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Crusaders (NZ) Rugby Team Thread.

The Crusaders Rugby Football Team

  • I begrudgingly respect their success

    Votes: 7 23.3%
  • I do not

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • I hate them

    Votes: 6 20.0%
  • We all hate them

    Votes: 7 23.3%
  • I welcome their tumble into mediocrity

    Votes: 4 13.3%
  • I prefer that Auckland team, you know, "The Auckland Blues"

    Votes: 2 6.7%
  • The disintegration of the Cantabs empire gives me a stiffy so big it blots out the motherfucking sun

    Votes: 9 30.0%
  • They had a good run but enough is enough

    Votes: 6 20.0%
  • Commentator Tony Johnstone having to witness their decline + Blues ascension = Major Stiffy Time

    Votes: 8 26.7%
  • I like pole

    Votes: 5 16.7%

  • Total voters
    30

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
Naa mate he a rugby man, he doesn't come back just to win comps! But as I say just a whisper, and more about he be back next year.
 

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
If he want's to come back "for the pointy end" someone at the Crusaders is going to need to win something though. Unless he just want's to be in a friendly timezone to watch the finals.
 

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
^ he's committed to Pau for their season which means early June if they don't make the finals (currently mid-table I've read) or late June if they do. So would struggle to get back in time & as he wasn't on the books in March I doubt he'd be eligible for Crusadets selection anyways.
 

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
Would need an injury etc to be allowed in squad anyway, but I thin the idea of him coming back for this year was just a hopeful thing, even if Pau didn't make finals and finished in May.
 

Dismal Pillock

Michael Lynagh (62)
crustable.png
 

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
^ nice scoop from the Onehunga Oracle, it's long been my go-to for quality rugby journalism...

Can realistically only see two wins from last six games, Clan away & Moana at home. Reds at home I'd rate as a 25% chance but even with a heap of players* due to return from injury next week & the week after I can't see them beating any of the currently second-, third- or fourth-ranked Blues at home, Brumbies away or Rebels at home. It's so depressing I haven't even bothered to do the exercise of seeing if Moana and/ or Clan can be overtaken to avoid the wooden spoon :(

* one being Williams who I doubt will be wanting to leave his newborn in a Dunners incubator any time soon.
 

zer0

John Thornett (49)
How many minutes has Ethan Blackadder played over the last few seasons? He'll be 30 at the start of next season and barely seems to play. Surely you'd have to start wondering about the value for money and, perhaps more importantly, the opportunity cost of continually selecting him ahead of other loose forwards? For e.g., they possibly could've got Vaiolini Ekuasi when he wanted out of the Blues loose forward logjam.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
He has 39 caps, for an average of 5.5 caps per season. He's five years older than Samipeni Finau but has two less caps.

Not a great run.
 

zer0

John Thornett (49)
Just had a look at some other loosies who debuted in the 2018 season. Both Dalton Papali'i (77 caps) and Luke Jacobson (71) have almost twice as many caps, while Billy Harmon has 51.

EDIT: Some loose forwards who debuted after Blackadder but have more caps:
Du'Plessis Kirifi: 65 caps (2019)
Hoskins Sotutu: 60 caps (2019)
Fraser McReight: 58 (2019)
Cullen Grace: 51 (2021)
Samipeni Finau: 42 caps (2021)
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
He's an impressive outlier. More caps than most of his seniors (Leota, Wilkin, Swinton, Hanigan). Liam Wright is almost more impressive with his 80 matches considering all his injuries.
 

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
^ wait until you see the price tags for the Downtown/ waterfront & Eden Park 2.0 stadium options...

Let's not even mention the one that's actually in the harbour i.e. the playing surface would be below sea level.
 
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