Where's the team, Razor?
I suspect we might see a few surprises and this might not be a full strength Crusaders outfit.
Lots of Razor's forwards have a pretty intense month coming up, so with a bit of consultation with Hansen, Razor might think he has bigger fish to fry than capturing the Lions scalp and give his guys a break while he can.
Wouldn't surprise me to see some or all of Franks, Taylor, Whitelock and Romano rested.
Really looking forward to this... win or lose it's going to be the best night out in Christchurch since pre earthquake days 
I don't think both of Whitelock and Romano will be rested. One will start, probably Romano.
Todd to captain.
Hall is in the Maori squad, so he may not start.
Franks is a key man but he could get 30 minutes.
@ACT-Crusader Sam Whitelock seemed pretty keen to play, so I was thinking maybe Razor has struck a deal with Shag that Sammy plays this game and Luke plays vs Samoa. That would allow Whitelock, Barrett, Strange - which would be good enough for me. Logically, though Sam has had and will have the highest workload....
I'll be disappointed if Owen Franks doesn't play, because that will substantially weaken us. Alaalatoa isn't nearly as good - though Jager can do Alaalatoa's job. Again, though, logically you'd rest Owen.
Funnell and Makalio will be OK though.
Strongest team available.
RESERVES
16. Ben Funnell
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Michael Alaalatoa
19. Quinten Strange
20. Jed Brown
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. Tim Bateman
Bloody good job.
Razor gives me the big "fuck you"!
He's going for the unbeaten season.
I'll be giving you the big "fuck you" back, Razor, if those guys run out of gas in July!
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'll be giving you the big "fuck you" back, Razor, if those guys run out of gas in July!
Yeah I'd quite happily sacrifice a win here for the Super Rugby title in July
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
Razor gives me the big "fuck you"!
He's going for the unbeaten season.
I'll be giving you the big "fuck you" back, Razor, if those guys run out of gas in July!
Works for me, wouldn't say no to back-to-back titles.
@SammyC said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
I'll be giving you the big "fuck you" back, Razor, if those guys run out of gas in July!
Yeah I'd quite happily sacrifice a win here for the Super Rugby title in July
Razor clearly didn't watch Moneyball earlier in the week like I did.
Nobody remembers what you did if you don't win your last game of the season!
I guess the Blues have put a bit of pressure on the Saders in this match. If that rabble can beat them you'd better not bloody lose!
I'm surprised by your surprise about the strongest possible squad being named. It was said ages ago that all fit All Blacks would be available for this game. Sam Whitelock has also clearly indicated in the media that he wanted to play this game and preferably the full 80 minutes. I don't think that's different for any of the other players, ABs included.
@No-Quarter That's hilarious.
A few other things about this team.
No Scott Barrett and No Kieran Read. Not yet ready to go or just not picked? I thought Barrett was fit for selection and needs game miles in his legs?
Surprised they moved Havili to second-five. He's been pretty awesome at fullback (not so much last week) and Dagg is surely going to be playing wing for the ABs if he gets a game. I would have started Bateman and had Bridge on the bench.
@Stargazer True - but I saw Jason Ryan during the week saying this...
The Lions face the Blues at Eden Park on Wednesday prior to the match against seven-times Super Rugby champion Crusaders on Saturday, with coach Scott Robertson able to select his All Blacks for the game before they head into camp.
Robertson had said last week it was likely they would field as close as possible to a full-strength side at Rugby League Park, but Ryan said they would also keep an eye on their All Blacks' workload, especially captain Sam Whitelock.
"Sammy is like the rest of them, he has got a few niggles," Ryan said. "We have to be smart there, there is a bigger picture for the All Blacks. We don't want to flog them.
"Steve (Hansen) and the All Blacks coaches will want them fresh for the series, so we want to give everyone an opportunity in the 23 to play against the Lions."
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Stargazer True - but I saw Jason Ryan during the week saying this...
"Sammy is like the rest of them, he has got a few niggles," Ryan said. "We have to be smart there, there is a bigger picture for the All Blacks. We don't want to flog them.
"Steve (Hansen) and the All Blacks coaches will want them fresh for the series, so we want to give everyone an opportunity in the 23 to play against the Lions."
That's interesting. I wonder if they decided that the best decision from a national perspective is to actually just keep the foot on the throat.
at least that side rings closer to the truth about Gatlands comment about there being little difference between Super sides and the ABs.
So is Seta only seen as a wing now?
@Frye Yeah- it will be interesting to see how much time these guys get vs the Lions - and vs Samoa for that matter.
It's hopefully going to be a busy few weeks for the Crusaders tight forwards - might look something like....
Lions, Samoa, Lions, Lions, Lions, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs, Lions
@Chris-B. said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:
@Frye Yeah- it will be interesting to see how much time these guys get vs the Lions - and vs Samoa for that matter.
It's hopefully going to be a busy few weeks for the Crusaders tight forwards - might look something like....
Lions, Samoa, Lions, Lions, Lions, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs, Lions
Is that the sequel to Gary Freeman's book?
