Read, Crotty to face Sharks
Confirmation Kieran Read will play at No 8 in the Super Rugby quarterfinal should be a guaranteed conversation starter within the Sharks’ camp.
The sight of Read gunning his engines at training convinced Crusaders coach Scott Robertson that the vastly experienced All Blacks captain, who took a knock to the wrist during the game against the Blues last weekend, was fit to play the Sharks in Christchurch tomorrow night and, as a consequence, means he will start seven forwards who have worn black.
Second five-eighth Ryan Crotty, who hurt his thumb against the Blues, has also been locked in to start which guarantees Robertson a quota of 12 All Blacks in his starting XV.
There was a suggestion out of the Sharks camp this week that the Crusaders have yet to encounter a team that has ‘‘physically tested’’ them this season, and maybe, that will be
used as motivation. By including Read, a double World Cup winner with 109 test caps, Robertson has sent a clear message to the South Africans that the Crusaders won’t lack heavy hitters capable of doing a job for them.
‘‘He [Read] recovered quite quickly, and after he got that x-ray there was massive relief in camp,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘And especially for him after the amount of injuries he has had in the last year or so. He has been training really well.’’
The rare sight of the Crusaders’ scrum getting blitzed by the Blues, when they conceded a penalty try during their 54-17 at AMI Stadium has created comment. Robertson wasn’t going to stand back and allow mud to be thrown at his set piece.
‘‘One scrum doesn’t make a season. I think we have been pretty good the majority of the year, other than that one. Jase Ryan [assistant forwards coach] put it in context [when he said] that the boys did a lot of running, and didn’t quite get that hit right.
‘‘That happens at times. So we will see Saturday night, then.’’
The fact the Crusaders have picked All Blacks Codie Taylor and Owen Franks in the front row, and Scott Barrett at lock, adds experience and power to the pack.
Israel Dagg, who recently announced he would play in Japan for the latter half of the season before returning to the Crusaders, has been replaced at fullback by David Havili.
This is, arguably, one of the strongest sides Robertson has named this year. Three All Blacks will add some fresh legs from the reserves. Back rower Pete Samu also made his debut for the Wallabies in June.
‘‘He [Kieran Read] recovered quite quickly, and after he got that x-ray there was massive relief in camp.’’
Scott Robertson