Good news in Sader country II

hi cruz,

introducing those big pictures in your post you made impossible to enter more posts so I'm going to duplicate the thread.

The posts that were in the original thread were:

Status: Orange peeler
Posts: 54 Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 08:45:08

Matt Todd's fast recovery from a serious chest injury could impact on Richie McCaw's desire to own the Crusaders' No 7 jersey.

With Todd initially not expected to be available until around late March McCaw was tipped to be an automatic starter at openside flanker for the Crusaders' opener, against the Chiefs on February 21.

But Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has revealed Todd has made such a quick recovery from the pectoral muscle he tore last September that he could start in the first pre-season game against the Highlanders in Motueka on February 7.

Todd is now a real chance to play the defending Super Rugby champions in Christchurch.

This means Blackadder must consider whether he should switch McCaw, one of New Zealand's greatest players who has amassed 124 test caps, to No 6 to accommodate a player who has made just two test appearances.

Yesterday McCaw, who last season made only two brief appearances as a replacement and hasn't started at openside flanker for the Crusaders since July 2012, made it clear what position he preferred.

"Probably 7," McCaw, 33, said when asked where he wanted to start.

"But with Matt Todd coming back with injury ... Hopefully I will be playing 7 but if there other reasons to play elsewhere then I will do that."

In the past, when there had been debate about whether McCaw should be shifted to another loose forward position, All Blacks Steve Hansen cut the discussions short by stating McCaw's best spot is at openside.

It seems logical that Hansen would prefer McCaw to operate at No 7 for the Crusaders ahead of the June series against England.

"To be honest that is my best position," McCaw said. "If I can play there, that is where I intend to play. And I think Toddy realises that. But if someone is injured and there is a need [to change] then Matt goes pretty well there too."

McCaw only returned to training on Monday but Blackadder, who is desperate to make a fast start this season, expects him to be available for the Chiefs match.

Injuries and an extended summer breaks mean McCaw hasn't been sighted in a season opener since 2009.

Blackadder maintained he was keeping an open mind about his back row selections.

"I will look at all options. I see Richie has being a 6 as well."

One thing is certain, if all his loosies are fit and available there is no shortage of options.

Todd, a regular starter at No 7 for the past three seasons (in 2011 and 2012 he played at openside flanker 34 times while McCaw, mainly because of a foot injury, appeared there on just 8 occasions) may prove a sentimental selection favourite for Blackadder.

Crusaders#1

Status: Orange peeler
Posts: 54 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 08:50:05 Personally I'd be playing King Ritchie at 6 and Todd at 7...George whitelock is kak and doesn't deserve a spot on the bench...his younger brother Luke a much better option...IMO

Crusaders#1

Status: Orange peeler
Posts: 54 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 09:14:03  I'm expecting this might be King Ritchie's last crack at a super rugby trophy...with the World Cup looming next year ...he may not play a big part in super rugby in 2015...so a good start is essential ...chiefs have jumped out to an early lead in the NZ conferance the last couple of seasons...need to stop that trend now!

Beeno1

Status: Hall Of Fame
Posts: 8152 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 09:50:38  crustie mate lets be brutally honest hear. The best spot for wee mcaaw is on the bench.Hw shoudl retire now. I
I see that other vastly over hyped player wee matfield is making a comeback. Meyer please ignore him. Ludeke why humour the oak?

As for the crusties beating the chiefies well good luck on that one. Some wee chiefies fans here need a little humbling as they forget how the Mighty Stormers gave them a severe snotklap at Newlands.

Crusaders#1

Status: Orange peeler
Posts: 54 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 10:36:16  Beanhead...since we are being brutally honest...King Ritchie is the best 7 around anywhere...and is easily the best captain in world rugby...but...for the saders this season best he play 6....a better fit for this team...I wouldn't be talkin up the stormers at Newlands like its a fortress or something...have the stormers ever beaten the Saders at newlands???Good luck to your team this year anyway ...hopefully for you ...they learn how to score try's this season...

Crusaders#1

Status: Orange peeler
Posts: 54 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 11:01:04  Saders team I'd roll out to face the chiefs...1.moody2.flynn3.franks4.romano5.s whitelock 6.McCaw7.todd8.read9.heinz10.blyendall11.mcnicholl12 Taylor13crotty14nadolo15 daggRes...Crockett,funnell,perry,bird,l whitelock,Ellis,slade,lee-loo,guildford...

clevermike

Status: Hall Of Fame
Posts: 8858 RE: Good news in Sader country
January 31, 2014, 11:33:24

 Crus

Time for a bit of enlightenment.   McCaw after his return from his sabbatical was not up to the standards he set in the past and clearly is NOT the player he was.  As an ardent admirer of him in the past - I would not like to see him humiliated - so he should retire before it happens.

As a supporter of SA teams - I really hope he stays around.  That would help any SA team playing the Crusaders or New Zealand.  

Now for the Crusader team you quoted - quite a good one bar -

*   The hooker is poor;

*   The props are average - not really the best around;

*   The locks just about par - Whitelock is the best lock in New Zealand - but he is just slightly above  average

*   I rate Todd and Read highly - two of the best around.

*   The weakest backline the Crusaders have had for years - and Dagg was not up to standard in Super 15 last year - will he be such this year?  The only backline player I like there is Taylor.

I think that team will not be very successful - have you no better in Crusader country at all - the Sharks will laugh themselves silly when they see that combination. 

Not an overload of Crusaders in my fantasy selections this year - maybe Todd and Read.

 not so clevermike,
are you smoking crack or what?
The Crusaders have the best forward pack of the SR comp. They have had it for quite years now and they'll have it next season too.

" The props are average", really?
Next season with the new scrummagging rules applied it will be very important to have 4 good props, not only 2. The quartet formed by O. Franks, W. Crockett, J. Moody and Laulala is the best. Franks is simply the best tighthead of the world, Crockett is the current AB loosehead prop (along with Woodcock) and Moody will be the next one, probably as soon as next year. Laulala is a very good prospect, a mobile prop who also scrummage quite well.

"The locks just about par" WTF are you talking about? I challenge you to name a better trio of locks than Whitelock, Romano and Bird.
Whitelock and Romano were the kings of the lineouts last season, they stole one of each 4 rival lineouts. Don't you remember how they stole them to Andries Bekker, the tallest SA lock, at Newlands? Add to it Whitelock's workrate which is second to none and his ability and strenght at the breakdowns. All of it perfectly complemented by Romano's strenght carrying the ball.

"McCaw after his return from his sabbatical was not up to the standards". And again, WTF are you talking about?
McCaw next season will lead the best backrow, with he himself the best 7 and probably best backrow ever, with last year's best player by far Kieran Read, with Todd and the Whitelock bros.

The hooker position is the weakest one but is not poor. Flynn is a good hooker and both Funell and Codey Taylor are good prospects. Taylor has been very injury-prone but he glimpses some very good manners carrying the ball.

" The weakest backline the Crusaders have had for years". With Carter in a sabbatical and some losses (Freuan, Marshall) it could seem that this is true but I don't think so.
Bleyendaal is a more than capable flyhalf to guide the backline. Taylor and Crotty are very complete centers, Dagg is the best fullback playmeker and btwin all of them they will set up the most creative backline.
The incorporation of 2 very good and different finishers in McNicholl, agile, and Nadolo, 130 kg of strenght, it's the icing on the cake for a team that will be fighting for the NZ conference with the chiefs, like the last 2 years. And the one who will win this battle will win the SR title, like the last 2 years

 @cruz,
I'd roll out the same starting XV except Heinz. I think that Ellis is a more rounded scrumhalf even though he uses to fail in the important moments. He had a great ITM season. But this a great team to face the chiefs (and beat them!).
This first match of the comp will be crucial for the march of the season but even more crucial will be not to fail against teams like Force (last year) or Rebels (the year before)

 How's it Blackpower my bro...cheers I thought I fucked the other thread...mike is smoking some shit alright...and your bang on with the locks...there is no better trio in super rugby....infact you won't find a better forward pack either....Ellis/Heinz  could go either way really....Heinz has faster service but Ellis has a great kicking game...they work well in tandem together Taylor at 12...I think this is his best position...not 10 or 15 just like his old man....I think our new Fijian ...Nadolo won't play for a few weeks still in Japan ...so Guildford will come into the starting lineup...and the shitiest Whitelock ...Adam will move onto the bench....They have most of there AB,s back early this year bro...so I'm pumped for a much stronger start to the  season than the last few years....

 Mike for you....special mention for the locks

JAMES MORTIMER    03.FEB.2014GETTY IMAGES

Sam Whitelock, the 25-year-old senior All Blacks and Crusaders lock, might boast 51-Test caps in what has been a remarkable career so far, but he will have two different, but same, second row forwards pushing him for selection.

 

Luke Romano and Dominic Bird are both All Blacks - giving head coach Todd Blackadder a full international roster of big big men.

Bird, the tallest New Zealand Test player ever at 2.06 metres tall, made his debut against Japan last year, and at 22 is the spring chicken.

Romano is by age the elder statesman of the group, something of a late bloomer, with the 27-year-old making his international debut in 2012 against Ireland, but he rapidly shook up the selection charts for Steve Hansen and co despite the presence of another giant to the North.

Brodie Retallick isn’t the only physical lock roaming around, and Romano added a fair amount of steel to the All Blacks pack, charging around reminisce of a certain Brad Thorn.

Romano suffered a groin injury which ruled him out of playing a major part in The Investec Rugby Championship last year, but came back to earn his 16th cap against England, which the All Blacks won 30-22.

The Crusaders operated arguably the best lineout last year in Super Rugby, with their uncompromising win in Newlands, along with Whitelock’s performance, considered one of the finer set piece performances in 2013.