Investec Super 14 Round 2:: Sat :: Brumbies 18 v Crusaders 16 @ Canberra Stadium

[griffo346]

VS

​

Brumbies:

Mark Gerrard, Clyde Rathbone, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (c), George Smith, Julian Salvi, Mark Chisholm, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Nic Henderson. Replacements: John Ulugia, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, Peter Kimlin, Josh Holmes, Tyrone Smith, Matt Toomua, Shawn Mackay, Mitchell Chapman.

Crusaders:​

Stephen Brett, Jared Payne, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Kade Poki, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Thomas Waldrom, George Whitelock, Kieran Read (capt), Ross Filipo, Isaac Ross, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Michael Paterson, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Ryan Crotty, Adam Whitelock.​

Referee:



Available Friday​

​

 

[Alehana]

McCaaw ruled out with concussion, brad Thorn and Leon Macdonald gone as well, Geroge Whitelock, Isaac Ross and Brett come into the side. BIG losses there, Brumbies would be liking their chances alot.

 

[ozbash]

Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw has concussion and won't be risked against the Brumbies as the Super 14 champions also look to cover the loss of two other All Blacks for Saturday night's demanding fixture in Canberra.

Lock Brad Thorn (heel) and fullback Leon MacDonald (shoulder) join McCaw on the sidelines for this second round match.
Flanker McCaw suffered a head knock in the opening victory over the Chiefs last week.
The Crusaders said that and although McCaw has improved significantly, according to concussion protocols he has not recovered sufficiently to play on Saturday.
McCaw has a history of head problems for both the Crusaders and the All Blacks.
George Whitelock pulls on the No 7 jersey this weekend, facing a big battle against Wallabies flanker George Smith.
Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder said McCaw was close to being available but was not quite 100 percent.
"He has been following our concussion protocols this week and we've been monitoring him closely but the Crusaders management, along with Richie, have decided that he won't play this week," Blackadder said.
Thorn left AMI Stadium last week with a plantar fascia injury while MacDonald also went off early against the Chiefs with an A/C joint injury.
Isaac Ross comes in for Thorn and utility Stephen Brett replaces MacDonald.
Flanker Kieran Read will captain the side.
Blackadder said it was too early to say how long Thorn and MacDonald would be out for.
Blackadder was confident the injured players' replacements would step up against the Brumbies.
"George, Isaac and Stephen are quality players and this is a great opportunity for them," he said.
"You can never go through this competition without picking up injuries and, although having three experienced players out at the same time is unfortunate, I'm sure these young guys will make their presence felt."
Loose forward Nasi Manu and back Ryan Crotty come on to the reserves bench.
CRUSADERS: 15 Stephen Brett, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read (c), 5 Ross Filipo, 4 Isaac Ross, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Michael Paterson, 19 Nasi Manu, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Ryan Crotty, 22 Adam Whitelock.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4852870a1823.html

 

[Parra]

Brumbies by 5

 

[skeepe]

Haven't heard of the majority of the Crusaders. Brumbies by 28.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

brumbies by 14

2-0 start going into the farce.

 

[aussies1st]

Brumbies by 14+, if losing Carter wasn't bad enough losing McCaw certainly makes it worse. I just hope the Brumbies don't go like the Tahs did yesterday.

 

[Alehana]

if crusaders get within 7 points, i'll consider that a win for them

 

[aussies1st]

Bad luck to the Crusaders certainly stepped up nicely, their defence was top notch took out the Brumbiies backline.
They lost absoutely nothing with their no 7 being the ideal replacement for McCaw. Lealiifano had an absolute shocker with his kicking game, his running game was good esepcially in the last 5 minutes. Holmes also stood up in the last 5 minutes with some nice runs, was a bit selfish with some of his runs which could have lost us the ball.

 

[Parra]

Lealiifano had an absolute shocker

Crusaders defence was impressive. So was their ability to avoid yellow cards in that last quarter.

Mark Gerrard was solid at 15. He has the best general kicking game in rugby at the moment.