Bateman back for Crusaders
The scar over Tim Bateman’s left eye is still a mottled purple colour, a reminder of a preseason collision with a teammate.
Crusaders midfielder Bateman was accidentally clobbered by flanker Jed Brown a week before the Brisbane Global Tens tournament, and unlike the latter, who emerged unscathed, Bateman was left with a wound that looks likely to decorate his face for a while yet.
For Bateman it proved a reminder that the Crusaders play and train for keeps.
Given he played for the Crusaders between 2007-10 and the Hurricanes in 2012-14, Bateman, who also had several stints with Japanese club CocaCola Red Sparks during this period, is familiar with the demands of New Zealand Super Rugby teams.
Past experiences also taught him that the Crusaders’ backline often enjoy the equivalent of a magic carpet ride behind a forward pack that has the potential to steam through most obstacles in its path.
So when Bateman took the field as a replacement for Sean Wainui in the second half of the match against the Blues at AMI Stadium last week, he, along with the other backs, must have felt they had been strapped on the back of a rocket as they watched the Crusaders’ forwards rip apart their opponents with their driving mauls.
Bateman has been named to start at centre against the Force at AMI Stadium tonight, earning the right after his efforts in helping to straighten the attack during the 33-24 win over the Blues.
Watching from the coaching box, Crusaders assistant backs coach Leon MacDonald had little doubt Bateman would run hard at the defensive line when he got his first touch of the ball.
Although eager to get some early contact, Bateman also wanted to send a message to those around him.
Of the team that will start against the Force, only Bateman and Crockett remain from the run-on side that contributed to the 20-12 defeat of the Waratahs in the final at Lancaster Park in 2008 - the last time the Crusaders won the title. Kieran Read, who wore the No 6 jersey that night, is still recovering from wrist surgery and won’t return until next month. MacDonald started at fullback in that match.
Even with coach Scott Robertson making eight positional changes to the side that recovered from a 19-point deficit to beat the Blues, the Crusaders should be far too strong for a Force side that is without Wallabies Ben McCalman and Dane Haylett-Petty.