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Crusaders name three debutants for Drua clash in Fiji
The Crusaders have named three debutants on their bench as they look to get their season back on track against the Fijian Drua at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
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Flanker Tahlor Cahill, outside back Jone Rova and first five-eighth Riley Hohepa have all been named on the bench to debut in Fiji.
After starting 0-2 the Crusaders face the daunting task of toppling the Drua at home where they have proven to be a formidable opponent for New Zealand sides.
The Crusaders have kept their forward pack in tact from the 37-24 defeat to the Waratahs as openside Tom Christie prepares for his 50th game for the club.
George Bower, George Bell and Fletcher Newell pack down in the front row while Ioane Moananu, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, and Seb Calder deputise on the bench.
Quinten Strange and Scott Barrett start in the second row with impressive lock Jamie Hannah the bench cover. Dom Gardiner, Christie and Cullen Grace form the back row with debutant Tahlor Cahill named in the No 20 jersey.
There are two changes to the backline with veteran Willi Heinz getting the start at halfback over Noah Hotham, who drops out of the game day squad. Mitchell Drummond has been named on the bench.
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Heinz will partner Taha Kemara in the halves who will start at first five-eighth for the second straight week.
David Havili and Levi Aumua form the midfield once again while Manasa Mataele has been named on the left wing with Macca Springer dropping out of the squad. Sevu Reece has been named on the right with Chay Fihaki at No 15.
Crusaders team to play Fijian Drua:
1. George Bower
2. George Bell
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Scott Barrett
5. Quinten Strange
6. Dom Gardiner
7. Tom Christie
8. Cullen Grace
9. Willi Heinz
10. Taha Kemara
11. Manasa Mataele
12. David Havili
13. Levi Aumua
14. Sevu Reece
15. Chay Fihaki
Reserves
16. Ioane Moananu
17. Kershawl Sykes-Martin
18. Seb Calder
19. Jamie Hannah
20. Tahlor Cahill*
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Jone Rova*
23. Riley Hohepa*
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*debutants
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
35 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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