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Key All Blacks remain absent as Crusaders name team to take on Reds
The Crusaders will once again have to manage without the services of Codie Taylor and Richie Mo’unga when they take on the Reds in Christchurch this weekend.
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Hooker Taylor and first five-eighth Mo’unga both missed last weekend’s comfortable 61-3 victory over the Fijian Drua due to injury and will now sit out a second week on the trot – but coach Scott Robertson has revealed that the two All Blacks are likely to be back on deck for next weekend’s quarter-final.
Mo’unga’s absence has once again been filled by Fergus Burke, who was one of the star performers in the big win over the Drua, while Brodie McAlister, who hasn’t featured since the Crusaders’ Round 2 clash with the Highlanders, will make a welcome return from injury in the No 2 jersey in place of Ricky Jackson.
McAlister will be joined in the front row by George Bower and Oli Jager while the experienced duo of Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock will partner up in the locks.
Ethan Blackadder is the sole loose forward survivor from last weekend but shifts from number 8 to the openside flank. Pablo Matera will play at blindside flanker while Cullen Grace will wear the No 8 jersey.
Bryn Hall gets his fifth start in a row at halfback and will partner Burke while David Havili comes into the side in place of Jack Goodhue, who will miss this weekend’s match.
In the outside backs, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece retain their spots on the wing, with Will Jordan resuming his usual spot at fullback ahead of Chay Fihaki.
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Jackson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Zach Gallager and Tom Christie have been named as the forward reserves for the match while Mitchell Drummond, Fihaki and George Bridge will cover the backs.
All in all, Robertson has made nine positional changes to the side that ran out against the Drua last weekend.
“Richie’s had a finger injury that we felt like another week would be the best for it – just like Codie,” Robertson said of his injured All Blacks. “Just make sure they rest up and get as much recovery time as possible.
“We had a discussion. If he was required, he could play. Ferg was pretty awesome the week before … It speaks for [Mo’unga’s importance] and his injury to make sure we give him an extra week.
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“[Taylor] could have played this weekend as well. That was a relief when the medical said he could play but Brodie McAlister’s back – he’s come back from a long-term injury. It’s timely for us. He’s a hell of a player.”
While the Crusaders have locked up a home quarter-final, they need a victory against the Reds to guarantee themselves hosting rights for a semi-final, should they progress to that stage of the competition. As such, all focus remains on this Friday’s fixture.
“Looks like we’ll have a good occasion on Friday night and a good crowd coming in,” Robertson said. “Full respect, last time we played them they were a team that pushed us – just their style, the way they played. When they’re on, they’re good. They’ve got enough game-breakers so full respect in our preparations this week.”
Friday’s match is set to kick off at the later time of 7:35pm NZT.
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Fergus Burke, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Oli Jager, Brodie McAlister, George Bower. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Zach Gallagher, Tom Christie, Mitchell Drummond, Chay Fihaki, George Bridge.
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments