Ioane faces lengthy stint on sideline
Life without Ryan Crotty might not be so bad for Crusaders fans after all.
Watching Jack Goodhue ignite an attack with an audacious chip kick from the shadows of his own goal posts in the opening exchanges of the red and blacks’ season-opener was the true beginning of the Goodhue-Braydon Ennor midfield pairing.
Centre Ennor, who played mainly on the wing last year, latched on to the kick and the hosts were away. A moment later, second five-eighth Goodhue again dropped the ball on to his left-boot and pinned the Waratahs deep in their own half.
‘‘Really exciting. Two great athletes working well off each other, playing what’s in front, good speed, we’re excited by the combination,’’ assistant coach Scott Hansen said as the Crusaders prepared for Saturday’s crunch match against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Including last year’s final,
Leon MacDonald’s Blues face an early character test as they contemplate the next month or so without their best player and most potent strike weapon in All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane.
Ioane is one of three Blues players ruled out of Super Rugby for a prolonged period in the wake of the 37-29 loss to the Chiefs in the opening round of Super Rugby last Friday. Prop Alex Hodgman and hooker Ray Niuia are the others.
The 22-year-old, 29-test wing/ centre scored two blockbusting tries in the season-opener at Eden
which Crotty missed through injury, it was the third time the pair have started together in the midfield.
Clearly, it’s early days. But shuffling All Blacks centre
Park, where the Blues let slip a 19-5 halftime lead to suffer yet another Kiwi derby defeat, but fractured his hand in the process.
No timetable has been set for Ioane’s return, but hand fractures usually take at least a month to heal properly.
The defection is a major blow for the Blues, who are looking to end an eight-year playoff drought,
Goodhue inside and lining up the fastest Crusader over 100 metres at centre adds an extra element to an already explosive backline.
‘‘I think we complement each other quite well and, obviously, we with their back-three resources not overflowing with world-class performers.
The setback is untimely for Ioane who is desperate to work his way back up the All Blacks pecking order after losing his spot as a starting wing in 2019. He has also made it clear he wants to play mainly at centre this year.
Ioane’s injury blow comes just two days after it was revealed investigations were under way following reports of raucous parties at his Auckland home.
It was reported the complaint alleged loud late-night parties involving Rieko and his brother Akira, who also plays for the Blues.
get along well on and off the field,’’ said Ennor.
‘‘I wouldn’t say we’ve changed it up. Crotts [Crotty] did a lot for the team in his years that he was here, I think he prepared us well