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Key All Blacks remain sidelined in Crusaders' Semi Final team
By Kim Ekin
The Crusaders have named their squad to face the Blues in the first Semi Final of the Super Rugby Pacific ’23 season.
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The Blues are travelling south for the bout, kick-off at Orangetheory Stadium expected at 7.05 pm on Friday 16 June. It’ll be a big contest in the air and at the breakdown, and the Blues will be feeling confident off the back of their 41-12 quarter-final win against the Waratahs.
It’s also likely to be our last home game of the season, save a Brumbies victory over the Chiefs on Saturday.
Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor and Oli Jager are our first unchanged front row of the season – a signal of the recent consistency in this part of the field for the red and black. Scott Barrett, Quin Strange, Sione Talitui, Tom Christie and Christian Lio-Willie are the back five providing power and direction to the front.
Mitch Drummond is owning the No. 9 jersey, fizzed for a semi-final in front of a home crowd. His combination of safe hands and game understanding make him a key element to the Crusaders’ success.
Richie Mo’unga takes his place at No. 10 in what will likely be his last game for the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium. Expect hunger from our playmaker to make a big impact on the scoreline.
Leicester Fainga’anuku takes the left wing – also likely his last home game for the Crusaders – while Dallas McLeod takes the right wing. These guys are ready to put on a show for the fans and for the occasion.
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There are few better centre pairings than Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor. Huge experience between these two both as Crusaders and All Blacks.
And at full-back? The incomparable Will Jordan. Look for line breaks, freakish anticipation and offload magic from this man.
- Tamaiti Williams
- Codie Taylor
- Oliver Jager
- Scott Barrett
- Quinten Strange
- Sione Havili Talitui
- Tom Christie
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Mitch Drummond
- Richie Mo’unga
- Leicester Fainga’anuku
- Jack Goodhue
- Braydon Ennor
- Dallas McLeod
- Will Jordan
Reserves:
16. Brodie McAlister 17. Kershawl Sykes-Martin 18. Reuben O’Neill 19. Dominic Gardiner 20. Corey Kellow 21. Willi Heinz 22. Fergus Burke 23. Chay Fihaki
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Via Press Release/Crusaders
I'm a Crusader fan through and through and happily speak of their record of wins, however before a ball has been kicked I have leaned to support my team without the belittling of the opposition. It's going to be a taught battle come Friday night with two good teams going at it but my hope is 10 plus over the Blues by the Crusaders, equally I would like to see the Brumbies back in Christchurch the following week.
Crusader's are overwhelming favourites with a team stacked with Allblacks and at home. The Blues have become a team of chokers that shrink away and cower in the corners in the big games. The thrashing they received at home by the Crusader's in last year's final should tell them what to expect in this semi final. Crusader's are 26-0 in finals footy at home so there is zero point in the Blues even getting in the plane but if they do show up they may as well simply huddle under their goalposts and as at least it will be less embarassing than all the weak, ineffectual kicking efforts yesterday's man Beauden Barrett puts up inside his 10 metre line that allow opposition sides to counterattack and score from deep inside the blues half. No idea why Beauden or the coach think this is better than kicking for the corners with fast wingers chasing to pin the opposition inside their half. Some of these little, nothing kicks could be done by an absolute novice. The weird thing is this is kicking from a guy named world player of the year twice. Picking Beauden to not fire a shot all year and quietly go off to Japan and never return. At this level you've really got to want it and Beauden and the Blues when push comes to shove are more than happy to settle for coulda shoulda woulda.