NPR

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:40 am Please don't make the Canes wear those ugly blue / grey shirts again.

Canes by 1

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:40 am Please don't make the Canes wear those ugly blue / grey shirts again.

Canes by 1

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:43 am

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:40 am Please don't make the Canes wear those ugly blue / grey shirts again.

Canes by 1

Aw, that’s wishful thinking, especially with the Saders having home advantage. I see a safe Saders win.

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 1:57 pm

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:43 am

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:40 am Please don't make the Canes wear those ugly blue / grey shirts again.

Canes by 1

Aw, that’s wishful thinking, especially with the Saders having home advantage. I see a safe Saders win.

As much as I don't see us coming away with the win, the blues did show us some vulnerability in the Crusaders, tough defence will be key as well as set piece, in saying that the last team to beat the Crusaders at home was the Canes, so I'm hoping we can mimic that day

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 1:57 pm

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:43 am

Not_Couch wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:40 am Please don't make the Canes wear those ugly blue / grey shirts again.

Canes by 1

Aw, that’s wishful thinking, especially with the Saders having home advantage. I see a safe Saders win.

As much as I don't see us coming away with the win, the blues did show us some vulnerability in the Crusaders, tough defence will be key as well as set piece, in saying that the last team to beat the Crusaders at home was the Canes, so I'm hoping we can mimic that day

Jb1981 wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 10:32 pm I’m really enjoying this competition. After the Hurricanes win yesterday this is another “game of the season”. It’s a must win for them and if the Crusaders claim it,
would have them in touching distance of the title.

On paper the Crusaders should take it; the forward pack and big game players should be too much. But, if players like Laumape fire up like last night, who knows.

I will be nervously excited heading in.

stemoc wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:28 am Jordan vs Barret hopefully (razor put will at 15 not havili), to decide the next all black fullback

FujiKiwi wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:53 am

stemoc wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:28 am Jordan vs Barret hopefully (razor put will at 15 not havili), to decide the next all black fullback

I'm backing Will Jordan for long-term AB fullback, with Jordy as a useful bench player.

Not to be too simplistic, but all Barretts are excellent bench players and mediocre starters.

FujiKiwi wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:53 am

stemoc wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:28 am Jordan vs Barret hopefully (razor put will at 15 not havili), to decide the next all black fullback

I'm backing Will Jordan for long-term AB fullback, with Jordy as a useful bench player.

Not to be too simplistic, but all Barretts are excellent bench players and mediocre starters.

FujiKiwi wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:07 am Sorry to hear about Havili. He’s been playing very well.

Gumboot wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:13 am

FujiKiwi wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:07 am Sorry to hear about Havili. He’s been playing very well.

Yep, he's been in great nick. Think I read somewhere that he had stomach surgery during lock-down as well.

Having not carried a specialist pivot to cover Richie Mo’unga in their first four games, Brett Cameron and Fergus Burke will come into the selection equation.

In the two matches Havili missed pre Covid-19, when he lost a 20cm section of his bowel due to a nasty infection, the Crusaders used George Bridge at fullback while Will Jordan was nursing a groin injury.

However, the Crusaders, five points clear of the Blues at the top of the ladder with a game in hand, are expected to start the in-form Jordan at fullback down the stretch.

Jordan has a competition-high five tries to his name, despite coming off the bench in the team’s most recent match.

Leicester Faingaanuku is likely to be named on the bench when coach Scott Robertson names his side on Thursday afternoon.

Having started at blindside flanker against the Blues before the bye, Tom Sanders will likely continue to don the No 6 jersey and fill the void left by Grace and Blackadder

“We're going to be tested now with our depth, but we trust everyone, and we back everyone to do a job,’’ Ryan said.

Ymx wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:47 am Something as small as a broken thumb to end your season.

The likes of TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea and Dane Coles - and current assistant coach Cory Jane - were in the Hurricanes team that night and some relayed their experiences of toppling the mighty red team.

“They showed a video [on Tuesday], the last time the team beat the Crusaders [at home] was the Hurricanes in 2016. A few of those players were in the room and shared a moment of how that week and that buildup was, and how it was to play in that game,” said Hurricanes wing Kobus van Wyk.

“Everyone will be ready for this game, it’s the game we want to play in, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Both sides are barely recognisable from that night four years ago, with the only Crusaders back from that starting XV Richie Mo’unga, Sam Whitelock and Codie Taylor. Perenara, Savea, Coles and Vaea Fifita are the current Hurricanes who started in 2016.

Coaches Holland and Scott Robertson name their sides on Thursday, with the TAB installing the hosts as hot favourites to make it 37 straight at home: $1.20 to the Hurricanes $4.10.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:09 am I would be happy with a bp win.

Turbster wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 3:11 pm Paea seems a strange choice at 13 for the Saders doesn't it? Specially after Umaga-Jensen's blockbusting efforts last week? He might get steamrolled.

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:34 am Although Laumape can’t get any taller, he does seemed to have bulked up since last year. Maybe he got told to, or maybe it’s just extra gym time through the lockdown. The good news is it doesn’t seem to have cost him any dynamism.

Ymx wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:40 am

FujiKiwi wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:34 am Although Laumape can’t get any taller, he does seemed to have bulked up since last year. Maybe he got told to, or maybe it’s just extra gym time through the lockdown. The good news is it doesn’t seem to have cost him any dynamism.

He made a fool of BB’s defence.

I wonder if he will be directing his charges down R Mo channels. It would be the most obvious game plan.