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VIDEO: Crusaders retain key player for 2018

Seta Tamanivalu (middle)

Three test All Black Seta Tamanivalu will spend a second season in red and black next year, having re-signed with the Crusaders for 2018.

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The winger said it was a relatively straight-forward decision when he thought about how much he has been enjoying this first year with the team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ7DXxlQXUI&t

The timing of the announcement comes a day before Tamanivalu’s Crusaders are to face his old team, the Chiefs, in the Super Rugby semi finals. He joined the Chiefs in 2015 but moved south to play his third Super Rugby season with the Crusaders this year.

Born in Fiji and formerly an Under 18 Fiji Rugby League representative, Tamanivalu burst onto the New Zealand rugby scene in 2012 when he was selected in the Taranaki provincial team. In 2014 he was recognised as New Zealand’s provincial Player of the Year. He debuted for the All Blacks in 2016 during the three test series against Wales.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson praised Tamanivalu for the important contribution he has made to the team, on and off the field, in his first season here.

“Seta came here with a winning attitude and a desire to make an impact on this team.  There is no doubt that he has done that.  The boys love having him around because of his fun-loving nature and cheeky humour, but then he takes the field and transforms into this threatening, potent attacking force.  We love that about him and we are excited that we will be able to continue working with his natural talents in 2018.”

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Nickers 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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