‘Joe Moody isn’t dirty’
Jason Ryan has got a message for those who believe Joe Moody and Owen Franks are dirty players – buck up your ideas.
The Crusaders’ assistant coach has read it and heard it all since the props returned from shoulder and Achilles injuries, respectively, only for both to be promptly suspended for two weeks for striking.
Whether it was from trolls hiding behind their keyboards, Australian media, or bleated from rugby heads over a pint at their local tavern, many used the words ‘‘dirty’’ and ‘‘cheat’’ with the props’ names in recent weeks.
Given Moody, who was banned for striking Waratah Kurtley Beale off the ball, will return against the Chiefs on Saturday night, it would be naive to think there won’t be juiced-up hecklers in the Hamilton crowd prepared to take a shot at the Crusaders’ loose head.
‘‘[Moody] was probably better than I was,’’ Ryan said when asked how the All Black reacted to the criticism flung his way in the aftermath of the Crusaders’ 31-29 win against the Waratahs earlier this month.
‘‘When people come out and say they’re dirty players, I don’t think they understand the game, to be honest. They’re not dirty players, they’re legendary test All Blacks and they play competitively, they don’t play dirty.’’
Ryan added there was no need for Moody, who is desperate for game-time ahead of the test series against France next month, to rein in the excitement levels in a bid to avoid another date with the Sanzaar judiciary.
‘‘He would have learnt a lot. Even though he played a game of club rugby [after his lengthy injury], coming back in for a high speed game of Super, things happen so fast, so he will be better for that experience.’’
While Franks has another week to serve, Moody’s return is timely, considering fellow All Black Tim Perry is at least a few weeks away from being cleared of a hamstring injury, and 35-year-old Wyatt Crockett played almost the entire match against the Hurricanes last weekend.
Then there’s the Chiefs’ powerful scrum, which their head coach, Colin Cooper, hailed as the best in the competition after their win against the Waratahs last Saturday night.
‘‘Yeah, he’s put it out there, hasn’t he? Ryan said ahead of the showdown. ‘‘But yeah, the Chiefs have been scrummaging very, very well. And rightly so, he should say that.
‘‘What we’ve found in history is scrum battles with the Chiefs and Crusaders have been relatively even. It will be a good battle. Both teams scrum really positively, and Nick White has got their scrum going really well.’’
Whether or not the Crusaders have captain Sam Whitelock (concussion), midfielder Ryan Crotty (concussion) or loose forwards Jordan Taufua (hamstring) and Pete Samu (concussion) for the match is not yet known.
Taufua is still being assessed daily, while the status of the concussed trio should be known by Wednesday at the latest, Ryan said.
Wing Manasa Mataele (hamstring) has been ruled out, as has utility back Braydon Ennor, whose Monday scan revealed he suffered two high-ankle sprains last weekend – good news considering it was initially feared he broke both ankles.
While easier said than done, going to Hamilton and beating the Chiefs wouldn’t just secure a fourth consecutive win against their bitter rivals, it would keep them at the top of the overall log heading into the June break.