No Taylor for Reds
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson sounded like a cautious book keeper as he explained why he made a shock call to keep All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor on ice this week.
Taylor, who has already missed the first two rounds of Super Rugby as part of the deal brokered with the All Blacks management, was omitted from the team to play the Reds in Brisbane tomorrow night.
Robertson, having minutes earlier talked about how the Australian teams were profiting from the decision to reduce their clubs to four following the controversial axing of the Western Force in 2017, acknowledged Taylor was eligible to play at Suncorp Stadium.
But he still elected to ignore Taylor – a thoroughbred good enough to be considered one of the best rakes on the planet, and voted as New Zealand’s best player last year.
‘‘We just found with his running minutes and time on his feet, another week (off) would be good for him,’’ Robertson said in reference to Taylor. ‘‘And both our hookers are on form as well.’’
The need to balance Taylor’s working weeks is paramount, but this doesn’t come without risk. Because the Reds were surprisingly good during their 36-31 loss to the Highlanders last weekend, and could have won had they not suffered several brain fades in the final minutes.
There is also an upside to omitting Taylor; it means he will only have one more ‘‘rest’’ week left during Super Rugby. Like the rest of the All Blacks he is required to skip two games this year, on top of his earlier leave; this should pay dividends in the winter when the fields are heavy and a more forward-orientated style will be enforced.
Robertson conveyed how difficult it was to ensure his internationals’ minutes were capped to 180 – by the All Blacks management – in the first three rounds, when the Crusaders have so many test players.
This is on top of having All Blacks captain Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock placed off-limits for the first four rounds, all in the name of keeping them fresh for the World Cup in Japan later in the season.
‘‘It’s an equation, with the balancing of your All Blacks – you think ‘how are you going to do it?’’ Robertson explained.
‘‘But you have a plan and you just have to be adaptable. With him (Taylor) having the three weeks off, it is probably the best thing over the whole season. And the best thing for the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby.’’
Last weekend the Crusaders jumped out to a big lead against the Hurricanes, enabling Robertson to take a lot of players off around the 50-minute mark. Eventually the Crusaders won 38-22 but not before conceding tries and therefore losing a bonus point.
Robertson has made five changes to the team that started against the Hurricanes, including putting All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty on a ‘‘rest week’’. Still, eight All Blacks have been included in the run-on team. Wing Manasa Mataele, who injured a knee against the ‘Canes, is scheduled to see a specialist today and Robertson conceded his season could already be over.