Savea to Crusaders?

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

my understanding is that Slade will be at the crusaders next year to cover Dan Carters sabbatical.

I thought Sean Treeby made some strides this year, both he and Burleigh played better than Nonu when they had chances.

kinda get the feeling that the jamie joseph factor in drawing big names has warn off. Even heard Woodcock is eying a return to the blues.[/QUOTE]

Woodcock is 100% playing for the Highlanders next year

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Every Kiwi franchise specialize in a different skill set. Hurricanes counter attack from kick returns. Chiefs - developing young Islanders and rucking techinques. Blues Developing young islanders and Crazy Protocol 338j, Crusaders = cheating skills and tricks like using the neck rolls to remove the enemy; charge in, roll around and just keep going, taking defenders out of play, torpedo launching into rucks and shielding McCaw at ruck time from the referee.
Highlanders is a haven for over the hill AB who wants a 2nd chance as well as chirping skills for 9's to create a good image with referees.

Someone seems jealous...

 

[William18]

Well I personally think Hammett is better than Blackadder. I also don't want Bateman replaced and am not losing any sleep over Lee-Lo going.

I'm usually with you, but I just think Hammett isn't that bad. My big criticism is that he made the Canes play more of a kicking game than they ever should have last season, but overall I'm not too disappointed in how Hammett has done. I'd be very suprised if Hammett wouldn't have won a championship with the Crusaders.

I think Hammett is the worst thing to ever happen to the Hurricanes.

You mention that Hammett would have won a championship at the Crusaders? Well, he isn't. We are a different team, in a different city and we have completely different needs. Perhaps you mean that Blackadder only does well because he has a good squad. Maybe. The thing is though, isn't the coach responsible for their squad? Sure Blackadder already had a good squad when he came to the franchise. Hammett though has lost All Blacks left right and centre. What other franchise has ever lost this many All Blacks or potential All Blacks to other NZ Super Rugby teams in such a short space of time. Players aren't leaving because of the weather and Super Rugby contracts are roughly equal across the board.

I was willing to go along with Hammett Re Nonu and Hore because we were promised discipline. We didn't get that. We still have given away lots of stupid penalties and have forced passes that don't need to be thrown. Despite Hammett being a forward, our scrum and lineout were shocking all year. We have an All Black front row (Toomaga-Allen was in the mix before injury) yet our scrum was one of the worst in the competition. Something has gone badly wrong there.

Bateman was terrible this past season and I hope he can turn it around for next year. If he doesn't though we have absolutely no midfield cover. If Bateman gets injured then we have no reserve midfielders. Name me one midfielder currently unsigned in New Zealand rugby who is better than Lee-Lo and who Hammett doesn't have personal problems with? I don't know any names. Lee-Lo would have been an excellent back-up but instead we drop the ball and are screwed if there is an injury.

It's going to take years and years to recover from Hammett. Both with the team and amongst the general public. If Hammett would be a great coach at the Crusaders then he can go there and be a good coach. At the moment we are going to be terrible either way - I would rather be terrible with true born and bred Wellingtonians.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

my understanding is that Slade will be at the crusaders next year to cover Dan Carters sabbatical.

I thought Sean Treeby made some strides this year, both he and Burleigh played better than Nonu when they had chances.

kinda get the feeling that the jamie joseph factor in drawing big names has warn off. Even heard Woodcock is eying a return to the blues.

Not confirmed yet. Don't see much point in it as they have Taylor and Bleyendaal both confirmed for next year.

 

[Icemn]

Savea can go, just bring Hosea Gear back then...

 

[sifplay]

Someone seems jealous...

Jealous of cheating? Nah thanks rather lose honestly

 

[nickdnz]

Jealous of cheating? Nah thanks rather lose honestly

You're succeeding in abundance. Your honestly a loser.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Jealous of cheating? Nah thanks rather lose honestly

How do the NZ super rugby teams cheat? Crusaders play on the boundaries of the game but that's it, masters at it.

Ray Lee-Lo - Hurricanes to Crusaders

 

[ABs2011]

Sounds like Savea to the Crusaders is all but confirmed as well!

3rd party deal looks to be the clincher!

http://radiosport.co.nz/news/sprug/1224154827-super-rugby--savea-might-be-on-the-way-to-crusaders

 

[ABs2011]

Not confirmed yet. Don't see much point in it as they have Taylor and Bleyendaal both confirmed for next year.

You sure it hasn't been confirmed? Everyone's talking like it is confirmed but I cant find any confirmation on the net.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8940861/First-five-Colin-Slade-to-return-to-Crusaders

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The news reported last night that it was basically a done deal, but Savea told his team mates yesterday nothing had been finalised.

Basically a contract hasn't been signed, but all things point to it happening.

 

[ABs2011]

The news reported last night that it was basically a done deal, but Savea told his team mates yesterday nothing had been finalised.

Basically a contract hasn't been signed, but all things point to it happening.

Yup and now the questions being asked about Hurricanes management... Why the heck are we losing ALL our players??

Bit of a list:
Cruden
A Smith
Nonu
Hore
Dagg
Guildford
All the Whitelocks
Crosswell
Fitzgerald
Savea??

Those are just a few off the top of my head.........Im sure there are a bunch more!

EDIT: I know the loss of the Whitelocks had nothing to do with current Hurricanes management, but it makes the list more dramatic!! They are all good Fielding lads though!!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Remember that there are now basically no ties between province and Super Rugby team, except for arbitrary ones.

Even ignoring that, Cruden, Smith, Dagg, Guildford, the Whitelocks and Crosswell were all lost prior to Hammett and co. having any influence. Fitzgerald was picked up by a particularly intelligent coaching contingent, and probably most people around the country would still rate him below the likes of Eaton, Broadhurst and Thrush.

Nonu and Hore are understandable (particularly Nonu). I think the major problem is that the Hurricanes are holding onto a bunch of older journeymen players who are never going to amount to much more than they already do. Thrush, Broadhurst, Goodes, Lam, Smiley etc. are all fine players, but they aren't going to improve any more, they've plateaued, so you can't expect the team to improve that much. Obviously there's room for growth with players like Barrett, Ardie Savea etc. still young and promising. But there aren't enough of them. The Hurricanes are actually a lot like the Crusaders, except their players are just worse, on average. George Whitelock is not going to get any better than he already is, but his current state is still above Levave, Lam and the like.

 

[jessta]

He put Adam Whitelock to start many games over Sean Maitland...

I don't like him at coach of the Crusaders, I'd be gutted if he became coach of the All Blacks unless he changes a lot. The Crusaders couldn't lose a series prior to Blackadder taking over, now they've had 5 years without the ***le - and he's signed for another 3!!! People comment that "well, they haven't not made the playoffs..." I'm sorry but the Crusaders have arguably the best infrastructure in New Zealand rugby - a team which has at least five players that would walk into most world XVs - a recruiting team which is by far and away the best at talent identification. If your coach can't win with all that, after five years, he needs to go. I couldn't believe he got signed for another three years. Seems like jobs for the boys to me.

^^^^ this right here!

the crusaders have the best NZ team and perhaps the best team in the comp in terms of the amount of quality players they have. I mean they pretty much have the entire all blacks forward pack! the fact that blackadder cant win a ***le with the players he has is astounding... would be a nightmare if he became all black coach unless he really did improve!

@IRISH RUGBY MAN, from what ive heard tony woodcock is all but confirmed for the blues next year, unless you know something we dont

would be epic if slade came to blues however its all but certain hes going to saders to start in 10 with taylor at 12 and crotty at 13 as they have lost fruean aswell unfortunately! excited to see taylor focus on 12

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Remember that there are now basically no ties between province and Super Rugby team, except for arbitrary ones.

Even ignoring that, Cruden, Smith, Dagg, Guildford, the Whitelocks and Crosswell were all lost prior to Hammett and co. having any influence. Fitzgerald was picked up by a particularly intelligent coaching contingent, and probably most people around the country would still rate him below the likes of Eaton, Broadhurst and Thrush.

Nonu and Hore are understandable (particularly Nonu). I think the major problem is that the Hurricanes are holding onto a bunch of older journeymen players who are never going to amount to much more than they already do. Thrush, Broadhurst, Goodes, Lam, Smiley etc. are all fine players, but they aren't going to improve any more, they've plateaued, so you can't expect the team to improve that much. Obviously there's room for growth with players like Barrett, Ardie Savea etc. still young and promising. But there aren't enough of them. The Hurricanes are actually a lot like the Crusaders, except their players are just worse, on average. George Whitelock is not going to get any better than he already is, but his current state is still above Levave, Lam and the like.

Goodes will improve, only 21

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

^^^^ this right here!

the crusaders have the best NZ team and perhaps the best team in the comp in terms of the amount of quality players they have. I mean they pretty much have the entire all blacks forward pack! the fact that blackadder cant win a ***le with the players he has is astounding... would be a nightmare if he became all black coach unless he really did improve!

@IRISH RUGBY MAN, from what ive heard tony woodcock is all but confirmed for the blues next year, unless you know something we dont

would be epic if slade came to blues however its all but certain hes going to saders to start in 10 with taylor at 12 and crotty at 13 as they have lost fruean aswell unfortunately! excited to see taylor focus on 12

From what I've heard, he still has another year on his highlanders contract. Unless the contract has been terminated or it was bought out then I believe he will be staying with the Highlanders. I would love to see him move back to the Blues because I support the Blues in Super Rugby and quality players coming is only good for them. Faumuina, Mealamu and Woodcock is a quality front row.

I'm the same, I'd love to see him at the Blues but doubt it will happen. Fruean lost to health problems? Would you rather see Taylor at 12 or 10?

 

[Icemn]

lee lo is also gone :angry: who's next??? adi savea and shields... to replace mccaw and whitelock??

please add Gear and Weepu to the list...

 

[jessta]

I think theres talk he may be back. If he does come back the man deserves a medal, having a heart valve replaced not once but twice and coming back to play professional sport would be quite an achievement!

Taylors pretty handy at both, but I think his chances of making the all blacks are alot higher at 12

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

I really hope he does make it back, saw an interview once with him and Sonny Bill, looks like a top man. Doubt he will make it to All Blacks, but can be a destructive player when on form.

I guess you're right, Cruden looks like he will take over the reigns from DC and he is only 24, the same age as Taylor and has 22 more caps. And with no one bursting through on the All Blacks scene at 12, I guess that's his best shot ( though I REALLY want to see Saili given a go )

 

[ABs2011]

Chiefs now front runners to gain Savea signature!