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All Black returns for Crusaders
By RugbyPass
The Crusaders have named their team ahead of their week four clash with the Hurricanes.
The most significant change to Scott Robertson's side is the only backline change, with Mitchell Hunt set to start in the No 10 jersey after Richie Mo'unga suffered a fractured jaw against the Stormers last week.
One-test All Black Mike Delany provides cover on the bench in his first appearance of the season.
There are two changes to the Crusaders' loose forward trio, with vice-captain and All Black Matt Todd returns to the openside, while Heiden Bedwell-Curtis starts at blind in place of Pete Samu.
Todd's inclusion is something of a surprise after he was ruled out with a fractured thumb he suffered just one week earlier.
Billy Harmon, who earned his first run-on appearance last week through Todd's absence, returns to the bench.
The only other change is Ben Funnell backing up Codie Taylor on the bench.
The Crusaders have had a perfect start to their season so far, beating the Chiefs 45-23 and the Stormers 45-28 in their first two fixtures.
CRUSADERS
1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock (C), 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7. Matt Todd (VC), 8. Jordan Taufua, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Mitchell Hunt, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty (VC), 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David Havili.
Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Chris King, 18. Oliver Jager, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Billy Harmon, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mike Delany, 23. Manasa Mataele.
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There is nothing particularly significant about Ireland in this regard compared to other Tier 1 nations. To look at 'strategy' for illegal play its best to see what teams push boundaries with new laws. SA have milked two tries at ruck block downs. The strategy is to charge the first few before the ball is out at about 4 seconds but pull out and put up hands in reigned apology. The referees usually allow the scum half to clear without awarding a penalty in this scenario. The problem with that being that the scrumhalf is now taking over 5 seconds through no fault of his own. Having achieved a few slow balls > 5s , the SA forward can now pick a scrum to charge dead on 5s. Now if the scrum half waits, he will concede a penalty, as we saw against Scotland. With the new rule in place, any early charge should result in an immediate penalty.
SA also got an offside block against England which was pivotal again after a couple of 'apologetic' offside aborted charges forcing England to clear slowly.
Go to commentsYep, you're not the sharpest tool in the shed are you?
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