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Fresh face at flyhalf as Crusaders prepare to begin title defence in Hamilton
The Crusaders have named debutant Rivez Reihana at flyhalf as the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions prepare to officially get their new era without Richie Mo’unga underway.
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With seven-time Super Rugby Mo’unga leaving New Zealand’s shores to pursue an opportunity in Japan, there were some questions that remained unanswered about the Crusaders.
Well, until now. New coach Rob Penney has named exciting prospect Rivez Reihana to start in the No. 10 jersey for his Crusaders debut on Friday against his old side the Chiefs.
Reihana, 23, is one of two debutants in the Crusaders’ starting side with marquee recruit Levi Aumua also named to run on in the No. 13 jersey.
While the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season opener has been deemed a ‘grand final rematch’ by many, coach Penney isn’t buying into that talk.
“The Chiefs are touting it as a bit of a grudge match, a rematch of the final – we’re not going there with that mentality,” coach Penney said in a statement.
“This is a new season, a new group, and it’s an opportunity for this team to test themselves and see where they’re at, and there’s no better way to do that than Hamilton on a Friday night Round One.”
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George Bower, George Bell and Tamaiti Williams have got the nod in the front row while captain Scott Barrett joins Northern Tour skipper Quinten Strange in the second row.
The loose forwards combination of Dom Gardiner, Tom Christie and Cullen Grace is sure to turn a few heads too, with all three men poised for a big year ahead in the red jersey.
Joining Crusaders debutant Reihana in the halves is veteran Mitchell Drummond. The pair will have attacking weapons Dallas McLeod and Levi Aumua at their disposal in the midfield.
Rounding out the starting side is rising star Macca Springer on the left wing, All Black Sevu Reece on the right, and Chay Fihaki out the back.
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There is of course no Will Jordan in this team with the All Blacks outside back set to miss the entire season after requiring surgery for a pre-existing shoulder injury.
Capped All Blacks Joe Moody, Owen Franks and Ryan Crotty will all look to provide cover off the bench, as will young halfback Noah Hotham.
The match between the Crusaders and Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato will get underway at 7.05pm NZT on Friday night.
Crusaders team to take on Chiefs
- George Bower
- George Bell
- Tamaiti Williams
- Scott Barrett (c)
- Quinten Strange
- Dom Gardiner
- Tom Christie
- Cullen Grace
- Mitchell Drummond
- Rivez Reihana*
- Macca Springer
- Dallas McLeod
- Levi Aumua*
- Sevu Reece
- Chay Fihaki
Reserves
- Quinten MacDonald
- Joe Moody
- Owen Franks
- Jamie Hannah
- Christin Lio-Willie
- Noah Hotham
- Taha Kemara
- Ryan Crotty
* denotes debut
Comments on RugbyPass
Big 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.
2 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
2 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 …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
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