Crusaders (NZ) Rugby Team Thread.

[waiopehu oldboy]

Relates to certain events in 2003-04 culminating in Merts missing some games after sustaining an injury - got "kicked by his toddler whilst being put into their car seat", as I recall. Also lead to him being benched for the '04 GF. Caused quite a stir in Cantabland at the time & there were definitely pro-Deans & pro-Merts camps that haven't really altered their POVs over the intervening years.

 

[zer0]

Wayne Smith, Todd Blackadder, and Justin Marshall are the first three inductees.

Hours after he was named performance coach of the Black Ferns and All Blacks, he joined Todd Blackadder and Justin Marshall in the Crusaders’ Hall of Fame.

They were the first players inducted into the newly launched initiative at a sold-out charity lunch in Christchurch on Friday, one attended by Crusaders greats such as Reuben Thorne, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

That trio is almost certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with time, but in the meantime it was Smith, Blackadder and Marshall who got the nod by the selection committee, which includes Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, lock Sam Whitelock and former loose forward Sam Broomhall.

Marshall seems a bit out of place to me, but there we go.

EDIT: Out of place as a first inductee, not in a Crusaders HoF.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

CruSadists have reportedly narrowed the field to replace Razor down to Rob Penney, Vern Cotter & Ross Filipo with a decision due within weeks rather than months.

Reads like Penney has the inside running.

 

[zer0]

Penney is a blast from the past. Was rediculous that he was first overlooked for Blackadder at the Crusaders (lol) and then for Kirwan at the Blues (lmao u fkn wot m8).

That being said, if Vern Cotter is looking for a job in NZ and doesn't get one then that would be absolutely farcical. Still hoping he's in the running for the Blues role. They already have the Schmidt link, so makes sense.

Or so I tell myself.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He won seven from 29 with the Waratahs. Now he’s the Crusaders coach

Rob Penney left the Waratahs with a win rate below 25 per cent just two years ago but has been unveiled as the successor to Scott Robertson at Super Rugby’s most successful club.

www.smh.com.au

Talk about failing up. The dream

 

[eastman]

Penney was a scapegoat for the worst Waratahs team in history. Coleman certainly isn’t the savior.

 

[PhilClinton]

Penney's Japanese team were also relegated under his tenure and I'm pretty sure he was sacked by them.

Not exactly the glowing resume I would associate with a Super Rugby heavyweight franchise.

 

[qwerty51]

Penney’s roster wasn’t that different to what Coleman inherited. The blame is entirely on him. It might be a tough gig for an outsider but that’s still on him.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

The gist of this thread is that the Cantabs have ignored results and picked another old grunt from the local old boys network.

A Todd Blackadder 2.0 tenure?

 

[Dan54]

I would like him to get Blues, too good of a coach to be in wilderness.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Confirmation today that current ACs Tamati Ellison (who appears to being groomed as a future (next?) HC), Dan Perrin & James Marshall will keep their jobs under Penney & that Matt Todd will officially join the coaching team.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Emergency Convening of
The Hooded Order of Phlegmatic Cantabs

Agenda: Expulsion of the following individual: Quentin Strange.

Crime: Spitting the dummy and having a giant sook when his team is already up 64-0 in a rugby football match.

Verdict:

GUILTY​

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

What can a Phlegmatic Mako say other than that Brother Quinton has always been a little strange. But we love him nevertheless.

 

[cyclopath]

Razor Robertson uses extra virgin olive oil to control his unruly hair...
Discuss.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

CruSadists will prepare for their Super Rugby title defence with matches v Munster on 3/02/24 & Bristol on 9/02/24.

Crusaders book 2024 Europe tour before Super Rugby Pacific defence

The champions will travel to Ireland and England to face Munster and Bristol in February.

www.newshub.co.nz

 

[Dan54]

This is one of reasons the Crusaders are always near top of super rugby I think. Innovation etc, a preseason tour up north? If I was a good young player looking to my future I would be thinking that a pretty good place to be playing. We can upset all we want about them winning titles etc, but it is because the whole organisation is aimed at seemingly making it an attractive place to be at, and everything is aimed that way.

Imagine being a young player from their area, and someone said , oh yeah we having a draft so you have to go and live play for some other franchise, the word get f***ed would spring to my mind. I think most teams maybe starting to catch on?

 

[Rob42]

What an excellent grudge match to start the Rob Penney era. Penney will roll his tanks into Thomond Park to crush the momentary happiness of the previously long-suffering Munster army. "Sack me 10 years ago for some run-down local legend? I've come halfway across the world to remind you of your proper place."

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ forgot Munster fired him. Shit, other than Cantabs NPC is there a coaching gig he hasn't been fired from?

 

[Dctarget]

Will Jordan out for the season