Seeks happy ending

but his return at No 10 for the game against the Rebels in Sydney is significant.

The Crusaders, according to Opta

Facts, have won their last four games against the Rebels, scoring an average of 62 points per game.

It’s not a bad stat to have on your side when hunting a precious bonus point.

When Tony Brown suddenly took off to help coach Japan, Clarke Dermody, was pitched into the head coach’s role for the trans-tasman competition.

Brown, we have been told at the time of his departure, still planned to contribute from afar.

But it’s been former All Blacks prop

Dermody’s head on the block when it matters.

Dermody, pictured, has been the bloke sweating bullets in the coach’s box.

With Jack Goodhue out for season because of a knee injury, a companion for the versatile Anton Lienert-brown at No 12 or 13 is required.

If coach Foster wants Rieko Ioane at centre, the in-form Lienert-brown would wear the No 12 jersey. Or the latter could shift to centre to allow David Havili to operate at second-five.

Havili’s Crusaders’ team-mates Braydon Ennor and the uncapped Leicester Fainga’anuku, who can also play on the wing, should also be contenders. The selectors are likely to pick four midfielders in a squad of 35.