Crusaders vs Hurricanes: MATCH THREAD: Sat 25th July

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:15 am

WHEN:
Saturday 25th July

KICK OFF:
Auckland - 7.05pm
Sydney – 5.05pm

WHERE:
Christchurch, NZ

VENUE:
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Referee 2: Mike Fraser

TEAMS:

Will Jordan
Sevu Reece
Fetuli Paea
Jack Goodhue
George Bridge
Richie Mo’unga
Bryn Hall
Whetukamokamo Douglas
Tom Christie
Tom Sanders
Mitchell Dunshea
Samuel Whitelock
Michael Alaalatoa
Codie Taylor (captain)
Joe Moody

Reserves:
Andrew Makalio
George Bower
Oliver Jager
Quinten Strange
Sione Havili
Mitchell Drummond
Brett Cameron
Leicester Fainga’anuku.

Jordie Barrett
Wes Goosen
Peter Umaga-Jensen
Ngani Laumape
Ben Lam
Jackson Garden-Bachop
TJ Perenara (captain)

Ardie Savea
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Reed Prinsep
Scott Scrafton
James Blackwell
Tyrel Lomax
Asafo Aumua
Fraser Armstrong

Reserves:

Ricky Riccitelli
Tevita Mafileo
Alex Fidow
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Vaea Fifita
Jamie Booth
Vince Aso
Chase Tiatia.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:19 am

I know we say it every week, but this is a massive game in the context of this tournament. The Hurricane have to win to keep their titles hopes alive, and the Crusaders also have to win if they want to keep some points distance between themselves and the chasing teams.

The Hurricanes are arguably the form team in the competition right now, and they deserve to go into this fixture with plenty of confidence. If they play to their best then they are every chance of winning.

Kiwias · Post by **Kiwias** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:39 am

This is another superb match up, with the Canes running high on confidence after beating the Blues.

JB1981 · Post by **JB1981** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:41 am

It’s another ‘game of the season’.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:43 am

Kiwias wrote:This is another superb match up, with the Canes running high on confidence after beating the Blues.

This will be a very even match. The Hurricanes have the superior backrow. The tight fives are even. The Hurricanes boast arguably the most dangerous midfield in world rugby at this moment. Jordie Barrett is also the form fullback in the comp. The Crusaders may have a small advantage on the wings and on the bench. The Crusaders have the better 10 but in TJP the Hurricanes have the superior halfback. Overall, this match is too close to call.

Flockwitt · Post by **Flockwitt** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:51 am

The TAB doesn't see it quite so close

Crusaders 1.26
Canes 3.60

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:54 am

Flockwitt wrote:The TAB doesn't see it quite so close

Crusaders 1.26
Canes 3.60

At those odds, I might be tempted to place a jdog-esque insurance bet.

Altazuma · Post by **Altazuma** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:11 am

The odds look about right.

The Canes look ok but as long as Goodhue wears the GOATs invisibility cloak and remains offside all day, the Canes backs wont function.

Couch · Post by **Couch** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:42 am

The only way to beat the Crusaders is defence and discipline.

You have to stop them scoring to put pressure on them. Blues did that for 40mins, but the pressure got to them a bit. Canes are on a high, but I sense the refs will be crucial so I expect a card or two will decide the advantage.

Tehui · Post by **Tehui** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:54 am

JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.

Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:10 pm

Tehui wrote:
JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.
Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.

The Hurricanes have an excellent recent record against the Crusaders. No Crusaders fan will ever forget the arse whipping you gave us in 2016 in CHCH to secure 1st place in the NZ conference. You made us your playthings at the breakdown. It was Vaea Fifita's best ever game - and he was playing lock lol.

jdogscoop · Post by **jdogscoop** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:19 pm

X-factor game busters are required to beat the Crusaders. You need to score so many points that when they mount their inevitable charge you can hang on by the skin of your teeth. That means making nearly all of your tackles and matching them up front.

Not easy.

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:34 pm

It would be nice to keep the loss to 1-12

Salient · Post by **Salient** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:58 pm

Tehui wrote:
JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.
Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.

AC is in a rinse and recycle stage of posting to be honest.

If the Canes keep this under 10 will be reasonably happy, but can see a blowout happening.

Fat Old Git · Post by **Fat Old Git** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:01 pm

Tehui wrote:
JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.
Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.

I expect us to lose every week and then am filled with joy when we don't.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:30 pm

I can't see any team ending the Crusaders unbeaten home record this year. TAB odds look solid. Weather forecast is clear and sunny too so should be good conditions.

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:27 pm

A positive for the Hurricanes is they have won every match since Jordie returned. The kid hasn’t lost a game.

Unfortunately, there’s about 30 in the Crusaders who can say the same thing.

Ted. · Post by **Ted.** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:37 pm

JPNZ wrote:I can't see any team ending the Crusaders unbeaten home record this year. TAB odds look solid. Weather forecast is clear and sunny too so should be good conditions.

Please make it Sunday afternoon. We'd have a chance then.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:54 pm

Salient wrote:
Tehui wrote:
JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.
Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.
AC is in a rinse and recycle stage of posting to be honest.

If the Canes keep this under 10 will be reasonably happy, but can see a blowout happening.

Hurricanes fans are understandably trying to manage expectations in the lead up to this match. But the reality is that they are arguably the form team in the comp right now. Big matches such as this are invariably won and lost at the breakdown, and the Crusaders backrow simply cannot match the Crusaders loose trio. If you were picking a composite team of players from both squads, the backrow would be 8. Savea, 7. Kirifi and 6. Flanders or Princep.

Ted. · Post by **Ted.** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:33 am

With Havili gone, it looks like we'll see Jordan back in the 15 jersey.

Have a quick recovery, fella.

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:11 am

Ted. wrote:With Havili gone, it looks like we'll see Jordan back in the 15 jersey.

Have a quick recovery, fella.

Yes very bad news for us to have lost David Havili and Ethan Blackadder for the season. We have already lost Scott Barrett and Cullen Grace. This competition really is becoming a war of attrition and I suspect that the team that wins the comp overall will be the tea that can manage injuries best.

jdogscoop · Post by **jdogscoop** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:51 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
Ted. wrote:With Havili gone, it looks like we'll see Jordan back in the 15 jersey.

Have a quick recovery, fella.
Yes very bad news for us to have lost David Havili and Ethan Blackadder for the season. We have already lost Scott Barrett and Cullen Grace. This competition really is becoming a war of attrition and I suspect that the team that wins the comp overall will be the tea that can manage injuries best.

It shouldn't be a surprise. Players and coaches alike have always described the NZ derbies as brutal. This is a tournament of derbies.

Tehui · Post by **Tehui** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 4:51 am

Ali's Choice wrote:
Salient wrote:
Tehui wrote:
JB1981 wrote:It’s another ‘game of the season’.
Makes one wonder how many seasons we're having when that cliche gets used every week.

Does anybody seriously expect the Crusaders to lose? Come on man.
AC is in a rinse and recycle stage of posting to be honest.

If the Canes keep this under 10 will be reasonably happy, but can see a blowout happening.
Hurricanes fans are understandably trying to manage expectations in the lead up to this match. But the reality is that they are arguably the form team in the comp right now. Big matches such as this are invariably won and lost at the breakdown, and the Crusaders backrow simply cannot match the Crusaders loose trio. If you were picking a composite team of players from both squads, the backrow would be 8. Savea, 7. Kirifi and 6. Flanders or Princep.

You should consider being a boxing promoter, as you remind me of Kevin Barry with all those hollow promises. We all know the Crusaders tight five will grind the Hurricanes down to the ground, and the entire Crusaders team will make optimal use of that advantage.

Altazuma · Post by **Altazuma** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:03 am

This would be a really interesting handicap match if JGB and RM played for the other team for this one.

Ted. · Post by **Ted.** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:15 am

Altazuma wrote:This would be a really interesting handicap match if JGB and RM played for the other team for this one.

Oh that's bloody cruel to remind us the the probably that JGB is likely to be preferred at 10. Why doesn't the coach get a calf or a lamb, or something, eh?

Ali's Choice · Post by **Ali's Choice** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:27 am

Altazuma wrote:This would be a really interesting handicap match if JGB and RM played for the other team for this one.

I think this is the key match up for the Crusaders. If both 10's play at their best, Mo'unga should be too classy and experienced.

As an aside, David Havili's injury must mean that a specialist 10 comes into the Crusaders 23? Fergus Burke or Brett Cameron?

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:20 am

Taranaki Snapper · Post by **Taranaki Snapper** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:03 am

Couch · Post by **Couch** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:46 am

If there were ever a banana peel game for the Crusaders it will be this one.

I can hear sweat trickling down every red neck from Nelson to Lyttelton.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:37 pm

Flockwitt wrote:The TAB doesn't see it quite so close

Crusaders 1.26
Canes 3.60

Money is piling in on the Champs

Crusaders $1.20
Hurricanes $4.10

After the Crusaders 14 point win in Wellington in Round 2, the TAB have the line at 11.5 point headstart to the Hurricanes.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:31 am

Hurricanes coach Jason Holland insists there’s nothing sinister behind the axing of wing Kobus van Wyk to face the Crusaders, in the same week as he announced his departure to Leicester.

Van Wyk’s omission - after scoring seven tries in seven matches for his new side - and All Blacks hooker Dane Coles’ absence with a back injury were the talking points of Holland’s side to play in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Coles was rated 85 per cent after picking up the back niggle in the 29-27 win over the Blues, and with the in-form Asafo Aumua on hand it means he reclaims the No 2 jersey.

Hurricanes:
Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara (captain), Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Tevita Mafileo, Alex Fidow, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Vaea Fifita, Jamie Booth, Vince Aso, Chase Tiatia.

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:32 am

Crusaders:

Will Jordan
Sevu Reece
Fetuli Paea
Jack Goodhue
George Bridge
Richie Mo’unga
Bryn Hall
Whetukamokamo Douglas
Tom Christie
Tom Sanders
Mitchell Dunshea
Samuel Whitelock
Michael Alaalatoa
Codie Taylor (captain)
Joe Moody

Reserves: Andrew Makalio, George Bower, Oliver Jager, Quinten Strange, Sione Havili, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Leicester Fainga’anuku.

jdogscoop · Post by **jdogscoop** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:36 am

Great to see Brett Cameron get a chance to prove his mettle at this level, having been named in the reserves for the Crusaders.

jdogscoop · Post by **jdogscoop** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:40 am

Couch wrote:If there were ever a banana peel game for the Crusaders it will be this one.

I can hear sweat trickling down every red neck from Nelson to Lyttelton.

What are you saying?

GI_Joint · Post by **GI_Joint** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:49 am

Crusaders are in their own tier, we will go down by 12.

mrbrownstone · Post by **mrbrownstone** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:55 am

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

Tussock · Post by **Tussock** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:09 am

mrbrownstone wrote: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

Yeah, big loss... thankfully Goodhue adds some experience. Don't know a lot about Paea... anyone want to enlighten me about form (from Mitre 10) or player in general?

JPNZ · Post by **JPNZ** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:29 am

Tussock wrote:
mrbrownstone wrote: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
Yeah, big loss... thankfully Goodhue adds some experience. Don't know a lot about Paea... anyone want to enlighten me about form (from Mitre 10) or player in general?

From the Crusaders page

Fetuli Paea offers plenty of versatility to the Crusaders backline, with his ability to cover a number of positions from the midfield out.

A Tonga Sevens and 15s representative, Paea is an explosive ball carrier who joined the Tasman Mako in 2019 and helped the side through an unbeaten season to claim their inaugural Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title.

In October 2019, Paea was awarded Club Player of the Year for his season with the Waitohi club, at the Tasman Rugby Union awards.

And from today's article on the team

Paea, a Tongan sevens and 15s representative, debuted off the bench against the Highlanders in Dunedin earlier this month, and came on late against the Blues a fortnight ago.

The 25-year-old Tasman utility’s promotion to start at centre is one of two changes Robertson has made to his starting side, the other being competition leading try-scorer (five) Will Jordan replacing Havili at fullback.

Robertson, and captain Codie Taylor, have no doubt Paea will be up to the task against the formidable Hurricanes' midfield pairing of Ngani Laumape and Peter Umaga-Jensen a week after they feasted on the Blues. ’’He's worked really hard behind the scenes. He's someone not a lot of people know about, but he's actually a bloody talented rugby player,’’ Taylor said.

“He really wants to learn and that's what he has done this whole season before Covid, and even this competition now. He's made a big impact when he's been on the field. I'm just excited to see him rip in.’’

In Havili’s absence, wings Sevu Reece and George Bridge will provide midfield cover, while the 4-0 Crusaders will carry a specialist first five-eighth – Brett Cameron – on the bench for the first time in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Wilderbeast · Post by **Wilderbeast** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:17 am

Why is Goodhue still at 12?

And why is a player injury like Havili making me angry because his replacement is better?

Roadman · Post by **Roadman** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:34 am

Altazuma wrote:The odds look about right.

The Canes look ok but as long as Goodhue wears the GOATs invisibility cloak and remains offside all day, the Canes backs wont function.

Spot on comment. Goodhue is our best midfielder along with ALB. Ennor is a lose. This is the contest that will decide a large part of the game. Goodhue quietly goes about his game managing the Crusaders midfield. He has been doing it all season being the glue that allows the outside backs around him to run riot. Top decision by Razor to move that experience in to 12 to allow Ennor to develop. Opposing is Laumape who does nothing all year then in his last game has a blinder with ball in hand. If Laumape wants to be seriously in contention for an AB Jersey for more than just running over people then he needs to show it in this game against Goodhue. In the previous clash Goodhue closed him down fullstop.