Key pair in doubt for quarters

While meeting a New Zealand side first up might not have been the most ideal situation for the Waratahs to come into the playoffs with, they can find solace in knowing Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty might have to wait another week before lining up for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby playoffs.

The duo are in doubt for the Crusaders’ quarter-final against the Sharks in Christchurch this weekend after leaving the pitch with injuries on Saturday night.

Read appeared to suffer a wrist injury in his side’s thumping of the Blues and left the pitch just after halftime. Crotty followed his captain up the tunnel about 10 minutes later with a thumb injury.

The Crusaders said Read and Crotty had been cleared of any significant injury and would be monitored early this week as they reintegrate to training. Should there be any doubt over their conditions later in the week, the two could be rested as a precautionary measure.

Finishing the regular season at the top of the table with a 14-2 record, the Crusaders are not expected to have too much trouble against the eighthplaced Sharks in the opening round of the playoffs. Their performance against the Blues was a clear statement to the other seven teams looking to dethrone the Crusaders as Super Rugby champions.

Joe Moody (knee and ankle) wasn’t considered for the match, while Owen Franks, Scott Barrett, David Havili and Codie Taylor were all rested against the Blues. That didn’t hamper the defending champions as they ran away with a 54-17 win, outscoring the Blues eight tries to two.

Franks, Barrett, Taylor and Havili are all expected to return to the squad for their quarter-final in Christchurch this weekend, while Moody remains in doubt.

They will meet a Sharks side with nothing to lose who have given Kiwi teams some trouble this season.

Boasting wins over the Blues, Highlanders and Chiefs, as well as a heart-breaking loss to the Hurricanes when the winning try was scored five minutes after the horn, they will know they need a big performance to topple to Crusaders, with or without Crotty, Read and Moody. they did a number on the Highlanders the last time the two sides met. They will back themselves at home, and so they should.

A trip to Sydney is much more desirable than one to Johannesburg, so the

Eto Nabuli 2, Liam Wright, Jono Lance, Duncan Paia’aua, Taniela Tupou, Mmoses Sorovi tries; Lance 5 con, pen

Pen try, Jaba Bregvadze, Ryobi Nakamura tries; Hayden Parker 2 con, 2 pen

29-13

Waisake Naholo, Kayne Hammington, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Tom Franklin tries; Lima Sopoaga 5 con, pen

Reece Hodge 3, Amanaki Mafi tries; Hodge 4 con, 2 pen, Jack Debreczeni pen.

22-24 Dunedin

Jack Goodhue 2, George Bridge 3, Seta Tamanivalu, Sam Whitelock, Bryn Hall tries; Richie Mo'unga 4 con, Mitchell Hunt 3 con

Melani Nanai 2 tries, pen try. 19-5 Christchurch

Tom Banks, Isi Naisarani, Richie Arnold, Kyle Godwin, Andrew Muirhead, Lausii Taliauli tries; Christian Lealiifano 5 con

Damian Fitzpatrick, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Brad Wilkin, Will Miller tries; Brendan Foley 4 con, pen. 26-10 Brisbane Sydney

Ruan Combrinck 2, Malcolm Marx, Courtnall Skosan, Apiwhe Dyantyi tries; pen try; Elton Jantjes 2 con, Andries Coetzee con

Mannie Libbok, Jesse Kriel tries; Lillok con.

19-12 Johannesburg

Armand van der Merwe, Jacobus van Wyk tries; Robert du Preez 2 con, 2 pen

Sebastian Cancelliere try; Joaquin Diaz Bonilla pen, con 13-10 Durban