Young Crusaders impress
The Crusaders’ production line continues to spit them out.
The three-time defending Super Rugby champions opened the pre-season with a convincing 40-19 victory over the Hurricanes in the Ashburton sunshine on Saturday.
While they might have lost a wealth of experience from last year’s title winning team, including Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua and Sam Whitelock (Japan sabbatical), coach Scott Robertson was delighted with what his young guns served up.
It’s unwise to read too much into preseason, given teams rotate players around heavily and All Blacks are unavailable, but there was a lot to like from the Crusaders’ next generation.
They showed encouraging signs and enough evidence to suggest the Crusaders will be just as formidable this season as they eye an unprecedented fourth consecutive Super Rugby crown.
Depth is imperative in Super Rugby given the high injury toll and several fledgling Crusaders’ talents took their chances in front of a crowd of about 3600 at the Showgrounds.
Impressive fullback Will Jordan, flanker Tom Christie, midfielder Dallas McLeod, and halfback Ereatara Enari were among those to impress and will get their opportunities during the season.
Robertson will have some tough selection decisions ahead of their first competition game, against the Waratahs in Nelson on February 1, with All Blacks Scott Barrett, Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, George Bridge, Jack Goodhue, Sevu Reece and
Richie Mo’unga to come back and others who didn’t feature on Saturday such as David Havili and Bryn Hall.
‘‘We’ve got eight All Blacks to come back into the fold, so it’s a chance for [the young guys] and we talked about it,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘To get some combinations and make it really tough for us as coaches to select the team, and a lot of them did it.’’
North Harbour blindside flanker-lock Ethan Roots made his presence felt in the second half and looks another savvy recruit from the Crusaders’ talent spotters. Roots could be a real asset off the bench with his physicality.
‘‘He’s got a good shoulder on him, Ethan Roots. Extremely good,’’ said Robertson.
‘‘Sione Havili was powerful when he carried. Special mention to Tom Sanders, who’s come back from a real long-term injury and performed extremely well. Manasa Mataele showed some great glimpses and it’s another step for him [after a long-term injury last season].’’
Flanker Sanders finished off the try of the game late in the first half, which was sparked by an initial run from Mataele. Braydon Ennor then darted down the left hand touchline and flicked the ball to Jordan,
who got it away to Sanders, who was backing up nicely to finish.
The Hurricanes had made a flying start, leading 12-0 after 11 minutes before the Crusaders replied with four unanswered tries to take a 28-12 lead into halftime. After the Hurricanes’ strong beginning, the Crusaders piled on 35 straight points before South African wing Kobus van Wyk dotted down in the 72nd minute to snap the scoring run.
The Crusaders lost openside flanker Billy Harmon to a minor knee knock in the first half, while halfback Mitchell Drummond was taken off early in the second half as a precaution after a head knock.
Hurricanes wing Jonah Lowe left the field with a left shoulder issue, the same injury he suffered last season, which worried coach Jason Holland.
‘‘I’m really hoping that’s not as bad as it looks because Jonah is coming back from a shoulder injury and he’s worked really hard this pre-season and is in great nick.
‘‘I’m a little bit worried about him, but we’ll see how he comes up.’’
Holland, who has taken over as coach from John Plumtree, now an All Blacks assistant for Ian Foster, said the pre-season outing was a starting point for his side.
They still have All Blacks TJ Perenara, Dane Coles, and Jordie Barrett to come back into the fold, and their young players would grow from the experience.
Both sides have one final pre-season game on Friday before the competition proper begins.
The Crusaders travel south to face the Highlanders in Wanaka in their annual Farmlands Cup pre-season clash. The Hurricanes meet the Blues in Takapuna before heading to South Africa for their first game against the Stormers in Cape Town on February 1.