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Crusaders sign Highlanders loose forward to replace outgoing Pablo Matera
While the Crusaders won’t have Argentinian international Pablo Matera on their books for next season, the Super Rugby Pacific champions have quickly swooped to replace the outgoing Puma by bringing in a loose forward from their closest rivals.
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Otago and Highlanders utility forward Christian Lio-Willie will head north for the next two seasons and is capable of stepping into both the No 6 and No 8 jerseys.
Lio-Willie made his debut for the southerners earlier this season, earning one start and one appearance off the bench before succumbing to an ankle injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the Highlanders’ campaign.
Although Lio-Willie’s time at the Highlanders was brief, the 23-year-old made a big impact on the park and his performances would have likely cemented a spot in the run-on side for the remainder of the year, had he remained injury-free.
“Razor [Robertson] gave me a call and was interested,” Lio-Willie told Stuff this week regarding the move. “I just thought I’d been down there for six years, I felt I needed a bit of a change of scenery. I’ve been interested in their culture and what they’ve got going on at the Crusaders, and hopefully I can add my own unique flavour to it.
“For me, really it was just trying to be better as a player, try and put myself in a different environment. When the opportunity came up, especially with Pablo off, I’m just hoping to replace that sort of role.”
In Shannon Frizell, Billy Harmon and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u the Highlanders boast one of the best first-choice loose forward combinations in the competition and Lio-Willie would have found himself competing with the likes of James Lentjes and Sean Withy for opportunities last season.
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It’s a similar story at the Crusaders, however, with Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie and Cullen Grace likely to be the starting trio for 2023.
One way or another, Lio-Willie wasn’t going to be guaranteed a spot in the match-day 23 – let alone the starting line-up, but has evidently decided that the Crusaders will prove the best pathway to bettering his game and potentially higher honours.
“While tracking Christian through the 2021 NPC and 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, he has impressed with his ability on both sides of the ball – showing physicality on defence, winning collisions at the breakdown and powerful ball carries on attack,” said the Crusaders’ official release regarding the new signing.
Lio-Willie is aiming to make a return to the field early in the NPC season with Otago.
RugbyPass understands that Tasman halfback Noah Hotham – who has been a member of the Highlanders Under 20s side – has also signed with the Crusaders as a replacement for the departing Bryn Hall.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments