@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Rumours of a few players returning, Blackadder, Reece and Barrett likely to be available for the Crusaders. Kini Naholo, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Bailyn Sullivan all likely to be available again for the Canes.

Massive game for both teams. If the Canes win they will cement themselves at the top of the Super Rugby ladder. If the Crusaders win, they'll continue their climb up the table and will start putting pressure on their Auckland foes.

Long range forecast for this match on Friday is for beautiful weather so let's hope a big crowd turns up at the Cake Tin for the occasion.

Barrett won't be back, a couple of weeks away.

Based on form this year I'm expecting us to get smoked. Will be a nice surprise if we dont.

@SammyC said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Rumours of a few players returning, Blackadder, Reece and Barrett likely to be available for the Crusaders. Kini Naholo, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Bailyn Sullivan all likely to be available again for the Canes.

Massive game for both teams. If the Canes win they will cement themselves at the top of the Super Rugby ladder. If the Crusaders win, they'll continue their climb up the table and will start putting pressure on their Auckland foes.

Long range forecast for this match on Friday is for beautiful weather so let's hope a big crowd turns up at the Cake Tin for the occasion.

Barrett won't be back, a couple of weeks away.

Based on form this year I'm expecting us to get smoked. Will be a nice surprise if we dont.

Love your jinx game mate

At the very least we are in the play-offs.

Hurricanes

Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Warner Dearns, Brayden Iose, Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Fehi Fineanganfo, Jordie Barrett (co-c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Callum Harkin

Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Siale Lauaki, Tevita Mafileo, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields, Devan Flanders, Ereatara Enari, Jone Rova

Crusaders

George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Tahlor Cahill, Ethan Blackadder, Leciester Fainga'anuku, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Macca Springer, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Johnny McNicholl

Replacements: George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Johnny Lee, Rivez Reihana

The Hurricanes going 6-2 with two extra loose forwards is perfect to expose LF at 7. CLW and Blackadder are going to have sore shoulders

The Crusaders have an extra loose forward too.

Jose starting over Flanders? Interesting call considering the wraps Flanders has been getting.

Crusaders are not their usual selves this year but it is a stronger team with Taylor and Blackadder back.

It would be just like the Crusaders to win their next 4, secure a home semi and then win it all..again.

@TheMojoman said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Jose starting over Flanders? Interesting call considering the wraps Flanders has been getting.

Crusaders are not their usual selves this year but it is a stronger team with Taylor and Blackadder back.

It would be just like the Crusaders to win their next 4, secure a home semi and then win it all..again.

Yes Crusader fans have been a little quiet this year. It's been interesting reading between the lines the suppressed excitement of the Canes supporters (can they dare to dream? Yes, they can!)

@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@TheMojoman said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Jose starting over Flanders? Interesting call considering the wraps Flanders has been getting.

Crusaders are not their usual selves this year but it is a stronger team with Taylor and Blackadder back.

It would be just like the Crusaders to win their next 4, secure a home semi and then win it all..again.

Yes Crusader fans have been a little quiet this year. It's been interesting reading between the lines the suppressed excitement of the Canes supporters (can they dare to dream? Yes, they can!)

We are playing well. But I can't help but feel we are vulnerable against a well organised team who can take us away from our plan A game. The Chiefs showed us up, and we know we will struggle to win if we have to go to Canberra and beat the Brumbies playing cold weather rugby

@canefan said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@TheMojoman said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Jose starting over Flanders? Interesting call considering the wraps Flanders has been getting.

Crusaders are not their usual selves this year but it is a stronger team with Taylor and Blackadder back.

It would be just like the Crusaders to win their next 4, secure a home semi and then win it all..again.

Yes Crusader fans have been a little quiet this year. It's been interesting reading between the lines the suppressed excitement of the Canes supporters (can they dare to dream? Yes, they can!)

We are playing well. But I can't help but feel we are vulnerable against a well organised team who can take us away from our plan A game. The Chiefs showed us up, and we know we will struggle to win if we have to go to Canberra and beat the Brumbies playing cold weather rugby

Keeps the Comp interesting!

@TheMojoman looks like it's a canes trying to balance power and speed - when Tosi goes off so does Iose, on comes Flanders?

@canefan I wouldn't call needing extra time and home advantage to beat us, showing us up.

Lee in 22 is aesthetically really annoying. Should be 21 or 23.

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@canefan I wouldn't call needing extra time and home advantage to beat us, showing us up.

I don't think it's unfair to say we were favoured before the game. They had a lot of injuries, but their squadies showed up, and drew is into playing the type of attentional rugby that doesn't really suit us. And we couldn't mLe them play out style instead

Canes had the benefit of an easier start to the season to build form before getting into a tough run at the end. We're playing with confidence, but I don't think there is much between the Canes, Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders (with some of their big names back) at the moment. Still very much anyone's competition to win.

@Bones said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@TheMojoman looks like it's a canes trying to balance power and speed - when Tosi goes off so does Iose, on comes Flanders?

Flanders hasn't had any rest this year so maybe he's a bit battered from playing the Blues, Chiefs and Brumbies in a row.

Iose has seen a lot of bench time this year so I expect him to be fully of energy, thankfully it looks to be a dry track tomorrow night which will suit him.

@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@TheMojoman said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Jose starting over Flanders? Interesting call considering the wraps Flanders has been getting.

Crusaders are not their usual selves this year but it is a stronger team with Taylor and Blackadder back.

It would be just like the Crusaders to win their next 4, secure a home semi and then win it all..again.

Yes Crusader fans have been a little quiet this year. It's been interesting reading between the lines the suppressed excitement of the Canes supporters (can they dare to dream? Yes, they can!)

The excitement is a little suppressed because we've been in this position plenty of times and haven't kicked on. This game will go a long way in helping us push for that 1st position and will give us a 4 point buffer over the Chiefs. Lose it, and the confidence of this side will take a massive hit.

@No-Quarter said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Canes had the benefit of an easier start to the season to build form before getting into a tough run at the end. We're playing with confidence, but I don't think there is much between the Canes, Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders (with some of their big names back) at the moment. Still very much anyone's competition to win.

I think there's currently a gulf in class between the Canes/Chiefs and Blues/Crusaders right now. That can all change by finals time though with players returning etc.

It's the best Canes team in a while, that's for sure.
Really good front row.
A full-size lock, halle-fucken-lujah!
Loosies all playing well.
AB halfback.
Good attacking 10.
AB 12 + 13
The form winger of the comp

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

Wasn't there a shield challenge years ago where a great Lions team got hosed, and Ben Blair got to save the day at the end?

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

southern charm

@canefan said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

Wasn't there a shield challenge years ago where a great Lions team got hosed, and Ben Blair got to save the day at the end?

Yep fcking Steve Walsh, hang your head in shame.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@canefan said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

Wasn't there a shield challenge years ago where a great Lions team got hosed, and Ben Blair got to save the day at the end?

Yep fcking Steve Walsh, hang your head in shame.

Justin Marshall took out Jason Spice when we were hot on attack?

It's a bloody miracle any team has managed to beat the Saders over the years, what with the refs being in their pocket and NZR secretly paying players and buying houses.

@canefan said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@canefan said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

@samwise said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Just watched the 2010 throwback game and damn that try given to the Saders at the end is one of the all time worst decisions I've seen

Lol if you go back on most games over the last 20 years, the Cantabs always got the rub of the green.

Wasn't there a shield challenge years ago where a great Lions team got hosed, and Ben Blair got to save the day at the end?

Yep fcking Steve Walsh, hang your head in shame.

Justin Marshall took out Jason Spice when we were hot on attack?

And then he carded the wrong guy. Definitely drunk.

@Crazy-Horse said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

It's a bloody miracle any team has managed to beat the Saders over the years, what with the refs being in their pocket and NZR secretly paying players and buying houses.

Got to throw in the extremely occasional loss otherwise it looks dodgy. Even a horse should know that.

Canes in their away jersey in Wellington

@Yeetyaah said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

Canes in their away jersey in Wellington

Which ironically creates more of a jersey clash

The Canes should have worn their home jersey - maybe a potential change at half time?

Is Kirifi big enough to play 10?

Clinical from the Crusaders forwards ..

Excellent from Crusaders

Worrying signs for the Canes

Good to see LF at least is pretending he might get lifted this week.

You can still see some red and yellow on the jerseys anyway - so it's hardly a jersey clash then

That came from an LF "pass". Got to be the ultimate illustration of rocks and diamonds at the moment.

Good hit back from the Canes

Really enjoying this game

Playoff intensity