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Crusaders name star-studded side to play Hurricanes
Looking to maintain some momentum heading into the playoffs, the Crusaders have named a star-studded side to play the Hurricanes in their final match of the regular season.
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The Crusaders started their season with some uncharacteristically poor performances, including a loss to the Fijian Drua. But the title holders have turned their season around in a big way.
Currently second on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, the Crusaders could even secure a spot in the top two with a losing bonus point on Saturday – not that they’ll be thinking that, though.
Coach Scott Robertson has named an impressive line-up full of world-class talent, including veteran All Blacks Codie Taylor and Sam Whitelock in the forwards.
Whitelock will officially end his decorated rugby career in New Zealand year’s World Cup in France, with the veteran second-rower signing a deal with Top 14 club Pau.
Reflecting on his career at Super Rugby level in the famous red and black strip, Whitelock described his time as a Crusaders as a “very humbling” experience.
“When I first arrived here in rugby park in ’07, talking to some of the senior guys they said, ‘Look it’s going to go so quick, you’ll blind and you’ll be halfway through your career,’ and it’s exactly true,” Whitelock said.
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“It means the world. It’s something I never thought I’d ever achieve.
“I never thought I’d play one first-class game. Never thought I’d play for Canterbury or any of those things so to still be here now after all these years is very humbling.”
Tamaiti Williams starts at loosehead prop this week, and will pack down in the front row alongside Codie Taylor and veteran John Afoa.
Quinten Strange will combine with Whitelock in the second row, while captain Scott Barrett gets a start at blindside flanker.
Tom Christie gets the nod at openside, while Christian Lio-Willie will line up in the No. 8 jersey.
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All Blacks Mitchell Drummond and Richie Mo’unga will link up in the halves again this week, and look to provide quality ball to an exciting backline.
Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor will start in the midfield, while All Blacks Leicester Fainga’anuku and Will Jordan have been named in the outside backs.
Dallas McLeod is the final player in the run-on side, with the rising star set to start on the right wing.
But the Crusaders have named a potential debutant on the bench, with former Christchurch Boys High and Tasman Mako halfback Louie Chapman being named on the bench.
“He’s trained for a couple of years, he’s been awesome, an awesome pro,” coach Scott Robertson said in a statement.
“It’s a good story. He could have gone to MLR (Major League Rugby), he could have gone to another competition, but he wanted to be a Super Rugby player, he wanted to be a Crusader.
“He’s a local boy, this is his opportunity and he’s ready.”
The highly anticipated New Zealand blockbuster between the Crusaders and Hurricanes is set to get underway at 7.05pm at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Saturday.
Crusaders team to take on Hurricanes
- Tamaiti Williams
- Codie Taylor
- John Afoa
- Quinten Strange
- Sam Whitelock
- Scott Barrett (c)
- Tom Christie
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Mitchell Drummond
- Richie Mo’unga
- Leicester Fainga’anuku
- Jack Goodhue (vc)
- Braydon Ennor
- Dallas McLeod
- Will Jordan
Replacements:
- Brodie McAlister
- Kershawl Sykes-Martin
- Reuben O’Neill
- Zach Gallagher
- Sione Havili Talitui
- Louie Chapman
- Fergus Burke
- Chay Fihaki
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments