Crusaders U18 Squad for 2018

I have had a good look at this team as a whole, also what I think they can put together as their strongest team and think this could be the strongest team in the country out of all the Region teams. The Junior Knights Development Camp will be held in Christchurch next week, and the Crusaders have named the players selected to attend. The Camp will be held from 8th – 11th July at St Andrews College with a 25 man team to be selected to play the U18 Chiefs side on Saturday the 14th in Hamilton. There will be a Junior Knights Development Team that will play a Canterbury Invitational XV in Christchurch on the Thursday 12th July.

The best thing the Crusaders did for this team is that they went out and got Isaiah Punivai to come back to the “Red and Black” and not just that, but they got fellow St Kents and NZSS team mate Taimati Williams followed suit to sign with  Canterbury as well. They also reached out to PJ Latu from St Peters School who is originally from Timaru and got him to commit to the Red and Black the place where his heart is and where he wants to represent. I think the mix of players they have is right on and they do have some real young players there that will be building blocks for next year and what the Crusaders are trying to put together and a great idea. One thing I like a lot is the big players they have to choose from that can play a physical game up front Tamaiti Williams being one of them, but they have Patrick Thacker who is a beast with Jack Rose and both who are on the hunt to be in the NZSS team this year. Those 3 could all make NZSS this year because they are all scrum strong guys and do it very well and are not easy to pack down against. Jack Rose is the smaller one out of the 3 but maybe the better scrummager technique wise out of the 3 but is a player to look for when he is 19 because he will be built physically and grown. Then you have Shane Fikken who is a huge kid that is aggressive and relentless in the rucks and can cause trouble for any team. Look out for younger players like Ben Lopas and Monu Moli who are players that will be next years best coming through. The Hookers Arthur Allen, Aiden Gane, Clayden Paranihi and Shaun Berryman are all strong players that will fit well with props and how they move around the field. These 4 can even play to the speed of flankers which could work in their favour when they come up against the Chiefs.

Sam Darry is maybe the best Lock in the country and looks thicker and heavier which was a problem last year being so skinny that he was bouncing off rucks when he hit them, this year is very different. He is 6’8 and so that’s the easy thing to see but he does do a lot of defence too which just adds to his skill set. I really like the picks of Cameron Henderson and Taya Brownie to join up with Sam because they are both solid players that have that real physical game that will boost that 2nd row on defence. The Flankers will be a very hard one to choose because they have so many player to choose from that you could not go wrong with. Amhlaoibh Porter is a good player that plays physical and can shut down good players and ball carriers, Dominic Gardiner and Fergus Hughes who are Year 12 can also play the role of defencive stoppers. For me when it comes to the 7 Jersey which has become one of the corner stone positions in NZ I would go with George Prain or Anton Segner because of how much work they get through around the field and also their running games that they would bring as well. I think that Angus Fletcher will be the No.8 for the Crusaders and bot George and Anton would go great along side Angus, also they could make all 3 of them start with Anton at 6 and George at 7. George Methven at No.8 is a Rising Star coming through and will be one I am watching because he seems to tick off all the right boxes.

Photo By: BR Photos

One position that I knew was going to be a problem was the Half Back position and even though I think Louie Chapman is the best of the 4 they all could make a case of why they should start. Louie has been in this team for the last two years and so I think that he has shown that he has the talent and leadership to continue to lead this team. Max Huges being so talented himself is forced to Fullback because he is too talented to leave on the bench but he is going to be one of the best players next year. Mitchell Barry has been one of the main reasons why Shirley BHS has been so good this year and consistent. Mitchell knows how to lift a team and carry them till they get back into a flow again. He knows how to get the most out of his boys and thats why they are going so well this year. Mitchell and Jackson Youngman for me have the stronger defencive games then the other two because cause it’s like having another forward out there putting in the shoulder. Jackson has a very solid game that is going to show a traditional No.9 game plan and it’s always safe to go with players like him. The 1st 5/8 battle is interesting because they are pretty young players with both Cullen Moody and Ollie Lewis and Josh Ree able to return next year. Kurtis Weeks will be the older of the 4 but may not even be the best fit for the position. I see Kurtis as a “Rugby Player” first not so much a 1st 5/8 first, meaning that he can play any position you put him in in the back line and he will do it real well and you can win games with him, but he wont be the best 1st 5/8 for you.

The midfield for me is a easy pick because I think that Isaiah Punivai, Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie and PJ Latu will be the 3 picked with George Harding and Etonia Bainivalu close behind. Isaiah and Tahu could even be the NZSS midfield this year because they fill every skill that is needed for that level. They both play the game at pace, strong ball runners, have a passing game and defend aggressively. I think these two would go great together and with PJ Latu backing them up I think he provides a balance and because he has one of the best defencive games in the country he is not going to let plays through late i the game or drop the standard. Pj could also back up as a Winger as well and he could end up starting on the wing too. Nash Forrester I thought was strong for STAC and he could match well with the other 3. Etonia Bainivalu has a very strong running game with alot of speed and power but may need a bit more time playing when it comes to that Rep level. Isi Saumaki is a player I really like and think his running game is very strong and he can break tackles and keeps his speed at the same time. Isi I think would connect well with guys like Tahu and Isaiah in a midfield being the finisher. Brigham Riwai-Couch is also a player I would at too because I think Ryan Barnes will be on the WIng with Kynan Stowers-Smith at Fullback even though I think Kynan would be a better 2nd 5/8 and play maker from 2nd receiver. Wil Gualter has blown up this year with Lincoln Combined and it shows how much he has picked up his game to be apart of this team.

The following players have been selected for the 2018 Crusaders Junior Knights Development Camp:

Crusaders

Loose Head Props

Lachie Gunson (Christ’s College)
Jack Rose  (St Andrew’s College)
Ben Lopas  (Christchurch Boys’ High School) Y12
Luca Inch  (Nelson College) Y12
Shane Fikken (Timaru Boys’ High School)

Hookers

Arthur Allen (Christ’s College)
Aiden Gane  (Marlborough Boys’ College)
Clayden Paranihi (Christchurch Boys’ High School) Y12
Shaun Berryman (Shirley Boys’ High School)

Tight Head Props

Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College)
Patrick Thacker (Christ’s College)
Monu Moli  (Marlborough Boys’ College) Y11
George Roysmith (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Preston Marsters (Nelson College) Y12

Locks

Sam Darry (Christ’s College)
Cameron Henderson (Christchurch Boys’ High School) Y12
David Langr (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Lachie James (Rangiora High School)
Taya Brown (Nelson College) Y12
Tom Thornalley (Nelson College) Y12

Flankers

Amhlaoibh Porter  (Christ’s College)
Dominic Gardiner (St Bede’s College) Y12
Fergus Hughes (Nelson College) Y12

Open Side

Zach Gallagher (Christ’s College)
George Prain  (Rangiora High School)
Anton Segner (Nelson College) Y12
Sam Caldwell  (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Josh Chapman (Marlborough Boys’ College)
Te Aho Eketone Whitu (St Bede’s College)
Hunter Wilson (Christ’s College)

No.8

Angus Fletcher (Rangiora High School)
George Methven (St Bede’s College) Y11
Jackson Gavin (St Bede’s College)
Charlie Murray (St Andrew’s College) Y12

Half Backs

Max Hughes (Christchurch Boys’ High School) Y12
Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Mitchell Barry (Shirley Boys’ High School)
Jackson Youngman (St Bede’s College)

1st 5/8

Cullen Moody (Christchurch Boys’ High School) Y12
Ollie Lewis (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Josh Ree (St Andrew’s College)
Kurtis Weeks (Christ’s College)
Wil Gualter (Lincoln High School) Y12

Midfield

Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Dominic Clarke (St Andrew’s College)
Liam Duncan (Marlborough Boys’ College)
Isaiah Punivai (St Kentigern College)
George Harding (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
PJ Latu (St Peters School, Cambridge)
Nash Forrester  (St Andrew’s College)
John Vasurakuta (Timaru Boys’ High School) Y12
Etonia Bainivalu (St Bede’s College) Y12

Back 3

Brigham Riwai-Couch (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Inosi Nadolo (Christ’s College)
Isi Saumaki (St Andrew’s College) Y12
Kynan Stowers-Smith (St Bede’s College) Y12
Keelan Murrell (Marlborough Boys’ College)
James McCulloch (Shirley Boys’ High School)
Ryan Barnes (Christchurch Boys’ High School)

In addition to this squad, a Wider Training Group has also been selected and will be involved during the camp:

Wider Training Group:

Seb Calder  (St Andrew’s College)
Elama Touli  (Ashburton College)
Jacson Edie (St Andrew’s College)
Jordan Haywood (Rangiora High School)
Jamie Carr (St Andrew’s College)
Dom Cornish (St Andrew’s College)
Chris Bainbridge (St Bede’s College)
Liam McCormack (St Andrew’s College)
Hamish Jones (St Bede’s College)
Shun Miyake (Christ’s College)
Jermaine Pepe (Rangiora High School)