Crusaders ‘on’ for semifinal
A recall for Joe Moody to play the Hurricanes appears imminent.
Unavailable for the Crusaders’ 40-10 victory over the Sharks in the Super Rugby quarterfinal because of the knee injury he suffered a fortnight earlier, All Blacks loosehead prop Moody is set to be wheeled out for the semi against the Hurricanes in Christchurch next Saturday night.
‘‘We have got Joe coming back after training well last week,’’ Crusaders coach Scott Robertson confirmed. ‘‘If he gets through the week ahead he is available to play.’’
That might be enough to make some nervous Hurricanes fans to ask for an extra shot in their coffees because the injection of Moody into the Crusaders’ run-on team would lift the number of test caps in their pack to 405.
By comparison the Hurricanes fielded two test forwards in their quarterfinal win over the Chiefs, with England back rower Brad Shields and All Blacks prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen boasting three caps between them. If flanker Ardie Savea returns from an ankle injury, he will add another 25 caps.
Right wing Seta Tamanivalu, who left AMI Stadium during the game against the Sharks after suffering a head knock, may also recover in time to add finishing polish to the backline.
Tamanivalu, who won’t return to the Crusaders next season because he’s committed to French club Bordeaux, will be given every chance to pass the returnto-play protocols prior to the team being confirmed Thursday.
‘‘The test results have come back really good, he feels good and there are no symptoms at the moment. So we are hopeful,’’ Robertson said.
A 30-point winning margin over the Sharks suggests the Crusaders won in a canter. No, not quite. As is often the case with the superbly conditioned team, they piled on the points in the final quarter when Pete Samu and Ennor scored tries.
If Robertson wants to be picky during today’s debrief, he can go elbow deep in material. The Crusaders were fortunate the Sharks bombed a certain try, missing a sitter of a penalty and gifted easy turnovers with a sloppy lineout in the first spell.
The Crusaders lost four of their own lineout throws, were frustrated by turnovers and were unable to complete two clean line breaks by replacement wing Braydon Ennor and lock Scott Barrett. Ultimately it was their bloodyminded defensive tenacity, in conjunction with their nose for the tryline when it mattered, that broke the Sharks’ spirit.
‘‘We are going to have to be better, there is no doubt about that,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘And you always have to when you have got three finals in a row.’’
Then there is the subject of Hurricanes playmaker Beauden Barrett. The fulcrum of his side’s attack, Barrett, if his game is humming, can make opposition defenders look like mannequins.
When these sides last met at AMI Stadium on May 25 Barrett’s loose control proved costly for the visitors as they, inexplicably, ignored coach Chris Boyd’s request to respect the wet conditions.
It proved to be a turning point for both teams. The Crusaders, despite missing eight All Blacks because of suspensions and injuries, won 24-13 and ended the Hurricanes’ 10-game winning streak.
‘‘Both teams learned a lot about that game, how to play in the conditions,’’ Robertson noted. ‘‘We are assuming they will be smarter for it as well.
‘‘Any team that plays the Hurricanes knows to expect anything. Especially with the kind of individuals they have got in regards to flair. But they are a brutal side as well. You have to be ‘on’ – we know that. You have to be absolutely ‘on’.’’