Clark Laidlaw delivers update after Ruben Love spotted in moon boot
Hurricanes fans have been treated to some red-hot form from their side as the Wellington club has ascended to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table, but the sight of their young star fullback in a moon boot won't be aiding the celebrations.
The Hurricanes are already dealing with the suspension of All Black Jordie Barrett, who will serve the third of his three-week ban this week - unless he has completed World Rugby's coaching intervention program - in the matchup against the Rebels in Palmerston North.
While Riley Higgins has stepped in admirably for Barrett in the Hurricanes midfield and there is some quality depth in the outside backs as well, Canes fans have been left to fret over the health of Ruben Love. Thankfully, new coach Clarke Laidlaw revealed on Monday that the injury isn't significant.
"Yeah, it's just precautionary," he told Newstalk ZB. "He had a sore ankle since the Blues game, so the moon boots are great little contraptions that take the weight off your foot and if he's (been spotted) lying, sunning himself (watching football) then I'm sure he's fine.
"He's an example though, isn't he? He's played all preseason, he's played big minutes so far. If we have to risk him or we don't feel we have to risk him, as I said we'll decide that in the next 24 hours."
The Hurricanes team will be announced on Wednesday at 4 pm NZT. Laidlaw went on to reflect on recent selections and clarify what was influencing his selection decisions for the coming weeks.
"Not so much around winning and losing, we've got a lot of good players in the squad. So, we've been trying through injuries and suspension, there's been a lot of change anyway. So that's probably helped.
"Certainly up front, it's allowed a natural rotation of players. In the backs, there are a few itching to get a run, so one (change) we will have is TJ (Perenara) will start this week. Cam (Roigard) is going to have a week off with his All Blacks rest. So, we're certainly looking at that, we've got a few sore bodies from the weekend.
"We've trained this morning, we'll catch up with the medical crew this afternoon to finalise the team."
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All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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