Ryan Crotty: In a good headspace
Ryan Crotty appreciates your concern. The state of the All Blacks’ health briefly became a national issue, after he was concussed in the August 18 Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia. It was hardly the 29-year-old’s first head knock of recent seasons and convinced a few folk he might be better giving rugby away.
Tomorrow, against South Africa at Westpac Stadium, will mark his first game since and he is acutely aware of the scrutiny his return to action will attract.
‘‘I’m great, thank you. A lot of people have asked over the last couple of weeks and the support from the public has been really nice,’’ Crotty said yesterday.
‘‘It’s hard to walk down the street and have someone not ask how you are, so it’s awesome that people care and genuinely hope you’re doing all right. But I’m feeling fresh – fresh and good to go.’’
Crotty sat out the second Bledisloe Cup game, in Auckland, before The Rugby Championship teams got a week off. He had passed his concussion protocols and was available to play Argentina in Nelson last Saturday, but the All Blacks felt it would be prudent to ease him back into things.
It probably also took a little more heat out of a situation in which people had almost demanded he retire.
‘‘That’s just a product of people caring. Genuinely. And, like I said, that’s really nice,’’ said Crotty.
‘‘In saying that, I’ve gone through all the processes, been extremely diligent around this last one and I’m really confident. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be there, so I’m really excited to be back playing.’’
Crotty has continually passed his Head Injury Assessments and negotiated the return-to-play protocols without incident but, surely, having to go through that on a semi-regular basis isn’t a great sign of rude health? He’d only be human if he wondered whether his future was being put at some risk. ‘‘Nah, no way. If I sincerely did I wouldn’t be here.’’
But no man is an island. Crotty is a son and a brother, among other things, and there are more people involved than just the player when these occur.
‘‘They’re good. I’ve had to convince them I’m all right so, no, they’re fine and they’re excited that I’m back out there
‘‘I’ve gone through all the processes, been extremely diligent around this last one and I’m really confident.’’
doing what I love as well,’’ Crotty said of his family.
That’s largely as a result, he added, of how thorough the process around getting back on the field is.
‘‘There’s no stone left unturned around head injuries these days, so the diligence around gives you confidence.’’
Crotty is an asset to the All Blacks and returns to an area of the field that is among the team’s more competitive. Sonny Bill Williams has had to drop off the bench, due to tonsilitis, and Ngani Laumape picked up a knee injury last week, but that still leaves accomplished performers in Crotty, Lienertbrown and Jack Goodhue.
‘‘The amount of time we’re putting into each other [as a midfield pod] and how we’re working together, you’ve seen Jack playing really well, Ngani’s taken his opportunity really, really well too and I think that’s a product of how hard the group works together.
‘‘With regards to Alby [Lienert-brown] . . . he’s a really switched-on young man. Better people make better rugby players and I think that’s the case with Anton.’’