Fletcher Newell,Cullen Grace,David Havilli and Will Jordan should be back for this weeks Reds game.

Is this a must win or is there another lifeline should the Crusaders lose?

@SBW1 said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

Is this a must win or is there another lifeline should the Crusaders lose?

Crusaders are safe unless both Chiefs and Crusaders lose

Don't think they will be complacent this week. The Blues are starting to find some form. I assume we are getting some big guns back for Friday.

@Chris said in Crusaders 2025:

Fletcher Newell,Cullen Grace,David Havilli and Will Jordan should be back for this weeks Reds game.

Pretty much full strength?

I'd expect something close to:

Williams, Taylor, Newell, Barrett, Shalfoon, Blackadder, Christie, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana, Reece, Havili, Ennor, Fihaki, Jordan

Bower, Bell, Calder, Cahill, Grace, Drummond, OÇonnor, McLeod

They might bench Christie and start Grace - Kellow could make the bench, but he wouldn't make my team this week.

They might pick Moananu over Bell.

Cahill, Hannah, Strange? Seems like Cahill has the inside track, but that's probably not set in stone.

I haven't been impressed (imprest?) with Preston in the past couple of weeks. I'd go with Drummie, but they probably won't.

Possibility that McNicol makes the bench instead of McLeod, but I think we're better covered with Dallas there. McNicol could push Fihaki out.

Tamaiti might have to play another big shift - and switch sides for 20 minutes depending on Fletch's conditioning.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:

@Chris said in Crusaders 2025:

Fletcher Newell,Cullen Grace,David Havilli and Will Jordan should be back for this weeks Reds game.

Pretty much full strength?

I'd expect something close to:

Williams, Taylor, Newell, Barrett, Shalfoon, Blackadder, Christie, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana, Reece, Havili, Ennor, Fihaki, Jordan

Bower, Bell, Calder, Cahill, Grace, Drummond, OÇonnor, McLeod

They might bench Christie and start Grace - Kellow could make the bench, but he wouldn't make my team this week.

They might pick Moananu over Bell.

Cahill, Hannah, Strange? Seems like Cahill has the inside track, but that's probably not set in stone.

I haven't been impressed (imprest?) with Preston in the past couple of weeks. I'd go with Drummie, but they probably won't.

Possibility that McNicol makes the bench instead of McLeod, but I think we're better covered with Dallas there. McNicol could push Fihaki out.

Tamaiti might have to play another big shift - and switch sides for 20 minutes depending on Fletch's conditioning.

Ennor maybe the one out of your team he has a sternum injury.
100% percent that forward pack and reserves for me I hope we select Cahill on the bench he has been more physical than Strange and Hannah,
McLeod may start at centre,which leaves McNicol,Springer or Amua for that last bench spot.

@Chris Yeah - Ennor didn't look good after he made that kick in the second half - looked like Dan Carter in 2011!

Probably need Big Levi on the bench, though arguably Sevu could cover centre. Don't think Macca's recent efforts warrant selection.

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Chris Yeah - Ennor didn't look good after he made that kick in the second half - looked like Dan Carter in 2011!

Probably need Big Levi on the bench, though arguably Sevu could cover centre. Don't think Macca's recent efforts warrant selection.

Yep I am thinking the same way.

@KiwiMurph said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@SBW1 said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

Is this a must win or is there another lifeline should the Crusaders lose?

Crusaders are safe unless both Chiefs and Crusaders lose

such a shit system. Hate it. If Crusaders and Chiefs both win, Hurricanes can just not turn up against the Brumbies and nothing will change, do I understand that correctly?

@Tordah A win for the Hurricanes in that scenario would change their semi-final opponents from the Chiefs to the Crusaders.

Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: George Bell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Tahlor Cahill, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod

Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell

Replacements: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan

@Duluth The Crusaders email I received says Jamie Hannah and Johnny McNicholl on the bench?

Actually, I hope your version is right!

KSM is a bit of a surprise.

@Chris-B

Yeah, the team I posted is from the super rugby site. It looks different from the team on the Crusaders website

You'd assume the Crusaders have their own team correct

@Duluth Stuff website has your team... who knows!

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Duluth Stuff website has your team... who knows!

The Crusaders Instagram has Cahill and McLeod on the bench

@Chris said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Duluth Stuff website has your team... who knows!

The Crusaders Instagram has Cahill and McLeod on the bench

Someone's having end-of-season drinks early.

That doesn't bode well!

@Chris said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@Duluth Stuff website has your team... who knows!

The Crusaders Instagram has Cahill and McLeod on the bench
Yet McNicol and Hannah are listed on the Crusaders website.

I blame Penney

Johnny Mac has been a standout for us, so very unlucky to miss out.

Only surprise in the forwards is Sykes-Martin getting the bench spot.

5"C with a fresh southerly wind blowing.

I'm reminded of a quote from Queensland's Jeff Thomson, playing cricket in England.

"At home, it's not even as cold as this in my fridge".

Thankfully next year Crusaders are moving into a stadium with a roof.

Will Jordan tap back genius.

The more I watch Tate, the higher I consider the chances of Lions success if he's starting.

Sick hands Havili....

Crusader fans doing their absolute best to single handedly bring the super rugby average fan attendance down

Nice break. Surely Hotham was offside a couple of phases later?

10 minutes in. Blackadder extends this season's onfield time by nearly 10%...

Great carry by Havili. Nonu like power, stepping and passing.

Really nice hands from Ennor too.

World class fullback play. Brilliant work to maneuver himself to not make any tackles on the reds break then kicks it into touch with his winger in space.

@antipodean said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

The more I watch Tate, the higher I consider the chances of Lions success if he's starting.

A good runner of the ball but that's basically it. There's a reason why he's never locked down the 9 jersey for Australia... There must be better options for the bench still.

Havili follows it up with an adroit kick into touch forcing the Reds to a defensive lineout five metres out.

Subsequent lineout the Reds fuck it up and Crusaders score

Where's the crowd?

Barrett for AB captain.

Reds should have mauled themselves out of if trouble there.

@NTA said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

Where's the crowd?

At home

5 degrees and a southerly

Having been there I can confirm the stadium is an absolute shithole.

@KiwiMurph said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@NTA said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

Where's the crowd?

At home

5 degrees and a southerly

Having been there I can confirm the stadium is an absolute shithole.

I'm told Cantabs are stoic, hardy people and don't care about such things

@KiwiMurph said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

@NTA said in QF Crusaders v Reds:

Where's the crowd?

At home

5 degrees and a southerly

Having been there I can confirm the stadium is an absolute shithole.

Yep, a shithole alright but not exactly their fault.

With the roofed stadium opening up next year, the Crusaders will lose their biggest advantage of freezing their opposition to death.