Seven new names in 2018 BNZ Crusties squad

018 BNZ Crusaders squad:

FORWARDS                                                              BACKS
 
Michael Alaalatoa                                                     Tim Bateman
Scott Barrett                                                             George Bridge
Ethan Blackadder                                                     Ryan Crotty
Wyatt Crockett                                                          Israel Dagg
Mitchell Dunshea                                                      Mike Delany
Owen Franks                                                             Mitchell Drummond
Ben Funnell                                                               Braydon Ennor
Billy Harmon                                                             Jack Goodhue
Oliver Jager                                                               Bryn Hall
Andrew Makalio                                                        David Havili
Joe Moody                                                                 Mitchell Hunt
Tim Perry                                                                   Will Jordan
Kieran Read                                                              Jone Macilai
Luke Romano                                                           Manasa Mataele
Pete Samu                                                                Richie Mo’unga  
Tom Sanders                                                            Jack Stratton
Quinten Strange                                                       Seta Tamanivalu
Jordan Taufua
Codie Taylor
Matt Todd
Sam Whitelock

 That is one seriously strong looking team, looks like a 2 horse race with the Canes and the Lions possibly the only non NZ team with a chance.

 Is Ethan Blackadder related to the other more illustrious Blackadder ? [ not the Baldric bashing one !]

 ...CRUSADERS - BLACKADDER COMES FORTH

Expect the Super Rugby champions to put a familiar looking team out on to the paddock in 2018, with coach Scott Robertson naming just seven new players in a squad that includes 12 current All Blacks.

The most intriguing addition is that of one-cap All Black first five-eighth Mike Delany, who returned to play for Bay of Plenty after six seasons abroad. The 35-year-old provides a more experienced alternative to young incumbents Richie Mo'unga and Mitchell Hunt.

New Zealand under-20 standouts Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan will inject some excitement in the backline, while there is a notable name in the forward pack, with Todd Blackadder's son, Tasman flanker Ethan Blackadder, also earning his first Super Rugby contract.

Other newbies include Billy Harmon and Jack Stratton, while Tom Sanders has returned from the Chiefs.

Arrivals: Ethan Blackadder, Mike Delany, Braydon Ennor, Billy Harmon, Will Jordan, Tom Sanders, Jack Stratton.

Departures: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Jed Brown, Leon Fukofuka, Sione Fifita, Digby Ioane, Marty McKenzie, Sean Wainui.

Keep an eye on: Will Jordan made the step up to Mitre 10 Cup look easy, performing consistently well for beaten finalists Tasman. Although he faces stiff competition for the No. 15 jersey, with two All Blacks in his way, Jordan will be one to watch in 2018.

 ...

 They are going to be hard to beat! So far kiwi teams look improved except perhaps for the Blues.

 ...Crusties and Canes both paying $4. 50 at the TAB to take it out in 2018
 and according to the lady in Rebel Sport , Dec 1 all the new kit's coming out... 40 % off all the old stock atm

Crusaders fan, I don't expect the Lions to be the same team they were in the past two years. Sharks, Bulls and Stormers all have relatively good teams, but I think the Bulls are on the right track with Mitchell as coach. We shall see, but I suspect it is going to be more of the same with NZ dominance next year. 

 for the first time in many years the saders are not losing 3-4 of their most important and influential players,... they are going to keep the core of the champion team which makes them the strongest team and the team to beat next year

only fringe players with few minutes of gametime last season are leaving,... except Jed Brown, who's injured and will miss next season, players rejected by the team and replaced with promising youngs,... Will Jordan and Braydon Ennor are the most promising ones after having shone in the U20 WC and the last NPC,... if they can translate their form in those tournaments to Super Rugby the team will have depth to burn in the outside backs' department,... with 3 AB in Dagg, Tamanivalu and Havili plus George Bridge, Macilai and Mataele (all of 3 proven good SR players)

Harmon replaced the injured Jed Brown as Canterbury's openside,... and also in the saders official team,... he's been really good in the NPC finals,.... with Dunshea, a blindside-lock who last season was injured and couldn't play, who was also superb for Canterbury they have some good back-ups for the loosie quartet playing regularly (Read, Todd, Taufua and Samu)

may be they have few centers,... Crotty, Goodhue and Bateman form the best midfield of the competition,...but there are no more pure centers,... probably the coaching team is thinking in using Havili or Ennor (both can play in both 12 and 13) or Tamanivalu (who can play 13) in case of need

the strongest team of the comp,.... including Goodhue, Drummond and Mo'unga (who very probably will play for them this november) they have 18 All Blacks,.... they'll have more than one complete AB team,... but, as often these last years, this could be also one of their weaknesses,... for the beginning of the next season they have already 4 very important casualties (Franks, Moody, Dagg and Taufua) and they now have 14 players touring with the AB which means they cannot begin trainning until mid January which, in turn, means that they are not going to be completely fit for the beginning of the season,... and all these could very probably translate into the classic saders' slow start

last year they were quite lucky with the fixtures, having an easy start is what best suits them,... but this year the saders have a very tough start, playing against the chiefs, stormers, canes and landers

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