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Crusaders light up front but still name 12 All Blacks for Chiefs rematch

Scott Barrett. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

While there are still fears that the Crusaders might not be able to field a team, they’ve managed to name an impressive match-day squad for their second match on the trot with the high-flying Chiefs.

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Coach Scott Robertson has named eight All Blacks in the run-on side for the Saturday evening encounter and a further four on the bench. The Crusaders will be looking to get one back over the Chiefs after Clayton McMillan’s men scored a rare victory in Christchurch just two weekends ago and with the Crusaders not playing a match last weekend due to the number of Covid cases within the squad, they’ve had plenty of time to stew over the loss.

While Robertson’s team still looks strong as a whole, it’s a lack of available bodies in the front row that could still see Saturday’s match postponed at the last minute.

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With Joe Moody out of action and young Abraham Pole heading to the Highlanders, 22-year-old debutant Finlay Brewis has been named to start at loosehead prop with George Bower providing cover off the bench. Oli Jage, meanwhile, will make his return from injury on the tighthead side of the scrum in place of Fletcher Newell – also unavailable – with Tamaiti Williams backing up via the reserves. Brodie McAlister caps off the front row with Codie Taylor named in the No 16 jersey.

It’s a case of one All Black in, one All Black out in the second row with captain Scott Barrett taking the place of Sam Whitelock. Quinten Strange holds his spot in the lineup while Mitch Dunshea comes onto the bench after last featuring against Moana Pasifika in Round 3.

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A strong loose forward trio has been named with All Blacks Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace teaming up with tackling tyro Tom Christie while Corey Kellow has been named on the bench (although Dominic Gardiner has been bracketed).

There are just three positional changes in the backline from the last time the Crusaders took on the Chiefs with Leicester Fainga’anuku shifting from wing to centre to cover in the absence of Braydon Ennor, George Bridge taking over the No 11 jersey and Chay Fihaki handed a rare start in place of Sevu Reece, who will add impact from the bench.

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With Bryn Hall and Richie Mo’unga against combining in the halves, Mitch Drummond and Fergus Burke will cover from the reserves.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have also named a side boasting plenty of All Blacks but will be missing the services of Pita Gus Sowakula.

The Crusaders kick-started their season with three wins in a row before falling to the Chiefs in Christchurch. Both teams have now secured three matches from their four games played this season and while the Crusaders currently sit atop the New Zealand sides on the overall Super Rugby Pacific ladder, a loss in Hamilton would see them slip behind the Chiefs.

The rematch between the two sides kicks off at 7:05pm NZT on Saturday evening from Waikato Stadium.

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Crusaders: Will Jordan, Chay Fihaki, Leicester Fainga’anuku, David Havili, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Oli Jager, Brodie McAlister, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Mitch Dunshea, Corey Kellow, Mitchell Drummond, Fergus Burke, Sevu Reece.

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Comments

2 Comments
J
Jamie 956 days ago

I counted 11 ABs. Who is the 12th? Will Jordan, David Havili, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor, George Bower, Mitchell Drummond, Sevu Reece.

G
Graeme 956 days ago

Good line ups both sides.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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