Changes loom for Crusaders
Expect changes, and potentially plenty of them when Crusaders coach Scott Robertson unveils his team to travel to Brisbane for a date with the Reds this weekend.
Given Robertson didn’t hold back his All Blacks in derby wins against the Blues and Hurricanes to start the season, Saturday night’s fixture shapes as a prime opportunity to keep New Zealand Rugby on side.
The governing body has demanded frontline All Blacks play no more than 180 minutes across the first three weeks of the season, while they must each sit out two games during the season. On top of that, Crusaders Codie Taylor (two weeks), Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read (both four weeks) were told to sit out the start of the season.
With derbies against the Chiefs and Highlanders to follow the away game against the Reds, this is the obvious week to start spelling players.
Second five-eighth Ryan Crotty and lock Scott Barrett are just two All Blacks in line to sit the fixture out, given their busy workload the past two weeks, including in the 38-22 romp against the Hurricanes at Christchurch Stadium on Saturday night.
Barrett played 80 minutes against the Blues and scored two tries during 51 impressive minutes against the Hurricanes. Robertson must decide if it’s worth taking him to Brisbane to play 49 minutes, or if the time is right to tick off one of his rest weeks.
‘‘Yeah, just the way it works,’’ Robertson said when asked if Barrett was due a spell. ‘‘But Quinten Strange is a great young lock, isn’t he? He’s better for the time as well. And Luke Romano has still got a bit in him.’’
On the plus side, hooker Taylor has completed his two weeks of extended leave and is available for selection.
‘‘We’ll make a decision if he is OK this week or next week. We’ll decide Monday if he needs one more week, we will just do what is right for him,’’ Robertson said.
Another area of discussion will be the right-wing, after Fijian-born flier Manasa Mataele was carted off Christchurch Stadium with a knee injury at the weekend.
The full extent of his injury is unclear but, given he could not walk off the field, there is no chance he will play next week.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Mataele after his hot start to the season, but the Crusaders are blessed with depth in the outside backs.
Braydon Ennor is an obvious option to replace him, while Will Jordan will also come into consideration.
Rookies Leicester Faingaanuku and Ngane Punivai are also options, although both are uncapped.
Then there is Sevu Reece, who ran in 14 tries for Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup, and has been training with the Crusaders as injury
cover for Israel Dagg. Reece played for the Crusaders Knights on Saturday.
Having watched the Reds push the Highlanders to the brink in a 36-31 defeat in Dunedin last Friday, there is little chance the group Robertson selects will
underestimate the team coached by former Crusader Brad Thorn.
‘‘They can play, Robertson said. ‘‘You could see the difference in them already from a year ago. It always takes two or three years to get established as a coach, especially when there is so much change with what Brad has done.
‘‘He’s taken a while to shape them, but he’s shaped them pretty well and it shows with the courage and heart they’ve got. They were a moment away from what you’d probably call an upset.’’