QF Crusaders
Match thread
Reds
@Stargazer said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@Chris I found it a bit hard to believe in the first place haha. I couldn't see them field any other midfield either. The only question for me was whether Burke would be on the bench or not, and who out of Ennor and Bridge would lose his spot in the 23 if that happened.
I think they have picked their best 15 and I hope they stick to it for as far as they go in the playoffs.
@Stargazer said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@Chris I found it a bit hard to believe in the first place haha. I couldn't see them field any other midfield either. The only question for me was whether Burke would be on the bench or not, and who out of Ennor and Bridge would lose his spot in the 23 if that happened.
I know they were toying with the idea on Tuesday before they announced the team in house.
Reds
1 Harry Hoopert, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 4 Ryan Smith, 5 Angus Blyth, 6 Seru Uru, 7 Liam Wright (co-c), 8 Harry Wilson, 9 Tate McDermott (co-c), 10 Lawson Creighton, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Jordan Petaia, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 15 Jock Campbell
Reserves: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Connor Vest, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Fraser McReight, 22 Kalani Thomas, 23 Hunter Paisami
@cgrant said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
Finlay Brewis has leapfrogged Williams on the bench which is a half surprise, as both have been very good in their last outings.
My only other half surprise is Jager starting ahead of Newell.
I wonder whether that's because Razor thinks Jager is better, or there's not much between them and Jager is his senior man, or he likes the idea of having Newell bolstering the bench?
I can see Newell potentially making the ABs this year, but to be honest, I can't really see Jager there (though someone in the papers picked him as a possible the other day).
@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@cgrant said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
Finlay Brewis has leapfrogged Williams on the bench which is a half surprise, as both have been very good in their last outings.
My only other half surprise is Jager starting ahead of Newell.
I wonder whether that's because Razor thinks Jager is better, or there's not much between them and Jager is his senior man, or he likes the idea of having Newell bolstering the bench?
I can see Newell potentially making the ABs this year, but to be honest, I can't really see Jager there (though someone in the papers picked him as a possible the other day).
Jager has a big work rate if you watch him closely.I think it suits using the younger player Newell of the Bench as he has given us real impact of the bench.Keep the young guy fresh maybe.
Brewis who has been really impressive in his last 3 or 4 games starting or impact from the bench,Seems to have been preferred due to his work rate also.
Apart from the front row because I don't really know what the fat kids get up to, but I think the team is spot on. No complaints from me selection wise.
@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@Chris I probably under-rate Jager more than he deserves, because for several years I didn't think we should have signed him.
He's clearly a decent prop at Super rugby level now, so I don't have any quibble with him starting. Can he get to AB level? I guess he's only 26.....
Maybe he could there is some talk of him being able to step up to that level.
He is mobile and does a lot of work I have re watched games and he does do a power of work.
So does Bower,actually Newell and Brewis too we have a good bunch of props there.
I have been impressed with Brewis who I wasn’t sure about when he was selected.
Newell I had seen at schoolboy level he looked like a future AB then .
Life moves fast sometimes, Bridge went from starting the majority of All Blacks tests in 2021 to not being able to make the Crusaders starting line up at crunch time, this is just an observation! I like George from Gisborne but Leicester obviously is in some form
@FakatavaFuture George seems to have gone backwards at a rate of knots.
He's barely offered any offensive threat this year - in stark contrast to Big Leicester, Reece and Jordan.
@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@FakatavaFuture George seems to have gone backwards at a rate of knots.
He's barely offered any offensive threat this year - in stark contrast to Big Leicester, Reece and Jordan.
I'm glad to see you've come out of a three year coma.
@Nepia said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
@FakatavaFuture George seems to have gone backwards at a rate of knots.
He's barely offered any offensive threat this year - in stark contrast to Big Leicester, Reece and Jordan.
I'm glad to see you've come out of a three year coma.
Where's that Fernies nomination thread?
@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
He's barely offered any offensive threat this year - in stark contrast to Big Leicester, Reece and Jordan.
FAB back 3 
Has Gallagher leapfrogged Strange and Dunshea or are either Strange and Dunshea injured? Gallagher looks a real prospect. 117 kg and not a stringbean is a good start.
@Frank said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:
Has Gallagher leapfrogged Strange and Dunshea or are either Strange and Dunshea injured? Gallagher looks a real prospect. 117 kg and not a stringbean is a good start.
Dunshea suffered a season ending Knee injury a couple months ago.
Strange tore a calf muscle a while back.Both are unavailable.