Utility back Ennor set for final World Cup audition
The return of All Blacks World Cup hopeful Braydon Ennor could be just the shot in the arm Canterbury need to get out of their early season funk.
Ennor, one of nine All Blacks released to play in the Mitre 10 Cup in round three, will start on the left wing for the red and blacks’ away fixture against Wellington tonight.
It’s the last opportunity the 22-year-old has to stake a claim for a spot in the squad for the World Cup in Japan.
Ennor, who shone at both centre and wing for the Crusaders, before making his test debut against Argentina last month, has the utility value Hansen desires, but is up against it to crack a squad already bubbling with midfielders and outside backs.
‘‘I try to put it out of my mind a bit, just train and keep my body well and my mind ready. What happens, happens,’’ Ennor said of the looming squad announcement.
As much as Canterbury like their players to crack higher honours, don’t expect too many complaints from their management team if he misses out.
After all, having Ennor available for the rest of the campaign would be a welcome boost for the team which is winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premiership after the first two rounds.
‘‘It’s been an awesome couple of weeks [with the All Blacks], but it never gets old coming here,’’ Ennor said at Canterbury’s Rugby Park headquarters in Christchurch yesterday.
‘‘I’m here now and ready to do a job now for Canterbury.’’
It’s no secret Ennor’s preferred position is centre, but injuries to Canterbury’s outside back stocks forced coach Joe Maddock to name him on the wing, where he has done most of his damage for both Canterbury and the Crusaders in recent years.
‘‘Ideally for Braydon, he is a midfielder, that’s where his future is. The needs of the team this week is we need him on the wing,’’ Maddock said.
‘‘For him, how we play is nothing new. He’s just got to flick the switch from using All Blacks’ terminology to using our terminology.’’
The second-year coach is under no illusions Ennor’s inclusion alone won’t be enough for his side to clamber out of the hole they’ve dug themselves.
There’s been plenty of soul searching in their camp since being pasted by Tasman at home last weekend, a defeat which condemned Canterbury to their first 0-2 start to a season since 1996.
‘‘Probably the big one, I don’t think we’ve matched the intensity of the other team and the players are aware of it. So, hopefully this week there will be a bit of edge and fire in the belly, and they will come out hissing,’’ Maddock said.