• Help Support The Rugby Forum :

Hurricanes v Crusaders

My starting XV team to take on the Crusaders would be:

Schwalger,Hore,Tialata
Eaton,Thursh (if fit)
Vito,So'oialo,Lilo
Keats
Cruden
Bring in Jaden Hayward from wider trianing squad
Smith
Savea,Jane,Talyor
 
lance2010 said:
My starting XV team to take on the Crusaders would be:

Schwalger,Hore,Tialata
Eaton,Thursh (if fit)
Vito,So'oialo,Lilo
Keats
Cruden
Bring in Jaden Hayward from wider trianing squad
Smith
Savea,Jane,Talyor
Click to expand...


I think you'll find Charlie Ngatai will get the nod. He came on for Nonu in some of the pre-season games, so you'd have to think he has the inside running
 
Im gonna enjoy this game. It'll be interesting to see if the 'Canes have gone up a level and how they bounce back from their boring game with the Highlanders. The backline also, the only time they looked deadly last week was when their names was read out on the team sheet on the TV screen.

Crusaders showed last week why they're a machine by starting the season to a good standard. Ritchie and Sonny are back so I cant wait to watch them both. Looking forward to seeing Sonny play and how he goes in Super Rugby.
 
smartcooky said:
I think you'll find Charlie Ngatai will get the nod. He came on for Nonu in some of the pre-season games, so you'd have to think he has the inside running
Click to expand...
I agree - Ngatai is bound to start at 12. His size will certainly be an advantage in containing what will be a big Crusaders midfield.
 
smartcooky said:
I think you'll find Charlie Ngatai will get the nod. He came on for Nonu in some of the pre-season games, so you'd have to think he has the inside running
Click to expand...

Yeah i know he will,but i would try and run SBW around the park size does not matter all the time just look at what the Brumbies 2nd five did against the chiefs.
 
If the Canes don't up their game they will get walloped. Their display against the Highlanders was probably the worst I have ever seen them play. More handling errors than in an under 10 match. Still though, both teams have a shot. The Saders are missing MaCaw though. That team just isn't the same without him. Can't wait to see Kieran Ried play again. No idea what happened to him, but he is playing the best rugby I have seen an 8 play since Zinzan Brooke.
 
It'll be interested. My brain says Crusaders will win, and my heart can't bear the pain of believing in the Canes. For this match I'd like to see the Canes bring on their experienced players like So'oialo and even bloody Neemia Tialata, just to minimalize the damage. I think Ngatai will get really exposed at midfield.
 
lance2010 said:
Yeah i know he will,but i would try and run SBW around the park size does not matter all the time just look at what the Brumbies 2nd five did against the chiefs.
Click to expand...

nickdnz said:
It'll be interested. My brain says Crusaders will win, and my heart can't bear the pain of believing in the Canes. For this match I'd like to see the Canes bring on their experienced players like So'oialo and even bloody Neemia Tialata, just to minimalize the damage. I think Ngatai will get really exposed at midfield.
Click to expand...

Interestingly, according to the Dominion Post, Hayward could be in line to start (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/4685677/Taranaki-rookie-may-replace-Nonu-against-Crusaders). This would be a mistake in my opinion - while Hayward would provide some interesting attacking options, he is a big liability on defense, and I think he would be badly exposed by Fruean (and SBW if he plays). Ngatai, in contrast, is actually a reasonable defender. His defensive positioning was exposed a few times last year, but hopefully Smith will help him out in this regard. At least if Ngatai gets in the position to make the tackle on Fruean I would back him to put him down - Fruean would run straight through Hayward whether he is in the right position or not!

I agree that bringing the experience of So'oialo (and possibly Tialata) back into the pack is a must for the Canes. I think Vito's best position is 8, so I'd be tempted to start So'oialo at 6. I would almost be tempted to start So'oialo at 7, however the Canes probably do need a specialist 7 to combat Todd (and Whitelock).

I'm picking the Crusaders to win by 10-15.
 
Last edited:
darwin_23 said:
Interestingly, according to the Dominion Post, Hayward could be in line to start (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/4685677/Taranaki-rookie-may-replace-Nonu-against-Crusaders). This would be a mistake in my opinion - while Hayward would provide some interesting attacking options, he is a big liability on defense, and I think he would be badly exposed by Fruean (and SBW if he plays). Ngatai, in contrast, is actually a reasonable defender. His defensive positioning was exposed a few times last year, but hopefully Smith will help him out in this regard. At least if Ngatai gets in the position to make the tackle on Fruean I would back him to put him down - Fruean would run straight through Hayward whether he is in the right position or not!

I agree that bringing the experience of So'oialo (and possibly Tialata) back into the pack is a must for the Canes. I think Vito's best position is 8, so I'd be tempted to start So'oialo at 6. I would almost be tempted to start So'oialo at 7, however the Canes probably do need a specialist 7 to combat Todd (and Whitelock).

I'm picking the Crusaders to win by 10-15.
Click to expand...


Ngatai's bigger and would better handle the the defensive side as you have said, but the Hurricanes attack was horribly stagnant last time around. Julian Savea didn't even see the ball for 40 minutes.
As talented as Ngatai is, he is very much a "tuck and run" type of player at this stage in his career. The hurricanes need to get their whole backline involved at this early stage in the season and Haywards distribution game is better for that end. Haywards style also takes some of the playmaking and decision taking pressure off Cruden, like Mauger did for Carter early on. (It doesn't help that Keats is so one dimensional at 9..)
It think in this situation with these players available, they would be better off with Hayward. Its risky defensively, but the hurricanes backline looks like a square wheel with Ngatai in there
 
I hate Keats, hes half the damn problem.... Too slow at getting the ball out, doesn't time things right, always bad positioning, Keats is crap, I hope Eaton gets the no.9 jersey ahead of him.

backline,
Cruden,
Savea
Ngatai
Smith
Taylor
Jane.
 
Heart wants the Canes to win but... when you look at how the Crusaders played last week, then add SBW into the mix if he's available and then minus Nonu from the Canes... the heart can't convince the head that they can do it.

I hope come 9:30PM on Saturday night, I'll be able to tell the head it was wrong.
 
A 6.3 Earthquake has just hit Christchurch about an hour ago

There is a good chance that this game may be cancelled/postponed/moved.
Apparently there is extensive damage to the city

Hope everyone there is OK- and my thoughts go out to all you Cantabs
 
FlukeArtist said:
A 6.3 Earthquake has just hit Christchurch about an hour ago

There is a good chance that this game may be cancelled/postponed/moved.
Apparently there is extensive damage to the city

Hope everyone there is OK- and my thoughts go out to all you Cantabs
Click to expand...

Isn't the game in Wellington? Really sad what happen in Christchurch just seen some footage of the quake.
 
Just to confirm the match is in Wellington 7.35pm Saturday.Weather forecast Fine with southerlies 19max 12min.
 
Sam Owen said:
Multiple fatalities. Prayers and thoughts go out to the people of Canterbury.
Click to expand...

65 fatalities and counting ... condolences to those that have lost love ones, and thoughts with those that live or have family in the area and are still waiting to hear from them :(
 
Very, very sad. It will be hard for the Crusaders to play after what is happened but I guess it could work for them either way. I hope that no damage has been done to AMI stadium either, although the deaths of people is obviously far more important.
 
I didnt get power back until a few hours ago, so until then the whole family was listening to the radio. My family is safe but others where not so lucky :(
 

Similar threads

Icemn
Hurricanes 2012
Replies
7
Views
2K
donmcdazzle
D
Darwin
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Replies
3
Views
2K
Amobokoboko
Amobokoboko
Darwin
Rebels v Hurricanes
2
Replies
34
Views
3K
donmcdazzle
D
Darwin
Blues v Hurricanes
Replies
18
Views
2K
Larksea
L
Darwin
Hurricanes v Chiefs
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
6K
187
187

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Latest posts

Top