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Crusaders could lose two All Blacks ahead of final
By Online Editors
The Crusaders could be without established All Blacks Ryan Crotty and Scott Barrett for the Super Rugby final after both damaged a hand in their exciting semi-final defeat of the Hurricanes.
Inside centre Crotty (thumb) and lock Barrett (finger) were to learn the extent of their injuries when x-ray results return on Monday, after they failed to finish the 30-26 win in Christchurch.
Broken bones would rule them out of Saturday's home decider against the Jaguares and could impact on their availability for the All Blacks, who begin their pre-World Cup program in July.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will be sweating on the outcome of the x-rays, acknowledging his team needs as much quality on the park as possible against a Jaguares side he rates as a genuine threat to deny the Crusaders a third successive title.
"They're important players for us, you know," Robertson said.
"A hundred-odd games for Crots and Scooter Barrett's one of the best locks in t he world, so we'll see."
Injury could prematurely end Crotty's Crusaders career as he is leaving for Japan next season.
Robertson has two other All Blacks nursing shoulder injuries but he expects five-eighth Richie Mo'unga and prop Joe Moody to recover.
Mo'unga's damage was suffered in a late hit from Hurricanes captain Dane Coles which Robertson believed warranted further action from match officials.
Classy pivot Mo'unga played on and was arguably the game's most important player, landing all six shots at goal, scoring one try and setting up another in a 20-point performance which shaded incumbent All Blacks five-eighth Beauden Barrett.
"You've got to give it to Richie, he's pretty clutch, kicking those threes, kicks from the sideline," Robertson said.
"It kept us out ahead, they were always chasing and defence at the end was remarkable."
Robertson revealed he had expected the Jaguares to beat the mis-firing Brumbies in their semi-final, which proved prophetic as the Argentines powered to a 39-7 triumph in Buenos Aires.
"We did a bit of homework, We were expecting to play them so we're a few days ahead on it," he said.
"Huge respect to the Jaguares, the way they've played all season.
"They've travelled well and they're going to bring a band of supporters who love to party.
"We've still got to make sure we get our week right."
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Latest Comments
Turn it up. Give me your john A game would ya!
Go to commentsI didn't really get the should tone from it, but maybe because I was just reading it as my own thoughts.
What I read it as was examples of how they played well enough in every game to be able to win it.
Yeah I dunno if Ben wouldn't see it that way (someone else would for sure need to point it out to him though), I'm more in the Ben not appreciating that those close losses werent one off scenarios camp. Sure you can look at dubious decisions causing them to have to play with 14 or 13 men at the death as viable reasons but even in the games they won without such difficulties they made a real struggle of it (compared to how good some of their first half play was). This kind of article where you trying to point out the 3 losses really would most likely have been wins only really makes sense/works when your other performances make those 3 games (or endings) stand out.
There might have been a sentence here and there to ensure some good comment numbers but when he's signing off the article by saying things like ..
and..
I don't really see it. Always making sure people are upto date with the SH standing/perspective! NZ went through some tough times with so many different perspectives and reasons why, but then it was.. amusing how.. behind everyone was once they turned a corner. More of these 'unfortunate' results returned against SA and France at the start of the RWC which made it extra tasty to catch other teams out when they did bring it. So that created some 'conscious' perspective that I just kept going and sharing re thoughts on similar predicaments of other teams, I had been really confident that Wallabies displays vs NZ were real, that the Argentines can backup their thing against Aus and SA (and so obviously the rest), and current one is that England are actually consistent and improving with their attack (which everyone should get onboard with), and I'm expecting a more dominant display against Japan (even though they should have more of their experienced internationals for this one) that highlights further growth from July. 👍
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