Crusaders, crisis and a local derby
1. What has happened to the Crusaders?
Not one, but two, mighty blows to the Crusaders’ egos following losses to the Highlanders and Hurricanes. The injury toll to important All Blacks is significant, but holding out the cap and seeking sympathy won’t earn fresh competition points. Having leaders Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty back should help stop the rot. Victory over the Bulls in Christchurch is paramount before fixtures against the Lions and Jaguares abroad.
Of concern is the revelation that it now seems highly unlikely that All Blacks captain Kieran Read will return to work for the April 21 match against the Sunwolves. No 8 Read, 32, had surgery on his back in mid-december and hasn’t played any rugby yet. He won’t be rushed back, that’s certain. Just when he will return, or whether he will be fit enough to lead the All Blacks against France in June, is a mystery.
2. No surprises to hear the Chiefs talk up the Sunwolves. Is it waffle or are they wise owls?
They’re hardly going to follow Eddie Jones’ routine, and slate their immediate opponents are they? Which makes their comments, that the Sunwolves will indeed put up a fine fight, all the more predictable. Even with a high injury count chewing an impressive gap in their squad, you would expect the Chiefs to win this.
3. Do the Hurricanes have the class to blaze up the Highlanders’ flawless record?
Possibly, but coming off the bye might not do the Canes many favours. Sometimes is really does pay to stay in the groove. The Highlanders’ defence was outstanding in their win over the Crusaders last week, and they will be straining at the bit in the Cake Tin. If loosies Dillon Hunt and Luke Whitelock repeat their high tackle counts of last weekend, they are in with a shot.
Keep an eye on Highlanders co-captain Ben Smith. Will he take note of the email fired out by Sanzaar referees boss Lyndon Bray, which warned the officials will not tolerate a repeat of Smith’s actions during his side’s 25-17 win over the Crusaders last weekend? Smith walked out from under his posts to demand referee Nick Briant consult the TMO when a conversion was about to be kicked. It didn’t go down well with the establishment.
4. Can anything good come out of the Reds’ bureaucratic bungle?
They will possibly acquire a renewed appreciation for airline food. Missing yellow fever vaccinations forced the Reds to arrange alternative travel plans after they were refused entry to a flight from Sao Paulo to South Africa. So it was off to London instead, before flying south to the tip of Africa. Loading an extra 15 hours travel onto an already busy schedule isn’t ideal. What a shambles.
5. What’s up with those Blues?
Good question. Talk about a false dawn in Jo’burg on March 11. That win over the Lions created all sorts of excitable chatter, some of it quite bonkers. Then the Blues got lashed by the Stormers in Cape Town and the babble dried up. The Blues coaches didn’t hesitate to unleash some barbs in the post-match media chats and, predictably, their own disappointed fans sprayed them. A good time to have the bye.