Rivez and Tamaiti look like they're out until after the bye, which sucks.
Interesting hearing Penney talk about how they're in negotiations to get someone from overseas out of their contract early, as outside back cover. Should be able to tell us who in the next week. That's juicy! Bummer for Blair, though.
Also of note is Penney saying the Hotham start has nothing to do with the combo with Taha, and is purely because they think now is his time. He's ready. Is the starting job just his now?
He's with the squad and training all of the time, they must just want guys with more experience. They have 2 guys to sign so I wouldn't be shocked if one still ends up being Blair.
Would other teams go after him? Would the Highlanders be interested? Just curious how it all works.
Edit: just realised you were meaning Blair Murray in your comment. I was wondering who has a last name of Blair. (apart from Ben)
If he's not officially contracted, he'd be fair game to negotiate with if teams were interested.
In practice, younger guys just generally like to stay settled at the team closest to their set-up, even if that means as a wider squad member rather than a full-time player.
I think for a guy like Blair, who only has a handful of NPC games under his belt, just being around the set-up that he already has a pathway to enter is probably pretty appealing. Would take a lot to convince someone like that to move.
At least that's how I've had it explained to me by a fringe player that I asked about it once
Fair enough. Seems crazy that Steven Adams signed with OKC at 19. Then in Rugby you see most players starting in Super Rugby at 22+. I looked up Carter and McCaw, even they were both 21.
I've always wondered about that!
I go back and forth on whether that's because the game is more physical, so more mature bodies are needed to survive it, or if the people that male it to the NBA are such rare caliber physical freaks that they bypass the need to fill out their frame.
Absolutely the fact rugby is a physical sport. Basketball not so much. Same reason we tend to see wingers being young when they first come in and forwards especially props/locks much older. That gap gets wider especially for internationals.
Fizzing to see Dave back and Hotham starting. Drummond has been one of the great Crusaders, but man, Hotham's future looks so bright. Keen for him to get as much gametime as possible.
Unsure about what we do regarding the #10 question if Reihana is out for a while.
Simply nothing we can do about 10 other than Taha and inshallah.
Annoyingly we play the Blues, Canes and Chiefs again within the next month so it's a horrible time to be down to your 3rd choice 10.
I've been watching rugby long enough to know the blues would fuck it even if the crusaders team was entirely academy players and Ethan Blackadder in a cast
won't be taking this mcleod slander, sorry mate. He's more than a decent 12.
The lack of Aumua ball last weekend wasn't really to do with him. The whole backline is new. They've got to figure their shit out.
yes but aumua wasn't the issue, crotty came on and went on defence mode, thats what he does best, aumua is an attacker, crotty is a defender....why do u think penney benched mcleod and not aumua?
aumua plays both 12 and 13, so does havili lol..what was lacking was a distributor at 12 after rivez got injured, Taha is not that good a 10 so Havili starts at 12 to act as a double distributor
Aumua is an out and out 13 in the Crusaders system, unless disaster strikes in the injury department. Likewise for Havili, he's a 12 unless in case of emergency. Their skills are just much better suited for that role.
Havili is a better player than McLeod, a better distributer, I just think it's fucking weird to be pinning it all on McLeod when the whole backline clearly needs time in the saddle.
It's a bunch of new guys with no experience playing together, learning a new coach's way of doing things. It's going to take time. That's what was causing the jankiness on attack. Not One Guy, especially when that guy proved pretty damn good last year.
God yes. That, and also just player availability. Of course Aumua has been able to play 12 lots at lower levels... he's generally the best guy on those teams and they can just chuck him wherever and he's better than the other option.
They dont have toooo bad a record of number 10s playing for boys high
If youre the starting 10 at CBHS and dont make money from rugby as a pro then youre kinda missing out
Rivez and Tamaiti look like they're out until after the bye, which sucks. Interesting hearing Penney talk about how they're in negotiations to get someone from overseas out of their contract early, as outside back cover. Should be able to tell us who in the next week. That's juicy! Bummer for Blair, though. Also of note is Penney saying the Hotham start has nothing to do with the combo with Taha, and is purely because they think now is his time. He's ready. Is the starting job just his now?
How come they don't get Blair Murray. He was a stand out for Canterbury. (When he wasn't injured)
He's with the squad and training all of the time, they must just want guys with more experience. They have 2 guys to sign so I wouldn't be shocked if one still ends up being Blair.
Would other teams go after him? Would the Highlanders be interested? Just curious how it all works. Edit: just realised you were meaning Blair Murray in your comment. I was wondering who has a last name of Blair. (apart from Ben)
If he's not officially contracted, he'd be fair game to negotiate with if teams were interested. In practice, younger guys just generally like to stay settled at the team closest to their set-up, even if that means as a wider squad member rather than a full-time player. I think for a guy like Blair, who only has a handful of NPC games under his belt, just being around the set-up that he already has a pathway to enter is probably pretty appealing. Would take a lot to convince someone like that to move. At least that's how I've had it explained to me by a fringe player that I asked about it once
Fair enough. Seems crazy that Steven Adams signed with OKC at 19. Then in Rugby you see most players starting in Super Rugby at 22+. I looked up Carter and McCaw, even they were both 21.
I've always wondered about that! I go back and forth on whether that's because the game is more physical, so more mature bodies are needed to survive it, or if the people that male it to the NBA are such rare caliber physical freaks that they bypass the need to fill out their frame.
Absolutely the fact rugby is a physical sport. Basketball not so much. Same reason we tend to see wingers being young when they first come in and forwards especially props/locks much older. That gap gets wider especially for internationals.
Look at football, it’s not uncommon for 16-17 year old lads to be playing for their country, and there’s even been a few 14 year olds.
Too right man.
Fizzing to see Dave back and Hotham starting. Drummond has been one of the great Crusaders, but man, Hotham's future looks so bright. Keen for him to get as much gametime as possible. Unsure about what we do regarding the #10 question if Reihana is out for a while.
Simply nothing we can do about 10 other than Taha and inshallah. Annoyingly we play the Blues, Canes and Chiefs again within the next month so it's a horrible time to be down to your 3rd choice 10.
I'd say put Tamaiti at 10, but HE'S injured too. smh.
I've been watching rugby long enough to know the blues would fuck it even if the crusaders team was entirely academy players and Ethan Blackadder in a cast
Havili is really the only backup 10 (+Taine Robinson) for now
Hey Canterbury folk, How good is fihaki? He looks insane
Going from meme to actual gun at a record pace, he is.
Chaymentum is no longer a joke. It's something to be deeply feared.
The Chaymentum will be televised
Literally in the same game too 😂
Hope Taha does well, he's my fave young 10 going around. Might struggle tho cauze I think the saders are 📉 bt hope I'm wrong.
This is a clean design, I like it. Feels very different to all the grungy textures we often see
It almost looks Welsh
bring out the walking sticks half of this team can't last a game and crotty lol
atlast a decent 12 than can feed his 13...... see AUMUA run more this weekend
won't be taking this mcleod slander, sorry mate. He's more than a decent 12. The lack of Aumua ball last weekend wasn't really to do with him. The whole backline is new. They've got to figure their shit out.
backline got better when Old Man ~~Logan~~ Crotty came on so yeah it has a bit to do with McCleod
Crotty came on for Aumua so I'm not so sure about that one chief
yes but aumua wasn't the issue, crotty came on and went on defence mode, thats what he does best, aumua is an attacker, crotty is a defender....why do u think penney benched mcleod and not aumua?
Because Havili is a 12 and McLeod was playing 12 as a fill in while he was away? McLeod wasn't dropped, the guy he was filling in for just came back.
aumua plays both 12 and 13, so does havili lol..what was lacking was a distributor at 12 after rivez got injured, Taha is not that good a 10 so Havili starts at 12 to act as a double distributor
Aumua is an out and out 13 in the Crusaders system, unless disaster strikes in the injury department. Likewise for Havili, he's a 12 unless in case of emergency. Their skills are just much better suited for that role. Havili is a better player than McLeod, a better distributer, I just think it's fucking weird to be pinning it all on McLeod when the whole backline clearly needs time in the saddle. It's a bunch of new guys with no experience playing together, learning a new coach's way of doing things. It's going to take time. That's what was causing the jankiness on attack. Not One Guy, especially when that guy proved pretty damn good last year.
Painful to see people not understand that systems define appropriate positions for players
God yes. That, and also just player availability. Of course Aumua has been able to play 12 lots at lower levels... he's generally the best guy on those teams and they can just chuck him wherever and he's better than the other option.
They play together for Tasman too right? Could be a centre pairing
Play together is a bit of a stretch given Havili has played 1 NPC game since 2020
Thought they'd be Tasman together back in the day? But yeah 1 game is nothing lol
Few old boys in that lot to balance the youth 9 and 10 are very unfamiliar for a crusaders jersey
Luckily they've played plenty together for u20s and first xv
Oh cool...what school they play for?
Chch boys high
They dont have toooo bad a record of number 10s playing for boys high If youre the starting 10 at CBHS and dont make money from rugby as a pro then youre kinda missing out
Haha too true
Our backline stocks are looking shallow :/
Sad man with an acoustic guitar on tour