Crusaders v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Highlanders' media release:

Highlanders named for Super Round clash against Crusaders | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

Head Coach Clarke Dermody has made several changes to his starting team for the round 2 Super Round match against the Crusaders in Melbourne on Friday night.

All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Ethan de Groot will have the week off under the All-Black load management programme and are likely available, along with Aaron Smith, for the round three match against the Chiefs.

[Crucial]

Saders by a million.

[Kiwiwomble]

damn...even the team has written this one off...not overly looking forward to going now

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Saders by a million.

most redundant post nomination?

[Crucial]

@Kiwiwomble said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Saders by a million.

most redundant post nomination?

Just thought I'd get in first.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial only slightly faster than the crusaders first try will be

[KiwiMurph]

I believe this is a Crusaders 'home' game (in other words without the Super Round this one would have been played in Crusaders country).

[Stargazer]

Crusaders media release:

Crusaders Team Named for Super Round v Highlanders

The Crusaders have named the squad that will take on the Highlanders at Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round in Melbourne. The team run out onto AAMI Park on Friday 3 March at 6:00pm AEDT (8:00pm NZDT).

After a starring debut at Orangetheory Stadium last week, Christian Lio-Willie takes a spot in the starting XV, while Cullen Grace undergoes further assessment after sustaining an injury versus the Chiefs.

Nothing about Newell's injury. It was his shoulder, wasn't it?

[Chris]

@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Crusaders media release:

Crusaders Team Named for Super Round v Highlanders

The Crusaders have named the squad that will take on the Highlanders at Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round in Melbourne. The team run out onto AAMI Park on Friday 3 March at 6:00pm AEDT (8:00pm NZDT).

After a starring debut at Orangetheory Stadium last week, Christian Lio-Willie takes a spot in the starting XV, while Cullen Grace undergoes further assessment after sustaining an injury versus the Chiefs.

Nothing about Newell's injury. It was his shoulder, wasn't it?

Knee injury

[Duluth]

It'll be interesting to see how long Tamati Williams lasts. He really struggled in his 30mins last week.

144kgs might be a bit much to carry around in SR this year

[mariner4life]

pretty fucking gutless from the Highlanders to rest their 3 highest profile players on the same weekend.

[Duluth]

@mariner4life said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

pretty fucking gutless from the Highlanders to rest their 3 highest profile players on the same weekend.

I hate the decision. Especially when you consider the following

• Crusaders looked off their game in week one
• Highlanders won the pre-season match between the sides (3 weeks ago)
• Last time they played competition match it was only 17-14 to the Crusaders
• It's just two years ago that the Highlanders won by 21 points in Christchurch

[African Monkey]

@Duluth They really should have won that fixture last year too. They blew chance after chance and turned down plenty of shots at goal.

[KiwiMurph]

Highlanders could be in a deep points difference hole early with Chiefs away in week 3.

[ACT Crusader]

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@mariner4life said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

So i can understand the 9 and 10 getting rissoled.

But what's with half the pack getting the chop?

Highlanders presumably using a likely L to rest ABs De Groot and Frizell rather than rest them in a more winnable week?

Did the Landers coaching staff not watch us last week. We are there for the taking big time.

[Bones]

That's a game winning bench.

Unfortunately it looks like Robertson might have finally figured out Ennor is a dud.

[Crucial]

@Bones said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

That's a game winning bench.

Unfortunately it looks like Robertson might have finally figured out Ennor is a dud.

Glad that may have finally sunk in before he becomes AB coach

[Bones]

@Crucial still didn't figure out he's a good winger though eh. Just need to try swapping him and Faingaanuku. Poor old Havili.

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth I guess the Super coaches have probably already mapped out the AB player resting program weeks ago and they had all but conceded this match when they put thier plan together? But you'd think after last week, the Highlanders would have had a contingency.

[Crucial]

@taniwharugby said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@Duluth I guess the Super coaches have probably already mapped out the AB player resting program weeks ago and they had all but conceded this match when they put thier plan together? But you'd think after last week, the Highlanders would have had a contingency.

The said weeks ago that the resting has been all mapped out and set player by player due to individual needs. Obviously that can change if injuries intervene.