Crusaders bolster injury-hit fullback stocks with return of Johnny McNicholl
The Crusaders have brought in another Welsh international fullback to help ease the burden of losing All Black Will Jordan as well as Leigh Halfpenny, bringing back former Crusader Johnny McNicholl.
McNicholl was a member of the club from 2014-16, earning 39 caps before departing for Scarlets where he donned a different red on over 120 occasions.
The outside back's form was recognised in 2020 when he was called into the Wales team and earned an international debut against France in the Six Nations.
The 33-year-old returns to the club he began his professional career with to help cover for his former Scarlets teammate Halfpenny, who suffered a chest injury in his pre-season debut for the reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions.
“I’m really looking forward to running out in front of the home crowd again, I didn’t think I’d get that opportunity again so yeah, it’s pretty special,” McNicholl said.
“It’s also great for me and my family to be coming back home after a decent stint overseas.”
Chay Fihaki has stepped into the 15 jersey with the injury crisis at the position and will be McNicholl's direct competition for the role.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney said he was “thrilled to welcome Johnny back."
“Johnny’s a top-notch operator with proven experience and like any good fullback, he has the potential to produce magic from anywhere on the field,” Penney said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him back in the colours in 2024.”
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Dont know if the Irish players said it or not, but lets all be honest with ourselves, and hopefully both the Irish and French have healed by now, the Media did jump the gun, be realistic, according to 90% of the media it was a France and Ireland final, and the media had 1 of them winning the world cup, not even mentioning the All blacks? Just remember world cups are different, Australia was not the most in form cricket tean in the last cricket world cup, but they have a nack of winning when it matters. I wont go into whether what Etzabeth is saying is true, all I am saying is that its very easy for a team to get ahead of themselves due to the media. Nothing wrong with it, the media got the springboks over confident against England and we nearly lost that one.
Go to commentsHey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
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