Extra rest for key Crusaders
major favours in the following tests against England and Ireland. Smith started, replaced by Perenara around the threequarter mark in both fixtures.
On a wet afternoon at Twickenham, Smith’s job was simple: Be clinical. He couldn’t lay claim to that during the 16-15 victory. More loose passes, the kicking was average.
In the final minutes, as Smith sat on the bench, Perenara almost blew it. He had a clearing kick charged down by Courtney Lawes, resulting in what appeared to be the matchwinning try by Sam Underhill.
The decision was overturned by the officials, Lawes deemed offside.
So it was Smith, in a record-breaking 82nd test for the All Blacks, who was confirmed to start a week later. It was another lacklustre display. He lacked authority, the edge was missing in the 16-9 loss at Aviva Stadium.
Roll on 2019. Smith, 30, may well return to the Highlanders as if he has dynamite in his veins and carry his Super Rugby form into the tests.
His experience means it’s highly unlikely that he will be discarded by the national selectors from the World Cup squad.
The same could be said for Perenara.
A dearth of No 9s possessing their exposure in the heat of international footy should ensure their passage to the World Cup is assured.
But Smith should take nothing for granted. He cannot be allowed to believe he is guaranteed a place in the World Cup squad to Japan.
That could be detrimental to the All Blacks’ aspirations of retaining the Webb Ellis Cup. Improvements are required. Crusaders coach Scott Robertson must be tempted to order in a bulk shipment of cotton wool.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read, and possibly hooker Codie Taylor, are set to join captain Sam Whitelock on the sideline for an extended Super Rugby breather next year.
It’s been well documented New Zealand Rugby has ordered Whitelock to sit out the first month of the season, and Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan confirmed yesterday Read was also a ‘‘special case’’.
‘‘Yeah, around that,’’ Ryan said when asked if Read would also miss four weeks. ‘‘He will miss more than two weeks, we’re just going through that at the moment. It definitely will be.’’
It’s understood the two mandatory weeks All Blacks are required to sit out next season will be in addition to their extended break, meaning Whitelock and Read could miss at least half a dozen of the Crusaders’ 16 regular season games.
With both set to miss the first month of the season, the Crusaders will have to get by without their two primary leaders during a stretch which includes New Zealand derbies against the Blues, Hurricanes and Chiefs.
‘‘Just get on with it. It is what it is,’’ Ryan said. ‘‘It’s all about being a little strategic. We will get them back in the back end.
‘‘It’s all about what’s best for Reado, getting his body right, he’s obviously got a big year for the Crusaders, and obviously the World Cup at the end of it. We will just manage it, we’re talking to the All Blacks all the time, good communication channels there, we’ve got no problem with it.’’
Taylor, who got through a ton of work starting in place of the injured Dane Coles during the test year, could also be given an extended break, Ryan confirmed.
Should the 27-year-old miss additional time, it will mean more minutes for Andrew Makalio and Ben Funnell.
The rest of the team’s All Blacks, including props Owen Franks and Joe Moody, are expected to run out in round one against the Blues at Eden Park.