Crusaders ready to unleash hulking new propping prospect on All Blacks front-rowers
It's no understatement to suggest that the Crusaders are perhaps the best propping factory in the world, regularly converting inexperienced players into contenders for international jerseys.
The likes of Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Tim Perry, Nepo Laulala, Alex Hodgman and George Bower have all passed through the Crusaders systems in the last decade and have all spent time in the All Blacks environment.
The Crusaders are now preparing to unleash their newest recruit on a Blues pack that's also not short of talent in the front row.
Australia-born Tamaiti Williams, who spent two years in the New Zealand Secondary Schools side and two years with the New Zealand Under 20s, has been named on the Crusaders' bench for Sunday's grudge match with the Blues.
He'll likely come on in place of loosehead George Bower - but is capable of propping up both sides of the scrum.
Coach Scott Robertson has said the ANZAC Day fixture is just reward for the 21-year-old, who's been working hard off the pitch in his debut season with the Crusaders.
"Tamaiti is a big human. It's a great opportunity for him to come in as a young fella and play a big match," Robertson said. "He's trained really well and he's ready to go.
"He can play both sides, which is pretty incredible for a man that's six-five, 130 odd kg."
Williams is a product of Saint Kentigern College (although he began his schooling at Kerikeri College in New Zealand's far north), the high school that's produced the likes of Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, John Afoa and, more recently, TJ Faiane, Braydon Ennor and Blake Gibson.
Robertson made it clear that while his new prop is from the north, he's now a Crusaders man through and through.
"He was an Auckland boy," Robertson said. "[Sunday's match is] probably a little bit more personal, obviously, [give] where he comes from and his history... Everyone up north will be really proud of him. He's worked really hard and he's good to go."
As mentioned by Robertson, Williams' physical measurements are impressive and put him in good stead for the future - but how will he fair when up against the likes of Karl Tu'inukuafe and Nepo Laulala on Sunday?
Even if Williams joins the fray late in the match, the Blues have Ofa Tuungafasi ready to unleash from the bench.
It will be a mammoth challenge for the young prop, and one that will test his mettle in his first season with the Crusaders - but given the Canterbury side are rarely embarrassed at scrum time, it's difficult to imagine Robertson putting up his young charge as a lamb to the slaughter.
Elsewhere in the pack, the Crusaders have restored All Blacks Samuel Whitelock, Codie Taylor and Cullen Grace to the starting lineup for a game that could guarantee them a home final in two weeks' time.
Sunday's match kicks off at 3:35pm NZT from Christchurch.
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I’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
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