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Crotty may return for All Blacks despite suffering 6 concussions in just 20 months
By Alex Fisher
Ryan Crotty and Sam Cane are still in contention for New Zealand's Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday after making good progress from recent concussions.
Crotty suffered a head injury following a collision with Jack Goodhue in their victory over Australia in the opening game in Sydney, while Cane sustained his knock last weekend at Eden Park.
Both have continued to train with the All Blacks ahead of the Pumas' visit to Nelson and Steve Hansen has not ruled either out of a return.
"Ryan and Sammy are both tracking along nicely," the coach said, as quoted by stuff.co.nz. "We'll make decisions about them during the week.
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"We've got complete faith in whoever we pick. There's an expectation that we play well and do the job so whomever we pick it will be because we believe they are good enough to do the job."
Sonny Bill Williams will not be risked for the clash at Trafalgar Park, though, as Hansen looks to give him more time to recover from his shoulder injury.
Hansen added: "We've just got to get him back into contact and make sure that his shoulder is OK, so we'll give him a bit of time to do that."
Crotty was knocked out after making accidental contact with debutant team-mate Jack Goodhue as the All Blacks defeated the Wallabies 38-13 in Sydney.
The 29-year-old, who had made 38 appearances for his country, has now sustained six concussions in the last 20 months.
“It concerns us, definitely,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said in the aftermath of the match.
“He’s already seen a specialist and they’ve given him the all-clear. From our understanding as long as you fully recover and don’t go back when you’re not fully recovered, then you’re OK.
“He was just unlucky last night. It was freaky – friendly fire from Jack straight in the face. It would have knocked most of us out.”
Team-mate Sam Cane added: “It’s not nice to see. It’s just a tough injury. Everything else has a time-frame but there’s just so much unknown with head knocks and it seems like you can be only one away, if it’s the wrong one, from it being then end of it.
“I’ve seen that with a few mates. It certainly helps you appreciate every week and every game you have and realising how fickle it can be.”
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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