Crusaders

So, all of this stuff, New Zealand really needs to look and regroup.

I would say, do they have the correct leadership group intact now? You know, is this leadership group selected for guys that can make pressure decisions? Or is this leadership group just, you know, the bunch of Super Rugby captains that came together and said, OK, you're going to be captain because you're captain of the Crusaders.

You're going to be captain because I'm vice captain in the leadership group because you're captain of the Chiefs or so.

So that's, you know, that's a simple thing.

Maybe the Peter Steff tutorial of his time.

I think my most indelible memory of Obamawocha when he was recently about a year in the Cheetahs team and he made that run in Super Rugby against the Crusaders in Christchurch, where he was just like bouncing people off.

It's sort of like a combination of both strength and incredible athleticism.

The Crusaders players were like, what's going on? He's just like...

It's just like, ah, the bus is full.

Whilst at the same time, stepping people, they were like, this guy's stepping people.

Uh, has Codie only been brought back for his captaincy and, and not for the fact that he's the best player for the j- the job?

Yeah, look, I'm not gonna speak ill of Codie Taylor because he's been a fantastic servant of, of the Crusaders and All Blacks rugby for a very, very long time, and he's still an excellent player.

Having said that, I do have a bit of an issue with a player being named as captain of the All Blacks if they are not commanding a starting position in the first 15.

I personally would have probably preferred to see the captaincy for this game go to someone like Jordie Barrett.

The event is expected to boost tourism and follows the success of the inaugural Christchurch round this year.

The first game will be Crusaders versus the ACT Brumbies on Friday, April 2nd.

And France's Football Federation has unanimously withdrawn its backing for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president, saying trust was broken after his controversial proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions.

France now plans to work with other European federations to push for government's reforms and find an alternative candidate before the March 18th, 2027 election.

right? You've got to meet in the middle.

I don't feel like, you know, I feel like we're a bit short-changed in terms of the match-ups.

I feel like you can make them a little bit better without having to sacrifice your Blues Crusaders, although I'd love to see it.

Is rugby the main part about Super Round, though? Obviously, we're there watching rugby, but the antics that go around it as well.

which is the longest he's been in a while i think

Yeah I mean he hasn't been that destructive close to the line beast that we've seen in recent times with the All Blacks or in particular the Crusaders so yeah 250 probably a little short but if you are going to put it in the same game multi then perhaps that could be an option people look at.

Yeah, and Kerry's also sent one through, which is his best bet of the weekend.

Heartland Rugby, Buller to beat West Coast for the historic Rundle Cup.

Whereas over there, you'd have a Highlanders-Hurricanes clash or something, which made no sense doing it there.

So these are the games.

On the Friday night, Crusaders-Brumbees.

Mm-hmm.

so you know there's a huge amount of pressure on Reuben Love and you know he's pretty inexperienced in the scheme of things and generally did a great job but maybe you know that pressure probably in that third test I think in particular was would be a new experience for him just such little time and space everything's done under the pump and when they hit you they hit you you know you're going backwards on a regular basis so that's hard that's bloody tough for anyone so I guess What I like about Mwanga is, well, he is experienced.

He's been there and done it for the All Blacks, but overseas, and he's done it year after year after year for the Crusaders, and big match rugby as well.

I think he has lovely footwork that he can use in very tight spaces.

He doesn't necessarily need a lot of room to use that, so I think that's potentially a point of difference.

That'd be great.

I think the Crusaders against the Blues down Mikey's way is the first round of Super Rugby.

That'd be a beaut.

Ken, I don't watch many Warriors games, but I'll be watching tomorrow after the Auckland Counties game.