Feisty flanker to start final
Telling Wyatt Crockett he wouldn’t play in the Super Rugby final was the ‘‘hardest decision’’ Scott Robertson has had to make in his coaching career.
Crusaders coach Robertson appeared to struggle to temper his emotions as he explained how difficult it was to leave loosehead prop Crockett, a man who has played more than 200 games for the club since 2006 and will retire after Saturday night’s final against the Lions, out of the match-day 23.
‘‘It was the hardest decision I have had to make as a coach, I will be honest with you,’’ Robertson said after naming his team to play at AMI Stadium.
‘‘Great man, great Crusader. Highest capped and given more to this team than anyone else.
‘‘We want to send him out the way he should be sent out, and we promised we would. Which is as he started, with real pride.’’
Given Crockett was not required for the 30-12 win over the Hurricanes in the semi last weekend it was no great surprise he had been omitted to allow Joe Moody to start in the No 1 jersey, with Tim Perry as cover on the bench.
Yet, clearly, there was still a chance for the coach to make a decision on sentimental grounds. And, given his reaction, Robertson clearly knew it would have meant a great deal for Crockett, who earlier in the year declared he had retired from the All Blacks, to get a final run in red and black.
He wouldn’t elaborate on how tough it was to tell Crockett of his decision, or what his reaction was.
‘‘You would probably have to ask Wyatt, really . . . It wasn’t an easy conversation. We reconvened the next day.’’
There was much better news to deliver to Heiden BedwellCurtis, who has been named to start blindside flanker in place of Jordan Taufua who broke his arm in the 30-12 win over the Hurricanes in the semifinal last weekend.
Bedwell-Curtis is a genuine feel-good story. He wasn’t contracted to the Crusaders at the start of the year, initially getting called in only as injury cover. Now he will start ahead of Wallaby Pete Samu, with the latter listed on the bench.
‘‘Heiden has been extraordinary every time he has played for us, he has been extremely capable and it is probably more that Pete is exceptional off the bench,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘He can change the pace of the game up, it is a real strength of his.’’
Robertson said he will wait until Friday to decide whether Andrew Makalio has recovered enough from a calf strain to be the reserve hooker.
If ruled out, Sam AndersonHeather will deputise for Codie Taylor.
‘‘We are all pleasantly surprised, the medical staff as well,’’ Robertson said in reference to Makalio’s swift recovery.
‘‘He must have looked upstairs – he is a bit of a miracle, from what the medical team have said. It’s great. We will make a decision tomorrow.’’
The naming of Bedwell-Curtis at No 6 is the only change to the Crusaders starting lineup is unchanged from that 30-12 victory which stamped them as dominant favourites for the final, which they won a year ago against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Crusaders:
David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Whitelock (capt), Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather/Andrew Makalio, Tim Perry, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Pete Samu, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Braydon Ennor.