Ennor in selection mix for final Former All Black Bird to play for Hurricanes
One-test All Black Braydon Ennor may force Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to give some poor soul the dreaded tap on the shoulder this week.
Ennor did enough in 60 minutes for his University club at the weekend to convince Robertson he should be considered for the Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday night, despite not having played first-class footy since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the North versus South match in early September.
Although it was only Ennor’s second outing in the Christchurch metro competition, the Crusaders confirmed he’s earned the right to be a contender for the SRA title defence.
Naming wing/centre Ennor in the 23-man team for the clash at Orangetheory Stadium would be a massive call given he’s not played SRA this year, but Robertson has never been afraid to pull the trigger when making tough decisions.
That was evident when he omitted loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett from the team to play the Lions in the Super Rugby final in 2018; many felt All Black Crockett, who had made a record 203 appearances for the Crusaders, at least deserved a place on the bench in his swansong season but the ruthless Robertson picked Joe Moody and Tim Perry instead.
Crockett was forced to watch the victory from the stand at
Orangetheory Stadium and never represented the team again.
Assistant coach Scott Hansen confirmed yesterday Ennor had produced a sharp performance during University’s 43-26 win over Belfast.
Despite losing All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue with a season-ending knee injury last month, David Havili and Leicester Fainga’anuku have combined well at No 12 and 13 and Dallas Mcleod has done little wrong as a substitute option.
All Blacks George Bridge and Sevu Reece are expected to be retained on the wings for the final, while Manasa Mataele was on the bench for the game against the Blues before last weekend’s bye. Robertson has to weigh-up whether to stick with status quo or rush Ennor back into a final that is likely to be as fast, and physical, as a test match.
Given the latter hasn’t played anything above club rugby in almost eight months, Ennor could be the one who gets tapped on the shoulder and told to prepare for the trans-tasman competition instead.
Former All Blacks lock Dominic Bird is returning from France to New Zealand to his third Super Rugby team.
At 2.06m the tallest All Black on record, the 30-year-old has signed with Wellington for this year’s NPC, and the Hurricanes for next year’s Super Rugby competition.
The Hurricanes confirmed Bird’s signing yesterday, after a stint with French club Racing Metro who he joined in
2018.
Bird emerged from Canterbury while studying at Lincoln University and went on to play for the Crusaders and Chiefs, as well as two All Blacks tests in Japan in 2013 and Scotland the following year.
‘‘I’mexcited to be getting back into Super Rugby next year and returning to NZ with my family to live,’’ Bird said.
‘‘We’ve enjoyed our time with Racing Metro in France, and I feel like I’ve been playing some of my best rugby up there, but now is the right time to return home. I’m looking forward to testing myself again in Super Rugby and adding huge value to the Hurricanes in 2022.’’
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland welcomed Bird’s impending arrival in the capital where Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell and Isaia Walker-leawere were the three frontline locks this year in their disappointing 2-6 Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
‘‘We’re really looking forward to seeing Dom turn up and show his experience for the Wellington Lions before he comes into our group,’’ Holland said.
‘‘Speaking with him, we know howmuch he wants to prove himself again in New Zealand rugby and you can’t beat the sort of experience he will bring to us. He’s a big man who has shown he can match it with some of the toughest forwards in a really challenging competition and we think he will bring real value to the club.’’