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Richie Mo'unga and Codie Taylor available for Crusaders against Moana Pasifika

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Crusaders stars Richie Mo’unga and Codie Tayor will both be available for selection this weekend when their side face Moana Pasifika this weekend.

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Neither of the two All Blacks have featured for the Crusaders in the opening two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, with both players remaining in Christchurch while the side travelled to Queenstown for New Zealand Rugby’s two-week Covid bubble.

However, Crusaders assistant coach Scott Hansen confirmed on Monday that Mo’unga and Taylor will both be available to face Moana Pasifika in Christchurch this Friday.

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“They’ve come in, they’ve trained really well. They’re absolutely class players. They’ve got a huge part and role within the Crusaders environments, and we expect them to be at their best straight up,” he said.

The likely return of both players may spell the end of Fergus Burke’s and Brodie McAlister’s season-opening runs as the team’s starting first-five and hooker, respectively, but it will provide the Crusaders with significant experience and class.

Scott Robertson’s men might need both of those elements from Mo’unga and Taylor this week as Hansen hinted that the Moana Pasifika clash looms as a chance to rest and rotate players within his squad.

“We’ll pick a team this week that we feel will do a job. They’ll be a hungry team that we’re excited for, and there’ll be the possibility of some new guys and some new Crusaders getting out this weekend,” Hansen said.

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“Again, the team will be named during the week, but we’re excited for them to get out and influence around our team.”

With a near-clean bill of health, the Crusaders selectors will almost have a full squad to pick from, and, based on Hansen’s comments, there are some who could make their first Super Rugby appearances of the year, or in their career.

New recruit and three-test All Blacks halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi headlines the list of players who haven’t taken to the field for the Crusaders thus far in 2022 after finding himself behind Bryn Hall and Mitchell Drummond in the No 9 jersey.

Chay Fihaki and ex-Chiefs flyer Kini Naholo may also come into contention in the outside backs, as could Dallas McLeod and Isaiah Punivai in the midfield.

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In the pack, lock Zach Gallagher and loose forward Dominic Gardiner might be line to make their Super Rugby debuts after hooker Shilo Klein and flanker Corey Kellow achieved that feat over the past two weeks.

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Others forwards who are yet to have played after missing selection for their season-opening victories over the Hurricanes and Highlanders include flanker Sione Havili Talitui and props Finlay Brewis and Fletcher Newell.

Hansen didn’t provide an update on the fitness status of injured All Blacks flanker Ethan Blackadder, who Robertson said would be ready for action in “two to three weeks” more than a fortnight ago.

Hansen did, however, note that hosting Moana Pasifika in their first match of the year to be played in Christchurch is an exciting prospect for the Crusaders.

Alongside the Fijian Drua, Moana Pasifika are one of two competition newcomers this season and will make their Super Rugby Pacific debut this weekend after missing the first two rounds due to a Covid outbreak in their squad.

Hansen said preparation for Friday’s match is already underway, with the only analysis the Crusaders are able to conduct on Moana Pasifika being their 61-7 pre-season thumping at the hands of the Chiefs in Auckland earlier this month.

“We know it’s going to be a fantastic occasion for Super Rugby. We’re welcoming in our Pasifika brothers,” Hansen said.

“We understand that they’ve had a lot of challenges recently, but they’ll be coming into this game with a fantastic mindset around creating momentum through their big ball carriers, playing their special brand of rugby, and we’re excited to put our game against theirs.”

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1 Comment
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isaac 980 days ago

Really crusaders???? You are gonna pitch these two legends against a newcomer who have players recovering from covid?? And say introducing them slowly...common, just chuck the same team that played the highlanders and hurricanes...there is no threat from MP

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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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