Crusaders Name Team for Friday's Trial Against the Force

[Elf1]

The words of one of my old coaches, never ever underestimate the opposition.

[Tazzmania]

If you look at the listed Crusaders squad for 2009, not many are not playing, for ease of reference i have put them in Bold:

Crusaders squad: Richie McCaw (captain), Tim Bateman, Stephen Brett, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Andrew Ellis, Ross Filipo, Corey Flynn, Kahn Fotuali'i, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Casey Laulala, Jason MacDonald, Leon MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Nasi Manu, Bronson Murray, Michael Paterson, Jared Payne, Jonathan Poff, Kade Poki, Kieran Read, Isaac Ross, Colin Slade, Brad Thorn, Thomas Waldrom, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock.

With Brett, Maitland and Foautiluia injured and some all Blacks being rested like most teams in the first trial matches, they are as good as we could have expected.

Remember our five to six wallabies are unlikely to play so it will be a lot closer than it may seem, also bear in mind a lot of these players have provisional experience up their sleeve.

This should be an entertaining match, particularily as some fringe players on both sides will be looking to get on the radar of the coach and sneak into the first "real" 22"s

[James]

Remember our five to six wallabies are unlikely to play so it will be a lot closer than it may seem, also bear in mind a lot of these players have provisional experience up their sleeve.

Drew Mitchell, Cam Shepherd, David Pocock and James O'Connor (99% sure) all played in the trial match on friday- no reason why they shouldn't play this week. Plus we have a handful of guys who will play with a lot of experience. Guys like Pelesasa, Valentine, Hardy, Pusey and McIsaac who all have around 50 Super caps.

[tragic]

This should be an entertaining match, particularily as some fringe players on both sides will be looking to get on the radar of the coach and sneak into the first "real" 22"s

My thinking, too. The "fringe" players won't be treating this as a training run.

[travelling_gerry]

Kudos to RWA for numbering the team correctly.

15 to 1 is a bugbear around here.

[Thequeerone]

Least important to important - never got this backwards thing