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Another former All Black answers the Crusaders' SOS call
By Ned Lester
After the fairytale return of John Afoa to Super Rugby in round 14, the Crusaders have called in further veteran leadership to help stay afloat amid their ever-growing injury crisis.
Another replacement was needed after All Black David Havili suffered a hamstring injury that could see him done for the season, so the call was made to club legend Ryan Crotty.
Crotty returned to the Crusaders' environment for Tuesday's training, four years after retiring from Super Rugby and heading to Japan's Kubota Spears.
The Crusaders still have the services of Dallas McLeod and Jack Goodhue to call upon for the No 12 jersey, so Crotty is unlikely to follow in Afoa's footsteps and be called into the starting XV, or even the reserves.
Still, the experience of 48 Test caps and 150 Super Rugby matches is as fine a supplement as Scott Robertson could ask for when looking to fill the void left by the in-form Havili.
Havili joins fellow All Blacks Joe Moody, Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Cullen Grace and Sevu Reece on the sidelines. At the same time, U20 New Zealand representatives Noah Hotham, Macca Springer and Taha Kemara have all left the team to prepare for their upcoming World Championship campaign in South Africa.
Crusaders assistant coach James Marshall said the team were awaiting results from a scan of Havili's hamstring, but admitted: "When you're limping off like that, it didn't look too positive."
The Crusaders play the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday in the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, the team can secure their second-place finish with even a bonus point loss.
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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