Will anyone beat the Crusader in 2011?

[fatprop]

PR has a thread listing the strongest S15 sides, does anyone think the Aus sides will be able to compete with this lot? :nta:

That backline looks just deadly

1. Crockett
2. Flynn
3. Franks
4. Thorn
5. Whitelock
6. McCaw
7. Todd
8. Read
9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Maitland
12. SBW
13. Fruean
14. Guildford
15. Dagg

 

[qwerty51]

Depends who plays them at home (not CHCH). If at home I reckon the Sharks, Tahs, Stormers and Reds can all beat them.

 

[fatprop]

Depends who plays them at home (not CHCH). If at home I reckon the Sharks, Tahs, Stormers and Reds can all beat them.

Reds & Tahs will struggle to get close, the Reds will get smacked at scrum time and are still looking for a 7. The Tahs may end up with Carter and Cross in the centres :tard

 

[Scarfman]

I rekcon its the Crusaders' pack that looks unbeatable. But is McCaw really going to play 6 all year before the RWC?

 

[RugbyReg]

That
is
ridiculous

 

[barbarian]

It is a much longer season next year and I think luck with injuries is going to be a huge factor. Saying that, that side would have to lose 6-8 players to be significantly weakened. Although if they lose Carter (a big if) then that backline could struggle to find its feet.

 

[Red Rooster]

I rekcon its the Crusaders' pack that looks unbeatable. But is McCaw really going to play 6 all year before the RWC?

Same pack as last year - didn't stop them losing games - reds scored 40 points and beat them in the trials as well

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Did they recruit Adam Thompson as well?

How many of their stars will sit out for large rests during the season as it is a RWC year?

 

[Blue]

I read somewhere that MCaw won't play in the first six rounds or something.

They might lose a few to the likes of those teams mentioned. Looong comp, don't thing we'll easily see teams go unbeaten.

 

[en_force_er]

They will be beaten, they always stuff up or rest players every now and then.

Let's not forget Sir Richie is taking a few weeks off early in the season and no doubt some other major ABs will as well. Thorn in particular.

Same pack as last year - didn't stop them losing games - reds scored 40 points and beat them in the trials as well

It didn't stop them losing games, a very small amount of them, but it helped them win the lion's share of them.

Let's not forget the Crusaders are entitled to having a bad week (like they did against and Reds) but overall they were a great side.

 

[#1 Tah]

McCaw is being rested in the Tahs game, you saw how badly they lost to the reds without mcCaw

 

[Doc]

Yes, forgot Thompson. Dagg and Thompson are arguably the biggest pick ups in NZ Super history.

 

[Travi34]

The Rebels won't lose to them in Super 15....

mainly because they dont play them!

They will lose in the pre-season warm up game though, even if crusaders are understrength...

Reds are the oz team to beat, if Horwill plays all year, Genia, QC (Quade Cooper), et all are fit then hard to see them being wallop by anyone other than a Steyn's boot...

Full Strength/in form Crusaders can beat anyone, if they are missing 2 or more key players then any team can beat them... reds most likely to..

 

[vert]

I dont even think SBW will be a standout in his own team let alone be a weapon.

Aussie super rugby teams are getting so much better now, the reds have some of the best attack in the comp and the tahs have the fastest players around, on top of extra speed sessions with shirvington. I don't like the carter/cross centre combination but if they can fix that up....Mitchell, Barnes, Beale, Turner, Polotnau, Robinson, solid players, I can't see them losing

 

[Tangawizi]

Reds are paying $17 to win the comp. I like those odds. Reds v Crusaders final at Suncorp. Reds win!

 

[disco]

Let's not write off the Bulls & Stormers either but anyway just for fun I'll put my team in Red for a man for man match up in the backline.

9. Ellis v Genia - Reds
10. Carter v Cooper - Saders
11. Maitland v ioane - Reds
12. SBW - Fainga'a - Even
13. Fruean - Chambers - Reds
14. Guildford - Davies - Even
15. Dagg - Hynes - Even

3 - 1 to the Reds. Could have gone even on Chambers v Fruean but Chambers was definitely the more reliable player once he got comfortable in the 13 jersey.

 

[Groucho]

I dont even think SBW will be a standout in his own team let alone be a weapon.

Aussie super rugby teams are getting so much better now, the reds have some of the best attack in the comp and the tahs have the fastest players around, on top of extra speed sessions with shirvington. I don't like the carter/cross centre combination but if they can fix that up....Mitchell, Barnes, Beale, Turner, Polotnau, Robinson, solid players, I can't see them losing

Maybe Turner will play at 13, and one of the thousand wingers they signed will play on the wing.

Burgess
Halangahu
Mitchell
Barnes
Turner
Anesi
Beale

...is okay. Although maybe Carter at 13 is better than Anesi on the wing.

 

[chief]

That team doesn't look unbeatable. In fact very beatable. The Reds and Tahs have a backline which I'd be pretty confident of beating them. Young Lambie for the Sharks looks the goods as well. 5 teams can easily beat these guys, Reds, Stormers, Tahs, Sharks, Bulls.

 

[en_force_er]

That team doesn't look unbeatable. In fact very beatable. The Reds and Tahs have a backline which I'd be pretty confident of beating them. Young Lambie for the Sharks looks the goods as well. 5 teams can easily beat these guys, Reds, Stormers, Tahs, Sharks, Bulls.

Auckland have built themselves a solid set-up with the ammount of no-namers playing out of their Skins for Auckland in the ITM cup. They will have a good team with great depth. I think they and probably the Canes/Chiefs could all challenge the Saders.

 

[qwerty51]

Let's not write off the Bulls & Stormers either but anyway just for fun I'll put my team in Red for a man for man match up in the backline.

9. Ellis v Genia - Reds
10. Carter v Cooper - Saders
11. Maitland v ioane - Reds
12. SBW - Fainga'a - Even
13. Fruean - Chambers - Reds
14. Guildford - Davies - Even
15. Dagg - Hynes - Even

3 - 1 to the Reds. Could have gone even on Chambers v Fruean but Chambers was definitely the more reliable player once he got comfortable in the 13 jersey.

Feuean > Chambers
Guildford > Davies
Dagg > Hynes

4-2 to the Saders imo