Crusaders
35
Match Complete
ACT Brumbies
17
| R. Mo'unga |  | 78 | ||
| C. Lio-Willie |  | 77 | ||
| 70 | | R. Lonergan | ||
| 69 | | C. Toole | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 58 | ||
| L. Fainga'anuku | | 57 | ||
| 48 | | R. Lonergan | ||
| 47 | | R. Lonergan | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 44 | ||
| C. Taylor | | 42 | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 19 | ||
| B. Ennor | | 17 | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 6 | ||
| L. Fainga'anuku | | 5 | ||
| 2 |  | R. Lonergan |
| 5 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 5 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Brumbies head across to New Zealand for the first time in 2023 to take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday evening. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 5:05pm (AEDT).
This match was shaping up to be one of the best of the season before the rotation policy in place ahead of the World Cup reared its ugly head to strip the Brumbies of several Wallabies players. With seven changes in all, Stephen Larkham’s side will be in for a battle as they attempt to end a run of 11 defeats in Christchurch dating back to 2000.
The matchup in the forwards is one where the Brumbies will target as they try to match it with the Crusaders. There may not be your household names in the starting pack; however, their replacements contain 3 Wallabies in the likes of Lachlan Lonergan, Nick Frost and the return of Allan Alaalatoa from concussion. Back-rower Jahrome Brown is named for the first time this season after an injury lay off.
The battle of the 10s in Noah Lolesio and Richie Mo’unga will determine who comes out on top in this game and Lolesio will be looking to build on his 2021 display where a sideline conversion was a whisker away from sending the game to extra time. Mo’unga’s ability to turn a game quickly in his team’s favour is well known and the Brumbies will have to shut him down early before he can unleash the backs, including the in-form Leicester Fainga’anuku who is coming off a hat trick against the Blues.
There are 2 debutants in the Brumbies backline replacements – both products of the John I Dent Cup competition in Canberra. The pacy Declan Meredith is in the wider squad, and the reliable kicking of Pedro Rolando will be ready to step in after training with the squad over the summer.
The Crusaders aren’t without their own problems with their squad with Sam Whitelock missing from this week’s side but you know whoever is next off the famous Cantabrian production line will know their role and Zach Gallagher get his chance this week in Whitelock’s spot.
Expect Scott Robertson to have an extra spring in his step after being named the next All Blacks coach and his players will want to put on a show to reward their highly respected coach in front of their home fans.
Game information
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Crusaders $1.08, Brumbies $8.00 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Crusaders (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Zach Gallagher, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Sione Havili, Talitui, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Enner, Pepesana Patafilo, Fergus Burke.
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, George Bower, Dominic Gardiner, Christian Lio-Willie, Willi Heinz, Will Gaulter, Chay Fihaki.
Brumbies (1-15): Blake Schoupp, Connal McInerney, Sefo Kautai, Jack Wright, Cadeyrn Neville, Rory Scott, Luke Reimer, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Ollie Sapsford, Ben O’Donnell, Andy Muirhead.
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Fred Kaihea, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jahrome Brown, Pedro Rolando, Jack Debreczeni, Declan Meredith.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
You’ve been on this page for a while hey!
Andy J
Roar Rookie
All good mate. I was just amazed by the number of posters pointing out the brumbies and tahs were missing players but when you read through the team lists most teams are missing a ton of players
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, sarcasm is hard to pick these days. My bad.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Sarcasm Paulo, I was just having a go at Scott D who assumed the brumbies would have won at full strength
Wig
Roar Rookie
So you acknowledge it's even across the board then :thumbup:
Wig
Roar Rookie
Yep agree common theme same ref/officials kiwi bashing whingers whinging when your teams just can't compete.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
The roar should cut off comments on live threads as it’s just an 90min bitch-a-thon about the referee (regardless of team or referee team).
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I’m curious how you’ve determined they were definitely full strength while 10+ players are out for various reasons? Not making any comment about the score or the game itself, just interested in how you’ve arrived at this being the full strength side.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
It’s definitely the Reds. The 2022 test season and 100% clean out of the Brumbies coaching staff confirms this. Got lucky in Canberra but the Brumbies will be hammered in Brisbane. The Brumbies should apologise for inflicting Dan McKeller and the 2022 test season on Australia. 18 Brumbies picked. Head coach. Forwards coach. Scrum coach. 38%. Lost to Italy. A chronic lack of Queenslander.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
If Nesbo referred to Toole as “the little Brumby winger”once he did it a hundred times. Nesbo is as neutral as Kearnsie, only a bit more sneaky.
Wig
Roar Rookie
Zzzzzzzz get some sleep before the brumbies next game and good luck :rugby: :thumbup:
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
You’ve been waiting for just the right time to post that haven’t you, NZ is so unfair….
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
Yep - you were right re the outcome. I thought for 15 mins in the second half there was a chance of a boil over but wasn’t to be.
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
Crickets!
Faith
Roar Rookie
Whitelock, Havili, Sevu, Grace, Jordan. Saders far from full strength.
WEST
Roar Guru
Well, there ya go! No real shame in losing to the crusaders in Christchurch :thumbup:
Wig
Roar Rookie
That's a long whinge m8
Brumboy
Roar Rookie
Must be the Reds then. Hahaha
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Or, you could accept that the 2nd/3rd string Brumbies played the 2nd String Crusaders and both teams still looked better than half the teams in the comp. If the Brumbies don't have the best program in the country I'd be interested to see who does.
Faith
Roar Rookie
They do have the best program in the country. They were just playing a back to back 5 time champs without their starters. I would say with all their players at home they can beat all teams in this comp. I think at this stage it is the Chiefs, and then the Saders and Brumbies. And then Blues. And then Canes. And then Rebels and Reds. And then everyone else. 8th position is open. Tahs mostl likely with with Moana/Drua possibly sneaking in.