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Why the Crusaders will take ‘real confidence’ into decisive Waratahs clash
Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina believes the Crusaders should take “real confidence” into their upcoming clash with the NSW Waratahs as the defending champions look to claim what would be their second win of the season.
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The Crusaders snapped their historic losing streak in round five against the Chiefs in Christchurch, and after a bye week, have named a menacing lineup which includes the return of All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder.
Blackadder, 29, who hasn’t played since New Zealand’s big win over Uruguay at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, is set for his first minutes of the Super Rugby Pacific season after being named to start at blindside flanker.
Coach Rob Penney has also named Noah Hotham to start at scrumhalf after the 2023 New Zealand U20s captain’s sensational performance last time out against the Chiefs. Hotham was especially impressive during the first quarter of that fixture.
But, as former All Black Mils Muliaina discussed this week, the news isn’t so good for the NSW Waratahs who have lost world-class prop Angus Bell for the season. The Wallaby has re-injured his big-toe ligament.
“Angus Bell, he’s a huge loss,” Muliaina said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up. “Not only is he a great and fantastic scrummanger but around the park he’s also very dominant in that space.
“Considering what’s coming off the bench for the Crusaders, he’ll be sorely missed.
“I like the fact that Noah Hotham gets another chance. You’ll obviously remember before the bye they beat the Chiefs (and) Noah was on the bench and he had to come in at the very last minute for (Mitchell) Drummond who fell ill that day.
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“(Hotham) had an integral part in that win. He played an integral part in the win against the Chiefs to get them back.
“I think the boost from Ethan Blackadder, the muscle that he’s going to bring particularly off the back of that victory, he’s going to be a big part. Having those guys come back… I think the Crusaders can go into this with real confidence.”
With the likes of Scott Barrett, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond and Tamaiti Williams still unavailable, openside flanker Tom Christie has retained the captaincy. Christie joins Blackadder and Cullen Grace in a lethal backrow trio.
Try-scoring machines Sevu Reece and Johnny McNicholl will line up on each wing with All Black Dallas McLeod and marquee recruit Levi Aumua in the midfield.
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Aumua, who made the move from Moana Pasifika to the Crusaders, hasn’t quite reached the heights that many expected of him in the famous red and black jersey as two-time World Cup winner Tim Horan discussed.
“When you look at the side Mils it’s a cracking Crusaders side,” Tim Horan added. “We’ve got Sevu Reece there, (Dallas) McLeod, Cullen Grace and I just think that Ethan Blackadder’s back in.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
30
36
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
60%
“The big matchup I’m looking forward to is Levi Aumua in the centre up against Izzy Perese. That defensively for Izzy Perese is going to be a really big challenge for him.
“Levi Aumua, he was chased by three or four different clubs. He was keen to go back to the Queensland Reds where he went to school for his last two years in Brisbane, and the Crusaders picked him up.
“He’s got to start delivering for this team. He’s got to start to really try and carry them across the advantage line to give them a platform.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments