@Stargazer said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell Yes, definitely their first choice forward pack. The backs are indeed still missing Dagg, and Ioane.

Dagg posted on instagram today that it wouldn't be long before he could join the team again. After the Stormers game, the team will travel to South Africa, so I assume both Dagg and Ioane will miss that trip, but maybe they'll be good to go after that?

It will be interesting to see if Digby makes the run on XV. I don't think it's anywhere near a given as Bridge is playing well. Seta is an AB with huge upside and Dagg to come back.

Havili whilst not really a fullback has been better than expected. Dagg you would think will take that spot back, but it could be that Dagg slots on to the wing where his AB spot seems to be right now.

It goes without saying but Razor could do the right thing and let Dagg run the cutter where he should be....

Stormers:
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Bench: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel

@ACT-Crusader I think Digby has been excellent when he's played so I'd expect him to get in when available.

I'd expect Dagg would take Havili's spot - though David has improved as the season has gone on and he's taken my advice to calm down on trying to make miracle plays.

I think that the top backline would probably be Drummond (looks like he's edging Hall to start), Mo'unga, Crotty, Goodhue, Tamanivalu, Ioane, Dagg - though they might also push Seta into centre and use Bridge on the wing.

A bench of Hall, Hunt and Havili would give plenty of options, but again that would be harsh on Bridge.

Given the rate of injury attrition, I doubt Razor will regularly have his full set of riches, so we might never know for certain what is his preferred line-up.

I see Whetu Douglas off to Treviso, where dreams go to die.

He should fire his agent on the spot. Has been excellent for the Crusaders really.

WTF do people sign for hopeless Italian clubs??

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

WTF do people sign for hopeless Italian clubs??

Good money for little stress?

Getting to enjoy a bit of difference and avoid dark grey winters?

There's plenty of upsides once you look past the quality of the rugby.

@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

WTF do people sign for hopeless Italian clubs??

Good money for little stress?

Getting to enjoy a bit of difference and avoid dark grey winters?

There's plenty of upsides once you look past the quality of the rugby.

A bit more money and the Italian lifestyle. The rugby is absolutely dire, fighting it out with the other Italian club to avoid the wooden spoon in the Pro12 - so as to qualify for the European Cup, where you get hammered, score 0 competition points and leave the pool stage in last spot.

It's a ridiculously stupid rugby decison on his part, and you can read the extreme regret between the lines of the article. He looked very good for a permanent Crusaders contract IMO.

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

WTF do people sign for hopeless Italian clubs??

Good money for little stress?

Getting to enjoy a bit of difference and avoid dark grey winters?

There's plenty of upsides once you look past the quality of the rugby.

A bit more money and the Italian lifestyle. The rugby is absolutely dire, fighting it out with the other Italian club to avoid the wooden spoon in the Pro12 - so as to qualify for the European Cup, where you get hammered, score 0 competition points and leave the pool stage in last spot.

It's a ridiculously stupid rugby decison on his part, and you can read the extreme regret between the lines of the article. He looked very good for a permanent Crusaders contract IMO.

Why a stupid decision? In the article, it says that he signed after the Mitre 10 Cup season and well before he was called into the Crusaders squad as injury cover. He didn't know he was going to play SR as he wasn't initially named in any team. He's 26 and has a young family. Of course he'd sign with an overseas club if he had no other prospect than club rugby & next season's NPC.

@Stargazer said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

WTF do people sign for hopeless Italian clubs??

Good money for little stress?

Getting to enjoy a bit of difference and avoid dark grey winters?

There's plenty of upsides once you look past the quality of the rugby.

A bit more money and the Italian lifestyle. The rugby is absolutely dire, fighting it out with the other Italian club to avoid the wooden spoon in the Pro12 - so as to qualify for the European Cup, where you get hammered, score 0 competition points and leave the pool stage in last spot.

It's a ridiculously stupid rugby decison on his part, and you can read the extreme regret between the lines of the article. He looked very good for a permanent Crusaders contract IMO.

Why a stupid decision? In the article, it says that he signed after the Mitre 10 Cup season and well before he was called into the Crusaders squad as injury cover. He didn't know he was going to play SR as he wasn't initially named in any team. He's 26 and has a young family. Of course he'd sign with an overseas club if he had no other prospect than club rugby & next season's NPC.

But Treviso?

I'll get all that, but he was hasty. A decent season with the Crusaders, and if he really wanted to head overseas he would have had Premiership, Top 14, the better Pro 12 sides, or even Japan calling.

26 - I wish I was 26 again! It's not that frickin old.

@Billy-Tell he wasn't in the Crusaders.

@Billy-Tell It wasn't that long ago that Douglas was working a normal 8-5 job so I can understand the temptation to sign at that time.

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

But Treviso?

Guys sign with 2nd Division sides in France and England all the time. Are you telling me that playing for a 2nd Division side in England is better than Treviso?

Come to think of it, Whetu was almost playing for a 2nd Division (Championship) ITM side in NZ, except that Waikato just stayed up in 2014. I doubt he's precious about it.

probably was on $15-20k at Waikato, picked up a contract with Treviso for something like $100-150k, at 26 probably thought he had missed the chance at Super rugby

@Chester-Draws said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

But Treviso?

Guys sign with 2nd Division sides in France and England all the time. Are you telling me that playing for a 2nd Division side in England is better than Treviso?

Come to think of it, Whetu was almost playing for a 2nd Division (Championship) ITM side in NZ, except that Waikato just stayed up in 2014. I doubt he's precious about it.

I reckon you sell 2nd hand cars for a living. You could sell anything, including the Treviso dream. I'm not personally fussed, but leaving a wee pay increase aside, I doubt he's genuinely too rapt about his impending move.

The likes of Luatau going to Bristol in the 2nd division is 100% to do with cold hard cash. Bucketloads of it. I don't think Treviso is offering remotely similar figures to Douglas.

@Billy-Tell said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

I reckon you sell 2nd hand cars for a living. You could sell anything, including the Treviso dream. I'm not personally fussed, but leaving a wee pay increase aside, I doubt he's genuinely too rapt about his impending move.

Wee? Wee? You must earn a lot of money to think that an increase of up near $100K is "wee".

No movement in here yet - where are all the Canabs at?

6.5 minutes in and the Crusaders haven't had any possession

That's flattering, crusaders trying to play like the chiefs, but lacking the skill and talent

Stormers near on 100% possession and territory for the first 10 minutes, and they're finally on the board with 3.

@mariner4life said in Crusaders vs Stormers:

That's flattering, crusaders trying to play like the chiefs, but lacking the skill and talent

Canerbry is going to lose his shit at that.

crusaders score on thier first visit to stormers territory

Bit dodgy there. Surely the Sader was holding onto that ball. Id be spewing.