Lions

15 Ruan Combrinck; 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi; 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Nic Groom; 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1Sti Sithole.

Reserves: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan Mcbeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm Vd Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Tyrone Green.

@Stargazer Are you sure that's the team...

Not that lying will help against the Crusaders

@Machpants I agree with @taniwharugby and hope someone checks with airlines whether Marx has really left the country ...

Crusaders

1 Joe Moody
2 Codie Taylor
3 Micheal Alaalatoa
4 Quinten Strange
5 Sam Whitelock (c)
6 Whetukamokamo Douglas
7 Billy Harmon
8 Kieran Read
9 Mitchell Drummond
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (vc)
13 Braydon Ennor
14 Sevu Reece
15 David Havili

Reserves
16 Ben Funnell
17 Harry Allan
18 Oliver Jager
19 Mitchell Dunshea
20 Jordan Taufua
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Mitchell Hunt
23 Ngane Punivai

In the forwards, Codie Taylor returns to start at hooker and, with both Scott Barrett and Matt Todd on All Blacks rest, Quinten Strange and Billy Harmon have been given an opportunity to start against the Lions. Mitch Dunshea has also been named in the match day team, providing cover in the number 19 jersey.  

Mitch Drummond will start at halfback for this game and Ereatara Enari takes a spot in the reserves. There is a reshuffle in the backline with George Bridge returning to the left wing, Braydon Ennor moving in from the wing to the midfield and Sevu Reece lining up on the right wing. 

Finally, 20 year-old Ngane Punivai is set to make his debut for the Crusaders on Friday night, having been named on the bench for this clash with the Lions. 

No Owen Franks, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, Bryn Hall, Jack Goodhue, Will Jordan.

@Stargazer or Makalio

Nor Romano, nor Bateman.

I only mentioned the regular matchday squad members (should have included Makalio). No need to name every other squad member that isn't in the line-up. :winking_face: Although I should say that I prefer Romano over Dunshea.

@Stargazer Romano over Strange , as well, in my view. And Bateman over Punivai.

So these are telling selections for the future, I think.

Ennor is being spread around the backline, does he play midfield at M10?

What's the Fern consensus on Ngane Punivai?

@Tim Don't know about the Fern, but this will be his first SR game ever, so I think it's too early to make any kind of judgment on the lad.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Lions:

Nor Romano, nor Bateman.

Or Carter, given he is now in ABs frame....

@Machpants

He’s a center primarily, I think, who can also play on the wing.

Is Romero injured?

@Tim said in Crusaders v Lions:

What's the Fern consensus on Ngane Punivai?

It will be interesting to see how he goes. He's only played a few games at provincial level but he looked okay from what I can recall. Didn't look like a player who was destined to be a 50 test cap All Black but didn't look out of place either. From memory he was a bit lanky, but wiki says he's 191cm and 100kg so that's a decent size for a 20 year old winger. He's going to struggle to get significant game time at the Crusaders given their wing depth at present.

@booboo said in Crusaders v Lions:

Is Romero injured?

I don't think so.

I think his (continual) non-selection very much points that he's playing his final Super season, so they're focusing on developing Strange (and to a lesser extent Dunshea). Which is somewhat concerning from an AB perspective, because I'm inclined to think he's still among the best five locks in NZ. He was huge for Canterbury in last year's NPC.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Lions:

@booboo said in Crusaders v Lions:

Is Romero injured?

I don't think so.

I think his (continual) non-selection very much points that he's playing his final Super season, so they're focusing on developing Strange (and to a lesser extent Dunshea). Which is somewhat concerning from an AB perspective, because I'm inclined to think he's still among the best five locks in NZ. He was huge for Canterbury in last year's NPC.

Indeed. Hence my query.

@booboo I read an article earlier in the week saying that Romano had been heavily involved at training in the expectation that Barrett would be rested, so I'm surprised he's not there somewhere.

@Stargazer

Some guys are just made of glass. Whiteley out of tonight's game.

Fun start to this game.

Ennor in already.

Havili (I think) blew another.

10-0 now, Lions screwed thee with a bullshit offside call.

saders looking to run it...

Should be a penalty there - forward runners taking out would be tacklers..

Good to see a halfback criticised when a maul gets turnover. Drummond found wanting there.

Is Douglas a WC option? playing so much better than Read. seriously!

@98blueandgold No.

Crotty off.

Smith got fucking bounced by Reece.

Still laughing at the footage of the Lions #8 going flying backwards.

Reece is insanely good on attack.

@African-Monkey You sure :)?

Is the trouble that Sevu Reece got himself into with his partner last year along with his offshore contract being torn up spell good news for NZ rugby moving forward..quick,can step,got offload factor ,can tackle and man alive is strong with ball in hand..close to the full package..

Strange is playing like a bum.

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Lions:

Is the trouble that Sevu Reece got himself into with his partner last year along with his offshore contract being torn up spell good news for NZ rugby moving forward..quick,can step,got offload factor ,can tackle and man alive is strong with ball in hand..close to the full package..

He's thrown his lot in with Fiji already hasn't he?

@MajorRage Crusaders and Waikato no longer part of NZR?

@taniwharugby said in Crusaders v Lions:

@MajorRage Crusaders and Waikato no longer part of NZR?

International honours I mean. Sure I remember reading somewhere him wanting to play for Fiji if the opportunity was to arise.

@MajorRage He hasn't played for Fiji (yet).

@MajorRage has’nt Played for Fiji yet.my bet is he will throw in his lot with NZ rugby