Grace period over as Razor cracks whip
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson wants to see more from No 8 Cullen Grace, starting against the Blues in Christchurch tomorrow.
It’s not that the one-test All Black has been bad. In fact, Robertson believes he’s doing all the simple things well. But he hasn’t made the same impact as he did last year, when Grace earned an All Blacks call-up on the back of his impressive rookie campaign.
Speaking ahead of training yesterday, Robertson admitted he’s ‘‘looking for more from him’’ when asked if the 21-year-old Timaru Boys’ High School old boy had performed at the level he expected this year.
‘‘He’s a real physical player, an incredible shoulder on him, incredible ability to anticipate play, but probably just hasn’t quite got the opportunities he has years before. The tightness of games, he’s made a lot of tackles, he’s had a couple of niggles that have come right.
‘‘We’re looking for more from him. The surprise package has gone, as you have in the first year. He’s not far away, he’s doing all the simple things really well, he just hasn’t got those opportunities to make a big play and get in your newspapers.
‘‘He is learning his craft [at No 8] and getting better at it, it’s just game time for him.’’
The 21-year-old is back in the
starting side alongside lock Sam Whitelock, after the pair were rested for last week’s ill-fated trip to Hamilton to play the Chiefs.
The return of veteran Whitelock is sure to ease anxiety levels among Crusaders fans ahead of tomorrow’s crunch match, as is confirmation centre Leicester Fainga’anuku is good to go after taking a head knock late in the first half of last week’s match.
It’s allowed Robertson to name a mostly predictable lineup for the match at Orangetheory Stadium, although he has named uncapped prop Tamaiti Williams on the bench.
The 21-year-old Saint Kentigern College old boy tips the scales at almost 140kg and is 1.93m tall, making for an intriguing prospect.
Williams played tighthead prop for Canterbury during last year’s NPC, but will cover starting loosehead prop George Bower against the Blues.
‘‘Tamaiti is a big human, it’s a great opportunity for him to come in as a young fella and play in such a big match, he’s trained really well and he’s good to go,’’ Robertson said.
The Crusaders have also called in former Ma¯ ori All Black, Crusader and Canterbury midfielder Tim Bateman as injury cover for Jack Goodhue (knee).
Bateman, who last played for the Crusaders in 2019, recently finished a stint in Japan and has been a welcome returnee at Rugby Park.
‘‘He’s pretty endearing to our group, he comes in and understands how it rolls, adds where he needs to, articulate man, trains bloody well and runs the guys that aren’t in the 23 incredibly well. Smart man,’’ Robertson said.
Game management has been one of the areas the Crusaders have dug into this week, knowing they need to find a way to earn more possession in the right areas of the park.
Robertson said the team had made a point of reinforcing what its strengths were.
‘‘When we do them well, consistently, we’re pretty good.’’