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Why the Crusaders will take ‘real confidence’ into decisive Waratahs clash
Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina believes the Crusaders should take “real confidence” into their upcoming clash with the NSW Waratahs as the defending champions look to claim what would be their second win of the season.
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The Crusaders snapped their historic losing streak in round five against the Chiefs in Christchurch, and after a bye week, have named a menacing lineup which includes the return of All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder.
Blackadder, 29, who hasn’t played since New Zealand’s big win over Uruguay at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, is set for his first minutes of the Super Rugby Pacific season after being named to start at blindside flanker.
Coach Rob Penney has also named Noah Hotham to start at scrumhalf after the 2023 New Zealand U20s captain’s sensational performance last time out against the Chiefs. Hotham was especially impressive during the first quarter of that fixture.
But, as former All Black Mils Muliaina discussed this week, the news isn’t so good for the NSW Waratahs who have lost world-class prop Angus Bell for the season. The Wallaby has re-injured his big-toe ligament.
“Angus Bell, he’s a huge loss,” Muliaina said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up. “Not only is he a great and fantastic scrummanger but around the park he’s also very dominant in that space.
“Considering what’s coming off the bench for the Crusaders, he’ll be sorely missed.
“I like the fact that Noah Hotham gets another chance. You’ll obviously remember before the bye they beat the Chiefs (and) Noah was on the bench and he had to come in at the very last minute for (Mitchell) Drummond who fell ill that day.
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“(Hotham) had an integral part in that win. He played an integral part in the win against the Chiefs to get them back.
“I think the boost from Ethan Blackadder, the muscle that he’s going to bring particularly off the back of that victory, he’s going to be a big part. Having those guys come back… I think the Crusaders can go into this with real confidence.”
With the likes of Scott Barrett, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond and Tamaiti Williams still unavailable, openside flanker Tom Christie has retained the captaincy. Christie joins Blackadder and Cullen Grace in a lethal backrow trio.
Try-scoring machines Sevu Reece and Johnny McNicholl will line up on each wing with All Black Dallas McLeod and marquee recruit Levi Aumua in the midfield.
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Aumua, who made the move from Moana Pasifika to the Crusaders, hasn’t quite reached the heights that many expected of him in the famous red and black jersey as two-time World Cup winner Tim Horan discussed.
“When you look at the side Mils it’s a cracking Crusaders side,” Tim Horan added. “We’ve got Sevu Reece there, (Dallas) McLeod, Cullen Grace and I just think that Ethan Blackadder’s back in.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
30
36
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
60%
“The big matchup I’m looking forward to is Levi Aumua in the centre up against Izzy Perese. That defensively for Izzy Perese is going to be a really big challenge for him.
“Levi Aumua, he was chased by three or four different clubs. He was keen to go back to the Queensland Reds where he went to school for his last two years in Brisbane, and the Crusaders picked him up.
“He’s got to start delivering for this team. He’s got to start to really try and carry them across the advantage line to give them a platform.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments