@Chris wasn't Hannah who Barrett said was a player to watch this year?

From the games I've watched, the saders aren't massively far away, lacking polish and a 9/10, utilise Drummond/ Hotham more and when Burke is back (plus several other injured players) i reckon they'll look sharper.

But right now, will be a huge ask this weekend.

@Kirwan said in Blues v Crusaders:

Refs differently against the Blues, particularly when it's the Cantabs. When the pressure comes on he is wildly inconsistent.

Everyone reffed the Saders differently the previous 5 or so years. It's only Dolman so far this year who didn't get the memo to cease and desist.

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Crusaders:

Refs differently against the Blues, particularly when it's the Cantabs. When the pressure comes on he is wildly inconsistent.

Everyone reffed the Saders differently the previous 5 or so years. It's only Dolman so far this year who didn't get the memo to cease and desist.

the last five years eh? ah well, at least Razor gets a claim to his titles from 2017 and 2018, as they are the only legit ones!

@taniwharugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris wasn't Hannah who Barrett said was a player to watch this year?

From the games I've watched, the saders aren't massively far away, lacking polish and a 9/10, utilise Drummond/ Hotham more and when Burke is back (plus several other injured players) i reckon they'll look sharper.

But right now, will be a huge ask this weekend.

Yeah Barret did mention Hannah.

@ruggabee said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Crusaders:

Refs differently against the Blues, particularly when it's the Cantabs. When the pressure comes on he is wildly inconsistent.

Everyone reffed the Saders differently the previous 5 or so years. It's only Dolman so far this year who didn't get the memo to cease and desist.

the last five years eh? ah well, at least Razor gets a claim to his titles from 2017 and 2018, as they are the only legit ones!

They belong to Sam Whitelock

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

@ruggabee said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Crusaders:

Refs differently against the Blues, particularly when it's the Cantabs. When the pressure comes on he is wildly inconsistent.

Everyone reffed the Saders differently the previous 5 or so years. It's only Dolman so far this year who didn't get the memo to cease and desist.

the last five years eh? ah well, at least Razor gets a claim to his titles from 2017 and 2018, as they are the only legit ones!

They belong to Sam Whitelock

just like the 7 titles he won between 2010-2016? along with others in their athletic peak years such as McCaw, Carter, Read, Frank's Bros, Todd, Moody, Whitelock's, Romano, Bird, Crotty, SBW, Guilford, Fruean, Maitland, Crockett, Ellis, Taufua, Flynn, Laulala, Nadolo, Dagg, etc.. those titles?

@ruggabee Athletic park closed over two decades ago mate. It's apt it's a retirement village now.

Interesting stat from Stuff

Just one Crusader - Tom Christie - who started last year’s final against the Chiefs will start at Eden Park.

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@frugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@george33 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Darry will be at Auckland, next year after Canterbury contract ends , must be following Segner

Yeah Canterbury have a lot of young locks coming through.
Gallagher,Cahill,Hannah plus a couple in the u/20s Sa,Jack and Frost.
He played poorly in last NPC for Canterbury time to move on.

Looking at the locks to come out of the Canterbury region the past 5 years (both those schooled there and those imported) and I really think the Crusaders have missed out on the best two (Holland and Darry).

I won't comment on those U20s guys, but IMO Gallagher, Cahill and Hannah all end up as journeyman. Darry could join them there, but he looked quite good in pre-season plus the early minutes prior to his injury.

Time will tell they are young for locks.
Hannah looks like a real athlete to me.
The u/20 locks are all big units for their age
Will at least be one AB out of those 3,

Darry was poor for his first 2 years in SR even Blues fans on here were bagging him for being shit.
Young locks need time Hannah and Cahill have only had a few minutes off the bench so far in their careers.
A bit early based on a few minutes to brand them journeymen just yet.

As I say, won't comment on the U20 locks but from what I have seen (namely for the U20s and in the NPC), Cahill just lacks a little bit across the board to go to the next level - not to say he won't be a tidy Super Rugby lock.

Gallagher will probably be very good for the Crusaders, but IMO he lacks the size to play test footy

Hannah could well surprise me - I admit, I have not seen much of him since he put all the size on.

Looks like it could be a wet weather game

@KiwiMurph looks ok at kick off but this is Auckland will suit our big pack

This Blues Pack is quite some size ,they are well over 900kg put together, not sure on Crusaders

@frugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@frugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@george33 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Darry will be at Auckland, next year after Canterbury contract ends , must be following Segner

Yeah Canterbury have a lot of young locks coming through.
Gallagher,Cahill,Hannah plus a couple in the u/20s Sa,Jack and Frost.
He played poorly in last NPC for Canterbury time to move on.

Looking at the locks to come out of the Canterbury region the past 5 years (both those schooled there and those imported) and I really think the Crusaders have missed out on the best two (Holland and Darry).

I won't comment on those U20s guys, but IMO Gallagher, Cahill and Hannah all end up as journeyman. Darry could join them there, but he looked quite good in pre-season plus the early minutes prior to his injury.

Time will tell they are young for locks.
Hannah looks like a real athlete to me.
The u/20 locks are all big units for their age
Will at least be one AB out of those 3,

Darry was poor for his first 2 years in SR even Blues fans on here were bagging him for being shit.
Young locks need time Hannah and Cahill have only had a few minutes off the bench so far in their careers.
A bit early based on a few minutes to brand them journeymen just yet.

As I say, won't comment on the U20 locks but from what I have seen (namely for the U20s and in the NPC), Cahill just lacks a little bit across the board to go to the next level - not to say he won't be a tidy Super Rugby lock.

Gallagher will probably be very good for the Crusaders, but IMO he lacks the size to play test footy

Hannah could well surprise me - I admit, I have not seen much of him since he put all the size on.

Gallagher is not very tall but he is beefy.

@cgrant said in Blues v Crusaders:

@frugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@frugby said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Chris said in Blues v Crusaders:

@george33 said in Blues v Crusaders:

Darry will be at Auckland, next year after Canterbury contract ends , must be following Segner

Yeah Canterbury have a lot of young locks coming through.
Gallagher,Cahill,Hannah plus a couple in the u/20s Sa,Jack and Frost.
He played poorly in last NPC for Canterbury time to move on.

Looking at the locks to come out of the Canterbury region the past 5 years (both those schooled there and those imported) and I really think the Crusaders have missed out on the best two (Holland and Darry).

I won't comment on those U20s guys, but IMO Gallagher, Cahill and Hannah all end up as journeyman. Darry could join them there, but he looked quite good in pre-season plus the early minutes prior to his injury.

Time will tell they are young for locks.
Hannah looks like a real athlete to me.
The u/20 locks are all big units for their age
Will at least be one AB out of those 3,

Darry was poor for his first 2 years in SR even Blues fans on here were bagging him for being shit.
Young locks need time Hannah and Cahill have only had a few minutes off the bench so far in their careers.
A bit early based on a few minutes to brand them journeymen just yet.

As I say, won't comment on the U20 locks but from what I have seen (namely for the U20s and in the NPC), Cahill just lacks a little bit across the board to go to the next level - not to say he won't be a tidy Super Rugby lock.

Gallagher will probably be very good for the Crusaders, but IMO he lacks the size to play test footy

Hannah could well surprise me - I admit, I have not seen much of him since he put all the size on.

Gallagher is not very tall but he is beefy.

Gallagher 197m 117 ks

Thought Hannah has looked good in his appearances

@Bones thought he was pretty good against the Chiefs?

@Tim said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones thought he was pretty good against the Chiefs?

Is that his only appearance? I just remember him carrying well and getting around the park.

@Bones said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Tim said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Bones thought he was pretty good against the Chiefs?

Is that his only appearance? I just remember him carrying well and getting around the park.

He came off the bench in all 4 games.this will be his first start v Blues.

I don't see anything special in Gallagher, and that goes back to watching him as captain of the NZ Schools team.

Back then Hannah looked like a walking broomstick. He had a high workrate and threw himself around but needed to put 20 kg on.

Just saw report that Strange and Crotty are out for Crusaders