in addition to Ranger and Moala). The Crusaders should do that, too. At the moment, the only big names in the backs are Crotty and Dagg. They need more (and I'm not convinced Digby Ioane should be one of them) to guide the young talent they have in Mo'unga, and whoever else they sign from NZU20s, their academy and elsewhere.</p>
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<p>Edit: with Robertson himself a forward, I hope he will get a good assistant to coach the backs. Not sure who are in the frame ...</p> -
<p>Wait, the main reason they got smashed by the Highlanders was because Havili was starting? What happened to it being a 15 man game?</p>
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<p>So in summary: Blackadder had a shit game plan and shit selections, followed by a series of brain farts.</p>
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<p>It's pretty subjective so I'm happy to agree to disagree. :)</p> -
<p>Our midfield against the Landers got torn apart. Poor positioning and tackling. As good as Todd and Taufua are, even they couldn't cover for the missed tackles happening in that 12-13 channel. To me that was where the game was won and lost.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="600783" data-time="1469659668">
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<p>Maybe they should sign Jarryd Hayne.</p>
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<p>Throwing lots of money at a man who's never played 15s? Not knowing whether he'll convert into an SBW or a Benji Marshall? Yeah right.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="600784" data-time="1469659902">
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<p>Throwing lots of money at a man who's never played 15s? Not knowing whether he'll convert into an SBW or a Benji Marshall? Yeah right.</p>
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<p>Let's sign him on the cheap! :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="600783" data-time="1469659668">
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<p>Maybe they should sign Jarryd Hayne.</p>
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<p>"It's always been my dream to play 1/4 of a season with the Crusaders".</p> -
<p>If he crosses the chalk I hope he pulls out the "Caterpillar" again.</p>
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<p>Looks like the Crusaders are going to continue along the same lines as before, wouldn't know a good back if it bit them on the arse.</p>
<p>I cant see an aging ex wallaby that been playing touch footy for the last 5 years is going to fix our back line.</p>
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<p>Would rather they get some young raw talent and build for the future, will not mind a couple of years building strenght if we could see some potential.</p>
<p>Not like the last eight seasons where we got progressivly worse and they still did squat about it.</p>
<p>Thank gods we at least have Dagg and Crotty.</p>
<p>Mo'unga is showing plenty of promise and he is young so hopefully a long term answer, more signings like this please</p> -
<p>Underwhelmed.</p>
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<p>We had AB-ineligible and very average Volavola this season, now we have AB-ineligible and 31 year old Digby Ioane, who I think made no waves at all during his time at Stade Francais.</p>
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<p>Wing is a young man's game...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="crusadersfan" data-cid="600926" data-time="1469680067">
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<p>Looks like the Crusaders are going to continue along the same lines as before, wouldn't know a good back if it bit them on the arse.</p>
<p>I cant see an aging ex wallaby that been playing touch footy for the last 5 years is going to fix our back line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Would rather they get some young raw talent and build for the future, will not mind a couple of years building strenght if we could see some potential.</p>
<p>Not like the last eight seasons where we got progressivly worse and they still did squat about it.</p>
<p>Thank gods we at least have Dagg and Crotty.</p>
<p>Mo'unga is showing plenty of promise and he is young so hopefully a long term answer, more signings like this please</p>
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<p>He left the Reds after the 2013 season, so it's not 5 years.</p>
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<p>There's a bit of young talent coming through in the backs... Barrett and Goodhue both seem like good long term options. Nice to have a short term option whilst those 2 develop</p>
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<p>And he comes from Japan with a recommendation from Robbie. That's good enough for me.</p>
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<p>Will certainly be a step up from Fonotia if he ends up at 13. He was playing well there at the Reds before he left and was picked by many to be a future wallaby in that position.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="600932" data-time="1469680659">
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<p>Underwhelmed.</p>
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<p>We had AB-ineligible and very average Volavola this season, now we have AB-ineligible and 31 year old Digby Ioane, who I think made no waves at all during his time at Stade Francais.</p>
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<p><strong>Wing is a young man's game...</strong></p>
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<p>Cory Jane hasn't been that bad ...</p> -
<p>Cory Jane is, and always has been, a far superior player to Ioane though.</p>
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<p>I was never taken with Digby to the extent some were. I saw a lot of metres run, but not many of those were forwards, there was a lot of crab stuff. Couldn't catch a high ball either. </p>
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<p>Now that he is less dynamic on his feet, he better have developed some of his other footy skills or this is going to be an underwhelming signing. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="600935" data-time="1469680828">
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<p>Cory Jane hasn't been that bad ...</p>
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<p>Exception does not the prove the rule.</p>
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<p>I see Sammy C mentioned him as a step up from Fonatia. That is damning with the faintest of praise. But I would be happy if he turns out to be a viable 13 option.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="600938" data-time="1469681024">
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<p><strong>Cory Jane is, and always has been, a far superior player to Ioane though</strong>.</p>
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<p>I was never taken with Digby to the extent some were. I saw a lot of metres run, but not many of those were forwards, there was a lot of crab stuff. Couldn't catch a high ball either. </p>
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<p>Now that he is less dynamic on his feet, he better have developed some of his other footy skills or this is going to be an underwhelming signing. </p>
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<p>I should have worded it differently. I only meant to say that being over 30 doesn't necessarily mean he can't play well as a winger (or midfielder).</p>
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<p>I didn't mean to compare the two players (other than with respect to age), because they're entirely different players (also physically).</p>
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<p>What I find a much bigger "problem" than his age is that Ioane been out of SH rugby/Super Rugby for some years now, and players don't tend to get better when they're playing in Europe or Japan. But Nadolo proved it can be done, so I will give Ioane the benefit of the doubt.</p>
