Planet Rugby Forum

mrbrownstone

In a slight blow for an already under strength loose forward stocks I see news today that Billy Harmon has signed for the Highlanders. Tom Christie looks the goods going forward but it’s hard loosing players in areas we don’t have much depth. No great loss. Harmon is a journeyman. Hopefully we have...

mrbrownstone

I don't think it needs to be a full B team, but there's room for a bit of rotation. I'd select something like: 15. Jordan 14. Mataele 13. Ennor 12. Goodhue 11. Faiinganuku 10. Mo'unga 9. Enari 8. Douglas (c) 7. Christie 6. Sanders 5. Strange 4. Romano 3. Alaalatoa 2. Makalio 1. Bower 16. Taylor 17. ...

mrbrownstone

How good is Richie Mo'unga? Was involved in just about every momentum-changing play all season. Such a pleasure to watch.

Imaging if he was given a proper chance to adjust to international rugby before last year, instead of being throw in the deep end months out from the world cup.

mrbrownstone

I think AC mentioned it earlier but I would have no qualms if Robertson sent a C team up to battle the blues. I mean it’s a nothing game really. Disagree. And Cantabs would not be forgetting as Razor is that at provincial level the Orc’s have been kicking ur asses. Time to set that correct, ...if u...

mrbrownstone

Strong Crusaders team. I can't see us losing back to back games at home, but stranger things have happened. It's a shame in some ways, as this competition deserves a last week decider (though I won't be complaining if we wrap it up tomorrow

)

mrbrownstone

From what I've heard, that's a great signing for the Blues. Darry sounds like a real talent.

Can't really blame him knowing he's stuck behind Whitelock, Barrett, Dunshea, Strange, Romano, and potentially Grace in the current pecking order.

mrbrownstone

Looking at that Blues team, if I was in charge of their recruitment, I'd be heavily targeting Folau Fakatava and Ricky Riccitelli. Hooker and halfback are the glaring weaknesses in that squad. Fakatava looks like a future 50+ test All Black, but is stuck behind the incumbent All Black halfback and w...

mrbrownstone

Here's my elaborate fantasy: Chiefs win, Landers win and Canes, Blues and Crusaders all have a chance in the final round...is that mathematically possible? Meanwhile, here's an allegorical Crusaders' fan, 36 hours from now... https://c-ssl.duitang.com/uploads/item/201609/12/20160912232539_AF8Bw.thu...

mrbrownstone

Don't worry about positions on the ladder or losing streaks, playing the Chiefs away missing 6 first choice players, including half our starting pack, will be a tough contest. If we're being brutally honest, outside of Taylor and Whitelock that's a journeyman pack. I certainly can't remember the Cr...

mrbrownstone

Don't worry about positions on the ladder or losing streaks, playing the Chiefs away missing 6 first choice players, including half our starting pack, will be a tough contest. If we're being brutally honest, outside of Taylor and Whitelock that's a journeyman pack. I certainly can't remember the Cru...

mrbrownstone

Ennor is a big loss, and leaves us very light in the midfield. Paea will have his hands full, sure Laumape will aim a few runs in his direction. Hope he goes well

mrbrownstone

Loosehead is a real concern - it's a shame Atu Moli is injured again. Do we look at recalling Karl T and hoping he can rediscover 2018 form? Maybe Hodgman is worth a shot? He's performed well for a dominant Canterbury scrum ITM Cup level for a long time, and the Blues set piece has looked good this ...

mrbrownstone

He's as physically gifted as they come. As mentioned, set piece needs a little refining, but I don't think he's far off.

I just hope he's more Ardie Savea than Akira Ioane, and able to transfer his physical dominance at U20s and ITM Cup level to test rugby.

mrbrownstone

I still think the bigger selection mistake was dropping Faiane. He seems to be the glue that holds that backline together, and allows Ioane, Clarke, Telea et al to shine.

mrbrownstone

Does anyone have an update on Ethan Blackadder? His availability will obviously impact the make-up of the Crusaders backrow. I am hopeful that Sione Havili will emerge as a SR class backrower in a year or two, but his late inclusion at blindisde on Saturday clearly impacted the balance of the team....

mrbrownstone

It sounds silly given we're 2-0 so far, but this is a crucial game in terms of how the season pans out. Win, and we'll go top of the table, keeping pace with the in-form Blues. However, a loss would be huge. A rested, pace-setting Blues side would the have the opportunity to establish a nearly insur...

mrbrownstone

Nice to have Makalio and Strange back in the mix

I hope Blackadder can grab this opportunity with Grace expected to be out the rest of the SR season. He was favourite to claim the jersey pre-season, after all.

mrbrownstone

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Billy Harmon, Cullen Grace, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Whitelock, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor (captain), Joe Moody. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Oliver Jager,...

mrbrownstone

If you picked a proper rugby tight-five for a game with no scrums or lineouts, and probably watered down ruck and maul laws, then it would be one way traffic. It's no coincidence that most league converts end up in the centres/flanks/back-three. Thorn being the notable exception. SBW, Burgess, Te'o ...

mrbrownstone

Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Wes Goosen, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara (cc), Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Vaea Fifita, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles (cc), Fraser Armstrong, Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ben May, Alex Fidow, Scott Scrafton, G...

mrbrownstone

Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Wes Goosen, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara (cc), Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Vaea Fifita, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles (cc), Fraser Armstrong, Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ben May, Alex Fidow, Scott Scrafton, Ga...

mrbrownstone

Crusaders named: 1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor (C) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Samuel Whitelock 5. Mitchell Dunshea 6. Cullen Grace 7. Billy Harmon 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas (VC) 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. George Bridge 12. Jack Goodhue 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan RESERVES: ...

mrbrownstone

If Otere Black keeps playing like he did last week, does anyone else think that he's got to come into the discussion for the AB's? He's got a solid all-round game, and he kicks very well both from hand and off the tee. At 25 years of age he's served a long apprenticeship as a pro, having been in th...

mrbrownstone

Robertson is expected to have a full strength squad to choose from before the Crusaders meet the Hurricanes in Wellington next Sunday. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300034440/exall-black-david-havili-puts-surgery-drama-behind-him-to-hit-form-for-crusaders Makes for a few interesti...

mrbrownstone

Brett Cameron wasn’t out of depth at super rugby level though was he? Not for the crusaders anyway. F**k oath he is out of his depth. I seem to remember him being and considered something of a hot new talent before going to the blues and turning out to be a bit shit without a good team around him? ...

mrbrownstone

Fox Sports and Rugby Australia have signed off on a revised broadcast deal for this year, paving the way for a revamped domestic competition to kick off on July 3 - five weeks behind the NRL. It comes as Fox Sports announced it would also show the New Zealand competition in its entirety, which kick...

mrbrownstone

Will be a little sickening to see DC in a Blues jersey, although will be great to see him back.

10. Carter
15. Barrett

Would be quite interesting, although I suspect

10. Barrett
22. Carter

Is more likely.

mrbrownstone

Breaking news Nehe Milner Skudder has signed a two year deal with the highlanders. And he will play in the upcoming NZ tournament. Not sure if that's a good or a bad signing? He peaked very early back in 2015 and really never hit the same level again. Once he lost his agility he was a spent force. ...

mrbrownstone

Yup. I didn't think it was a penalty at the time but I definitely didn't feel bad about finally winning either. I managed to rationalise it somehow. That one was a bit like the Joubert one in that, while it was incorrect, the correct call would still have meant the benefiting team had a chance to w...

mrbrownstone

Nolanator wrote:
Floppykid wrote:2011 RWC final, the whole match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U

I love that clip, mate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FQkwYfqDnU

mrbrownstone

Craig Joubert, 2014 Super Rugby Final. Crusaders captain Richie McCaw has revealed that the 2014 Super Rugby Final referee Craig Joubert has apologised to coach Todd Blackadder for mistakes made in the final. McCaw told Radio Sport that South African Joubert has rung Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder ...

mrbrownstone

Liam Messam, 43 caps.

Nothing against the guy, but he was only ever a stopgap who became first choice when Kaino was in Japan and the cupboard was a bit bare at 6.

mrbrownstone

Good way to make some quick & probably much-needed cash.

Obviously not a decider 4 years on, by my count 9 of the ABs match-day 23 would no longer be available, plus the coach.

Lions could conceivably field a similar side barring Warburton, but a few probably wouldn't be selected these days.

mrbrownstone

How many other wingers made it past 30? Really stands out that CJ is one of the oldest at just 31.

mrbrownstone

Goes without saying surely. Hard to think of many current candidates. SBW has left but he generated plenty of deserved and undeserved spite from various quarters. Maro is not well liked with the squealing and clapping but I think he’s toned that down of late, and seems like the kind of player who n...

mrbrownstone

Bring back Probables vs Possibles trials. Maybe in combination with a Maori ABs vs NZ Barbarians XV.

I wonder if bringing the NPC forward is feasible given plenty of the semi-pro players not involved in SR would have jobs & none of the squads have been training together.

mrbrownstone

Mike A, Digby, Samu, Frost and now Roach. Will the Saders ever stop poaching from Australia and actually produce some of their own local talent? This is a farce. You forgot Aussie-born Ben Franks, international first-five Ben Volavola, Waratahs legend Nemani Nadolo, and Australian international rep...

mrbrownstone

No one will be watching these matches on TV either. There's very little interest in Australia right now and I doubt anyone apart from the hardcore cricket fans would even know it's on. The only reason I know these matches have been scheduled is this thread! I've seen far more promotion for The Test...

mrbrownstone

Zakar wrote:Will the Crusaders ever stop poaching Aussie talent? Just saw they named Hugh Roach to the bench versus the Sunwolves.

Just watch, he'll be the next Angus Ta'avao. World class within 2 seasons, guaranteed.

mrbrownstone

As said, don't know why they don't just cancel it. There's already little interest in Australia with the strange scheduling & paywall for these games. The Black Caps will lose badly, probably 3-0, as usual in Australia. Call the thing off and we'll retain the Chappell Hadlee as current holders. It's...

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