@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