Still no Whitelock, Crotty

Still no Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty, but all the buzz was about Wallaby-in-waiting Pete Samu.

Concussions have prevented All Blacks Whitelock and Crotty, as well as Samu, from being named in the Crusaders side to face the Chiefs as the Super Rugby champions search for their 10th consecutive win on Saturday night.

But there is some good news, something that should always be cherished ahead of these clashes in Hamilton: Joe Moody returns from suspension, Israel Dagg is fit after suffering a knee injury a month ago and Jordan Taufua has recovered from a calf injury that prevented him playing in the 24-13 win over the Hurricanes last weekend.

Coach Scott Robertson has made a total of six positional changes to the side that started that match.

While the absence of All Blacks captain and lock Whitelock, especially, has to be a concern ahead of the upcoming test series against France – this will be the third weekend he has been absent because of a head knock – it was the topic of the uncapped Samu that was a major talking point.

And it was up to Robertson to do the yakking for Samu, who was at training after failing an HIA last weekend but not available to media.

This is what has unfolded so far in the Samu saga. The Melbourneborn back rower, who will join the Brumbies after this season, would have been named in the Wallabies squad on Wednesday night but couldn’t be included because NZ Rugby haven’t released him.

‘‘My view is the same as the one the NZRU have come up with, really,’’ Robertson said on Thursday. ‘‘There is a process for it. We support Pete, either way, whatever happens with the decision.’’

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach had earlier stated his organisation had no issue with Samu joining the Wallabies. Complicating the matter is the fact that under World Rugby rules Samu has dual eligibility, which entitles NZ Rugby to decline the Australian Rugby Union’s request.

Robertson stuck to his position of supporting NZ Rugby. ‘‘He is going to be a Wallaby at some stage isn’t he? If it is in June, and they decide it, then great – good on him. He’s an Australian who wants to play for Australia, he is good enough to be a Wallaby so we will see when that occurs.’’

Robertson said there there were no ill-feelings towards Samu and given Whetu Douglas, who was a sensation for the Crusaders in the first half of last season, will return to the club for 2019-20 following a stint with Italian club Treviso there is a capable replacement set to return.

It has been no secret Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was eager to sign Samu, and Robertson denied the prolonged drama had been a distraction: ‘‘I wouldn’t say it is an issue at all and the way we handle it is like we would with any other contract. It is the nature of the sport.’’

Samu made his first-class debut for Tasman in 2014 after moving from Sydney, and was picked for the Crusaders in 2016.

Lock Whitelock, who has been appointed All Blacks skipper in the absence of the injured Kieran Read, didn’t train with the national squad when they held a camp in Christchurch on Tuesday but midfielder Crotty, who hasn’t played since taking a blow to the head against the Blues on May 19, was a participant.

Robertson suggested both were close to being fully fit.

‘‘There has been a massive improvement,’’ Robertson said in reference to the pair. ‘‘It is a day to day thing, and today they are great. Maybe if we had played on Sunday they could have been available. It was that close.’’