Any update on the Blues injuries/covid?

Assuming Barrett is fit one of the big questions will be how they use him, Perofeta and Sullivan. Perofeta has been on the of the best across all three matches and Zarn was very good on the weekend.

Surely if fit Barrett will start? I'm guessing they'll go back to the original selection of Perofeta at fullback and Sullivan on the bench?
I would have that thew other way around.. use Sullivans kicking game for the first 60mins and Perfofeta's elusiveness late in the game.

Locks back to Romano/Goodhue & Darry on the bench?

Has Plumtree done enough to force a start? I would be tempted to try Papali'i/Plumtree/Robinson. Plumtree looked good in that position in preseaon and Sotutu is having a slowish start to the season. I'm sure MacDonald will be conservative though

@duluth I'd play the same loose trio as Friday, with Robinson off the bench if fit, and if Goodhue is good to go, have him and Darry/Tucker as the 3 locks in the gameday side. Romano is well past his best and can't keep up with the pace of the game anymore, and gets put on his arse with ball in hand, showing the difference in levels between Super Rugby and Provincial Rugby.

Hopefully Laulala is fit as Renata really struggled on Friday especially at scrum time.

Backs can stay the same unless Barrett is fit, then Perofeta can go to the back and Sullivan can cover the bench.

@duluth sotutu b 8 best we have,they could move plumtree on bench instead of darry both Robinson and plumtree can cover lock

@african-monkey said in Crusaders v Blues:

Hopefully Laulala is fit as Renata really struggled on Friday especially at scrum time.

Move Ofa back to TH. Karl T is back training isn't he?

I expect this is a game Romano would really want to play, and he will have inside knowledge of the Crusaders' lineout calls.

@bovidae Yes and yes, I just don't want Renata there altogether haha.

Romano will probably be there, but he's playing 60 mins a game when he doesn't have the legs to. Tucker looked far better when he came on last Friday, and Darry and Goodhue have both improved out of sight from last year. If he does play, maybe have him coming off the bench for 20-25 mins.

@african-monkey If Romano plays I would do the opposite. Start him and tell him to go hard for 30-40 mins and then bring on a replacement.

@duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

Any update on the Blues injuries/covid?

Training cancelled today apparently. Not a good sign.

@african-monkey said in Crusaders v Blues:

I just don't want Renata there altogether haha.

He spent just one year (2018?) at the Hurricanes, spending a lot of it playing club rugby, which might or might not mean a lot given the Canes rather underwhelming propping strengths and the foibles of the bewildering Hurricanes selection peformances.

@nogusta said in Crusaders v Blues:

@duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

Any update on the Blues injuries/covid?

Training cancelled today apparently. Not a good sign.

Seriously, this fixture is the unluckiest to schedule.

Newshub are saying that both this game, and the Highlanders-MP game are unlikely to be played.

Ozzie rugby teams will be happy

Chiefs, Saders, Canes, MP are ok, right? How about they play? We are due for MP anyway

@gt12 said in Crusaders v Blues:

Chiefs, Saders, Canes, MP are ok, right? How about they play? We are due for MP anyway

The Crusaders and MP are only meant to play once so it would have to be a "friendly".

@bovidae said in Crusaders v Blues:

@gt12 said in Crusaders v Blues:

Chiefs, Saders, Canes, MP are ok, right? How about they play? We are due for MP anyway

The Crusaders and MP are only meant to play once so it would have to be a "friendly".

I was meaning we play MP and perhaps Canes get Saders (scheduled to play twice anyway?)

@kirwan said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nogusta said in Crusaders v Blues:

@duluth said in Crusaders v Blues:

Any update on the Blues injuries/covid?

Training cancelled today apparently. Not a good sign.

Seriously, this fixture is the unluckiest to schedule.

Yes.

Cancelled.

Sad face emoji.

@nzzp Well, might be a good weekend for bbq'ing instead, I guess ...

@tim said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nzzp Well, might be a good weekend for bbq'ing instead, I guess ...

AFL, NRL, Group 1 horse racing...

I hope that the coaches aren't just taking the easy option and saying they can't play because x of their ABs are unavailable. A different story if a lot of hookers/props can't play but I doubt we will ever know.

Have some trust in your squad depth. Some coaches seem reluctant to do so.