So last week, Romano had his mandatory All Blacks rest day; this week it's Scott Barrett. And finally, Jordan Taufua gets a well-deserved break as well. That man won't stop until you tell him to. Tough as nails. Not sure why they pick Bedwell-Curtis over Pete Samu to replace him at 8, but maybe that's because Samu is returning from injury?

Not sure why they pick Bateman at 13 instead of Tamanivalu. Maybe he's also not 100% yet after his injury? Great to see Mataele getting another start though! He's really becoming a very exciting player! Another talent in Ennor on the bench.

Crockett took himself off the field for a HIA last week. Maybe he's still not okay. Old Chris King on the bench again.
Brighouse is a development player; have never seen him play. It's concerning that they have to field a development player, but Jager is now also on that long injury list.

@stargazer You probably have seen Brighouse play because he's been around Otago's NPC team for two or three seasons - I've seen him play, but he's made no impression on me other than that he has quite a cool name.

This would be one of the weaker Crusaders teams I've seen us field - certainly in Razor's era. I think you can just about name a better starting XV from the people who are not in the team.

Moody, Makalio, Franks, Barrett, Dunshea, Taufua, Harmon, Read, Stratton, Mo'unga, Dagg, Goodhue, Tamanivalu, Macilai, Jordan.

Res. Crockett, Jager, Brown, Enari...

Good grief!

@chris-b said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

@stargazer You probably have seen Brighouse play because he's been around Otago's NPC team for two or three seasons - I've seen him play, but he's made no impression on me other than that he has quite a cool name.

This would be one of the weaker Crusaders teams I've seen us field - certainly in Razor's era. I think you can just about name a better starting XV from the people who are not in the team.

Moody, Makalio, Franks, Barrett, Dunshea, Taufua, Harmon, Read, Stratton, Mo'unga, Dagg, Goodhue, Tamanivalu, Macilai, Jordan.

Res. Crockett, Jager, Brown, Enari...

Good grief!

A better starting XV? Without Taylor, Whitelock, Todd, Hall/Drummond, Crotty, Mataele and Havili? Nah.

@stargazer By my count there's nine starting players in my team and only six in the team we're fielding.

@chris-b Yeah, but you're including Makalio, Dunshea, Harmon, Stratton, Macilai and Jordan. That takes the level down compared to the playing XV.

Owen Franks playing for Linwood tomorrow apparently.

@sammyc Have you heard anything about Izzy playing club rugby as well?

@stargazer said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

@sammyc Have you heard anything about Izzy playing club rugby as well?

Just found out he’s starting at fullback for university tomorrow

@stargazer On the other hand Razor has to field Perry, Hunt, Bateman, Sanders, Bridge and HBC (in order of my doubt) and my team has some substantial upgrades on those guys.

And I did say "just about name...".

Bridge is having a very good season IMO. He breaks a lot of tackles and seems less error prone with the notable exception of the 77th minute "could have been yellow" against the Lions.

@sammyc said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

@stargazer said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

@sammyc Have you heard anything about Izzy playing club rugby as well?

Just found out he’s starting at fullback for university tomorrow

Seems like hes been out forever. Hope he comes through it okay. Ohh and Izzy a word of warning don't touch Timpsons tiger. Trust me on that one.

@sammyc Richie Mo'unga could also be making an appearance apparently.

Hey everyone come look! Crotty is injured.

@bones said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

Hey everyone come look! Crotty is injured.

He's such a class player but it's getting to the point where he'd be a liability for the ABs if he's so unlikely to finish a game.

@no-quarter I spoke too soon he got up again. Can't they make a whole player out of him and Ngatai?

The Jaguares love to put the shoulder on the kicker after the kick. There was one 5 mins ago on Hunt that he could have milked for a penalty as well. Awful discipline.

@no-quarter as they said, it's Lavanini. I thought that was a bit harsh, there was a tiny bit of a wrap. But still, he's not a smart player.

Taylor considerably faster than the 9 on that run

Jags playing with plenty of enterprise, but their error rate is terrible - Crusaders know if they can make their tackles, sooner rather than later one of the Jags will push a pass they shouldn't and a fumble will occur.

Good defence so far from us - more clinical. A handy lead - necessary, because there's not a lot of firepower to come from the bench.

Haha what a try! Mataele makes up for letting in the last try with a poor defensive read by setting up an absolute ripper.

Has the rule about not returning the ball back into the scrum been abolished? I have noticed a couple of times recently where dominant scrums going quickly forward and the ball clearly behind the No 8s feet being hooked back into the scrum without sanction. The most recent example just a few minutes back when the Jaguares No 8 did it and Liam Messam did something similar last night again tht eblues.

Saders wingers getting the job done.

Wow - Brighouse - more than just a name. Crusaders under serious pressure with repeat scrum infringements - on come Funnell and Brighouse - fresh legs and adrenaline. They plough straight through the Jags scrum - up the other end for a try and that's the ballgame!

Great effort over the past three games - I was hoping to get at least half the available points, but we've collected nearly all of them.

Codie Taylor has really impressed me the last two seasons since the Lions tour. This year he has been in dominant form, not just about that amazing run he had but is he now our no1 hooker going into 2019? Coles is amazing but been in the wars and over 30 now, he plays with dynamic style which injuries could impact on. I hope he comes back as good as ever but just a thought.

@98blueandgold Yeah - Taylor has been arguably our best player in recent weeks. The bigger gap looks to be between Taylor and whomever is number 3 (presumably Harris), rather than between Coles and Taylor.

@chris-b said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

Wow - Brighouse - more than just a name. Crusaders under serious pressure with repeat scrum infringements - on come Funnell and Brighouse - fresh legs and adrenaline. They plough straight through the Jags scrum - up the other end for a try and that's the ballgame!

Great effort over the past three games - I was hoping to get at least half the available points, but we've collected nearly all of them.

I was thinking when they took the 3rd scrum that it was a bad decision. 2nd scrum they weren't dominant and the Crusaders scrum is rarely beaten.

Re Taylor; still prone to brain explosion moments when he clouted the Jags player on the back of the head after the Jags player took him inthe kidneys with a seriously late (and dangerous) cleanout from a ruck. Plus he and Perry were getting owned in the last 3 scrums, then lo and behold replaced by Funnell and Brighouse and Saders scrum turns the tables and owns the Jags scrum. Game right there.

@shadowtrooper To be fair...comparing him to Coles in the brain explosion stakes leaves him a bit out of his depth..

Decent win in the end. Looking forward to seeing the injured guys coming back for the saders.

Liking what i see from mataele, strong and elusive. Is he NZ eligible?

@pukunui said in Jaguares v Crusaders:

Decent win in the end. Looking forward to seeing the injured guys coming back for the saders.

Liking what i see from mataele, strong and elusive. Is he NZ eligible?

He arrived in NZ in February 2015, so I think he should be eligible. The 3-year residency requirement still applies to him, not the 5-year.