The Crusaders first pre-season game is this Friday at Weston RFC, Oamaru and we are fizzing.
Here’s the team taking the field for the Farmlands Cup versus the Highlanders, the boys’ first proper hit out ahead of Super Rugby Pacific Round 1 on 24 February. We’re also taking on the Hurricanes in Levin on 17 February.
We’ll be four in a row if we defend our title, a streak Scott Robertson, Crusaders Head Coach, knows the Highlanders are eager to break – especially in front of a home crowd.
“The Highlanders are one of our fiercest and most treasured rivals and taking the Farmlands Cup deep into the South Island will create an amazing showdown in front of some of our most loyal fans,” he said.
Joe Moody was taking the field after what Robertson described as “one of the first full big pre-seasons he’s had in a while”, and Jack Goodhue was back in action following surgery on his knee last year.
“Jack’s knee is great, he’s an incredible professional and he’s getting right back to the great feet and the man we all know,” he said.
“When the body’s good, he’s as good as any centre in the world.”
The fixture is also a chance for our new coaches to roll out new strategies and try fresh sequences. Robertson said Dan Perrin and James Marshall were “awesome energy”.
“Dan Perrin was rolling right from day one, he’s built awesome relationships with the players, and James Marshall has a great bond with a lot of the Tasman boys already which is awesome,” Robertson said.
Tickets to Farmlands Cup are free for members, and available for purchase by the public HERE →
Listen to some of Razor's thoughts ahead of Farmlands Cup HERE →
