ABs rally around Crotty
The All Blacks admit they’re ‘‘concerned’’ about their head knock-prone second five-eighths Ryan Crotty, deeply aware of the fine line the modern player walks when it comes to concussion.
In Saturday night’s 38-13 victory over the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium, Crotty suffered his sixth head knock in the last 20 months when he copped ‘‘friendly fire’’ from Jack Goodhue that coach Steve Hansen confirmed ‘‘knocked him out’’.
That’s Crotty, the team’s linchpin midfielder, gone for an undisclosed period, with Hansen confirming yesterday neither he nor wing Rieko Ioane would be considered for Bledisloe II at Eden Park on Saturday night. The 29-year-old, 38-test midfielder also suffered some damage to his teeth, sporting a shiny mouthguard when the team decamped for Auckland.
Hansen confirmed a midfield replacement would probably be called in, with Hurricanes and Auckland utility Vince Aso their first port of call.
‘‘It concerns us, definitely,’’ said Hansen of Crotty’s ongoing issues. ‘‘He’s already seen a specialist and they’ve given him the all-clear.
‘‘From our understanding, as long as you fully recover and don’t go back when you’re not fully recovered, then you’re OK.
‘‘He was just unlucky last night. It was freaky – friendly fire from Jack straight in the face. It would have knocked most of us out.’’
Experienced All Blacks forward Sam Cane sounded a more cautionary note around Crotty, admitting he frets every time a team-mate cops such a blow.
‘‘It’s not nice to see. It’s just a tough injury. Everything else has a time-frame but there’s just so much unknown with head knocks and it seems like you can be only one away, if it’s the wrong one, from it being then end of it,’’ Cane said yesterday.
‘‘I’ve seen that with a few mates. It certainly helps you appreciate every week and every game you have and realising how fickle it can be.’’
Cane said in scenarios such as Crotty’s it was often best to give the player some space.
‘‘The worst thing people can do is say ‘how’s your head?’ Certainly, you let them know you care and support but it’s a lonely process in a funny way.’’
On that subject, Cane also paid tribute to Wallabies flanker David Pocock, who took the time in the heat of the battle to make sure the All Blacks No 12 was OK.
‘‘It speaks pretty highly of his character and the type of guy he is if he’s willing to put the battle to one side in that moment and put the player’s welfare first. So, thank you, David,’’ Cane said.
Hansen confirmed he was unlikely to seek a wing replacement, with Waisake Naholo presenting well yesterday after a shoulder knock, and Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie offering the cover required.
The coach noted a strong outing from Milner-Skudder for Manawatu on Saturday and felt game-time was the best thing right now for him.
He also praised Naholo’s performance as the best he had seen from the Highlanders wing in the
black jersey.
‘‘He’ll build a lot of confidence out of that.’’
Hansen also lauded a strong showing from young centre Goodhue.
‘‘He’s only played two tests and he’s done really well in those two. If you just look at that you think ‘wow, he’s arrived quickly’ but when you dig deeper and look at the work done with him and patience shown, we’re getting the reward for that.’’
But he also warned it would be dangerous not to anticipate a major Wallabies response in Auckland, even without injured fullback Israel Folau.
‘‘What we do know is that teams that get beaten learn more than teams that win and teams that get beaten are hungrier than teams that win. Our challenge this week is to learn better and be hungrier than them.’’