Crusaders Name Team for Friday's Trial Against the Force

[RugbyWA]

The Crusaders have named a 25-man squad for Friday night's trial match against the Emirates Western Force at Members Equity Stadium in Perth.

New Crusaders head coach, Todd Blackadder, has named All Blacks Leon MacDonald, Casey Laulala and Andy Ellis in an otherwise inexperienced team. Rookie flyhalf Colin Slade and flying winger Kade Poki will be two players to watch.

The squad is:
1. O Franks
2. D Perrin
3. P Borlase
4. J Broadhurst
5. I Ross
6. A Parker
7. G Whitelock
8. N Manu

9. S Alfeld
10. C Slade
11. K Poki
12. R Crotty
13. A Whitelock
14. J Payne
15. L MacDonald

Reserves:
W Crockett
J MacDonald
B Murray
M Paterson
J Poff
T Waldrom
A Ellis
H Gard
T Bateman
C Laulala

[James]

The Crusaders have named a 25-man squad for Friday night's trial match against the Emirates Western Force at Members Equity Stadium...

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Pretty weak team the Crusaders are fielding. Hopefully if they put out a pretty good Force team we will run riot over them. Good morale booster.

Can't really ever discount the Crusaders though.

[mudskipper]

its the only time of year a coach can take a risk and assess a new player... I'm sure if they are good enough to wear a canterbury jersey they'll be up for it... Colin Slade is a very talented young flyhalf, the real deal...

[lara93]

i hardly heard of most of those names

[force addict]

heard of Laulala but thats about it

[hertryk]

Same here...but like James said, we get over them..they are still the Crusaders, would be a huge morale booster..I wonder if Robbie will be giving them some attention to see how the team is going without him?

[robyn <3]

Where is Mccaw?!? Is he injured?

I don't know many of them either, just a couple, but it's the Saders, it will be a strong side.

The force will have a stronger one though Without a doubt

[oxleymoron]

It's simple - don't write them off because some of you haven't heard of them. I have put their S14 caps next to their names. There is some experience to come off the bench. A number of the uncapped players have been playing for Canterbury in the NPC for a couple of years.

The squad is:
1. O Franks
2. D Perrin
3. P Borlase
4. J Broadhurst
5. I Ross (13)
6. A Parker
7. G Whitelock (2)
8. N Manu (12)

9. S Alfeld
10. C Slade
11. K Poki (11)
12. R Crotty
13. A Whitelock
14. J Payne
15. L MacDonald (116)

Reserves:
W Crockett (41)
J MacDonald (32)
B Murray (1)
M Paterson (12)
J Poff
T Waldrom (30)
A Ellis (37)
H Gard
T Bateman (15)
C Laulala (56)

[jargan83]

I look forward to seeing John Mitchell releasing his line up

[goony]

a few good up and coming players in this squad, will be interesting to watch as they will be trying to impress their coach with their skills. Kade Poki is the one to watch out for, he can do some serious damage! I'm pretty sure he was top try scorer at last years under 20 world cup

[AndyS]

Heard of them or not, I suspect we'll see most of them through the year - new coach + departures = new blood

[Thequeerone]

Heard that Crusaders can't won't field All Blacks for the trial match - kinda hoping that we won't be fielding to many wallabies either as I want to see how some of our lesser knowns handle the outing - Depth Depth and more depth - kinda like (chocolate, shoes, magners - delete as appropriate) but without the guilt.

Have met far to many Kiwis this week - go the - complete annihilation would be absolutely awesome - but enough space for Nick to do a quick dropie would be pretty damm good too.

[TOCC]

well just remember many of these players were involved in Canterbury winning the Air New Zealand Cup as well, so they arent exactly lacking in talent.

[James]

well just remember many of these players were involved in Canterbury winning the Air New Zealand Cup as well, so they arent exactly lacking in talent.

Yeah but most of the starting XV are barely 21. We could field a pack where every player has more S14 caps than their pack combined. They won't lack talent but at home and with the talent and experience we have available we should be firm favourites.

[Tazzmania]

Rugby365 slant on the Crusader team picked:

New Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder, in his first game in charge since taking over from Robbie Deans at the Christchurch-based franchise, named a 25-man squad that includes just three All Blacks - MacDonald, starting at fullback, with Casey Laulala and Andy Ellis on the bench.

It is an otherwise inexperienced team that features such exciting talents as rookie flyhalf Colin Slade and flying wing Kade Poki.


Mcdonald's comeback complete