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Super Rugby PacificCrusaders

Defending champs name strong squad for 2018

Defending Super Rugby champions the Crusaders have named seven new caps, including the son of a former captain and coach, among a squad of familiar names for their 2018 campaign.

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https://www.facebook.com/crusadersrugby/videos/10155937141542147/

22 year-old Ethan Blackadder, son of Canterbury and Crusaders stalwart Todd, joins dynamic New Zealand under-20 representatives Will Jordan and Braydon Ennor, veteran Mike Delany, Tom Sanders, Billy Harmon and Jack Stratton in the squad.

Another relative veteran, midfielder Tim Bateman, has re-signed for the 2018 season and will play alongside All Blacks Ryan Crotty, Richie Mo’unga, Jack Goodhue and David Havili.

In the forwards, Kieran Read, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Luke Romano, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock give this Crusaders a very familiar All Black vibe.

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But it’s the newer members of the squad that will have Canterbury fans looking forward to another season of Super dominance. Blackadder, for instance, earns his place after a strong season with the Mitre 10 Cup runners-up Tasman where he cemented a starting spot in the team. Similarly, Jack Stratton has been strong for Canterbury and, alongside the likes of George Bridge, will be looking to emulate Jack Goodhue whose 2017 efforts saw him called up to the All Blacks.

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Last but not least, it’s great to see Israel Dagg back for another season in red-and-black after a long injury break. Crusaders fans and his younger teammates will be looking to him for leadership and experience as they kick off against the Chiefs on 24 February.

 

2018 Crusaders Squad:

Forwards: Michael Alaalatoa, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Wyatt Crockett, MItchell Dunshea, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Billy Harmon, Oliver Jager, Andrew Makalio, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Peter Samu, Tom Sanders, Quinten Strange, Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Sam Whitelock.

Backs: Tim Bateman, George Bridge, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Mike Delany, Mitchell Drummond, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Bryn Hall, David Havili, Mitchell Hunt, Will Jordan, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele, Richie Mo’unga, Jack Stratton, Seta Tamanivalu.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
CB 6 minutes ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

Steve Borthwick appointment was misguided based on two flawed premises.

1. An overblown sense of the quality of the premiership rugby. The gap between the Premiership and Test rugby is enormous

2. England needed an English coach who understood English Rugby and it's traditional strengths.

SB won the premiership and was an England forward and did a great job with the Japanese forwards but neither of those qualify you as a tier 1 test manager.

Maybe Felix Jones and Aled Walter's departures are down to the fact that SB is a details man, which work at club level but at test level you need the manager to manage and let the coaches get on and do what they are employed for.

SB criticism of players is straight out of Eddie Jones playbook but his loyalty to keeping out of form players borne out of his perceived sense of betrayal as a player.

In all it doesn't stack up as the qualities needed to be a modern Test coach /Manager

13 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 10 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

But still Australians. Only Australia can help itself seems to be the key message.


Blaming Kiwis is deflecting from the actual problem.

35 Go to comments
O
OJohn 24 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I know - but only a particular selfish greedy self entitled a..... breed who have been screwing over Australian rugby for 20 years.

They even sent themselves bankrupt, morons.

35 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 28 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I will consider such. But I think outliers like Rod Macqueen are difficult to plan for and or identify logically.


But I’ll keep an open mind and include Rod Macqueen in my assessment.

35 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 30 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

So you see. Australians are the problem.

35 Go to comments
O
OJohn 40 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

35 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 44 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Some interesting names there. I’ll spend some time researching their coaching credentials and come back with a well thought out response and avoid jumping to irrational conclusions.


Chat later.

35 Go to comments
O
OJohn 47 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

There's plenty of coaching talent available. See other post but the Tahs won't let them coach Australia unless they are Tahs.

35 Go to comments
O
OJohn 49 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.


Go on say it. I know you're going to. No Australian will ever be good enough to coach Australia when there's a hopeless kiwi or south african available. Ever !


Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.

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B
Bull Shark 52 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

This is true.


But perhaps because rugby is Australia’s fourth (or worse) most popular sport, there is just no coaching talent good enough.


It’s interesting that no players from the Aussies golden era (say between 1987 - 2000) have emerged as international quality coaches. Or coaches at all.


Again, Australians are the problem methinks. Not as interested in the game. Not as interested to support the game. Not as interested to get into the game.


And like any other industry in the world - when you don’t have the capabilities or the skills, you import them.


Not difficult to understand really.

35 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I would say at least one of the 6 if you’d be so kind as to name them?


I’m thinking you can’t name 6 Australian coaches who would be as good as or better than Schmidt.

35 Go to comments
F
Frans 1 hour ago
Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

Australia definitely the game of the weekend. Wallabies by 3.

2 Go to comments
t
tt 1 hour ago
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Smith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.

Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?

10 Go to comments
O
OJohn 2 hours ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ?

35 Go to comments
S
SF 2 hours ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

I'm a SA'can and like Ben I hate the springboks.

32 Go to comments
C
CC 2 hours ago
South Africa vs Wales | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

I reckoned the springbok coach, has now started to underestimate Wales, sending 8players home? Really? It’s not yet over until it’s over Coach

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U
Utiku Old Boy 2 hours ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I am waiting for your list of candidates. We had several from which to choose so give me some choice (your list) in Aussie candidates for the ABs. You imply that any Australian would be preferrable to Schmidt, yet E Jones and Cheika obviously didn't meet your standards either. Are you angry that Schmidt is far exceeding Jones? All Oz coaches you have quoted are from way back in time. When you had some choice. What you won't admit, is you got nobody better than a kiwi currently. Otherwise you would be putting them up. The fact you don't shows you are a blowhard because you want to groan about Schmidt purely on the basis he is kiwi - not his impressive results.

35 Go to comments
L
LV 2 hours ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Another poorly written article. Well done Ben, keep up the good work!

32 Go to comments
C
CC 2 hours ago
Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

Thanks Steve D

12 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
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