Prop Perry suffers hamstring strain
The Crusaders can’t buy a trick in the leadup to Friday’s top-of-the-table Super Rugby showdown against the Hurricanes, with All Blacks prop Tim Perry set to be their latest defection.
Already without their two premier All Black props in Joe Moody and Owen Franks through suspension for the clash that could decide the No 1 playoff seeding, the Crusaders look likely to lose Perry as well after he pulled up with an injury on the final day of the national training camp in Auckland.
All Blacks doctor Tony Page reported that loosehead prop Perry suffered a hamstring strain to his left leg during a lowintensity team drill. He will be reviewed by Crusaders medical staff over the next few days before an assessment is made.
It is fast turning into a testing week for Crusaders coach Scott Robertson who is also working through potential head problems for skipper Sam Whitelock and experienced midfielder Ryan Crotty, as well as a hamstring injury that seems almost certain to rule out in-form wing Manasa Mataele.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen revealed on Sunday that Whitelock had been suffering a type of delayed concussion (rather than the illness reported by the Crusaders), which was why he had not assembled with the rest of the national squad in Auckland.
He joined them on Monday, with Hansen saying he wasn’t going to travel until he was fully symptom free.
And Crotty failed his second HIA of the season on Saturday night against the Blues in Auckland when he copped a blow to the face early in the contest. Robertson has indicated no chances will be taken with any player in the concussion protocols.
The All Blacks Sunday-Tuesday training camp has been the subject of criticism in some quarters for its impact on the Super Rugby sides.
It affected the Chiefs drastically when they had to play last weekend’s match against the Sharks in Durban without a quartet of All Blacks, on top of a heavy injury-list, because they were required to be back in Auckland for the start of the camp.
Not surprisingly the Chiefs crashed to a 28-24 defeat.
And this week it most severely impacts the Crusaders and Hurricanes as they must make do with limited preparation for their Friday night blockbuster in Christchurch. Players returned to their franchises on Tuesday after a morning training run in Auckland.
Meanwhile, Highlanders skipper and All Blacks fullback Ben Smith, who is being rested from this weekend’s Super Rugby action, said he was feeling in fine fettle for the looming test campaign on the back of his sabbatical break in 2017.
‘‘I’m pretty excited to be back in here,’’ he said before being whisked to the airport.
‘‘A bit of time out from the game actually made me appreciate being able to be a rugby player. It’s been great being back in Super Rugby and I’m just enjoying my rugby.’’