Razor talks up Moody’s prospects
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has seen enough grit and toughness from Joe Moody to believe the loosehead prop’s serious knee injury won’t end his international career.
Moody has been wiped out for the rest of 2022, after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the first half of the Crusaders’ loss to the Blues a fortnight ago.
Given he turns 34 in September, Moody’s knee injury has raised questions regarding his future in the All Blacks ahead of next year’s World Cup in France.
‘‘Joe has got some grit in him,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘ He can fight out of pretty tough situations in those scrums. So, this is another tough situation for him to fight out of.’’
Moody is no stranger to the casualty ward.
Early in his 100th game for the Crusaders last year, he busted his foot scrummaging against the Hurricanes in Wellington and was sidelined for five months.
The 57-test All Black has also missed significant playing time over the years through a nasty eye injury, a major shoulder surgery, a broken finger, a broken thumb, and a previous knee injury.
‘‘Medical procedures and surgeries these days are incredible, the technology that they use, the rehab,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘It’s all there for him. They’re reasonably positive that he will come back, and it’s just a mindset thing. We’re optimistic, that’s all you can be.’’
Contracted to New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders through 2024, Moody’s injury is a significant blow to both the All Blacks and the Christchurch-based Super Rugby franchise.
While fellow All Black George Bower is the obvious replacement at the Crusaders, just who All Blacks coach Ian Foster utilises in the No1 jersey for the three-test series against Ireland in July is a different story. Last year, he also picked Bower, Ethan de Groot and Karl Tu’inukuafe during their mammoth tour of Australia, the US and Europe.
Bower will start for the Crusaders against the Waratahs in Sydney tomorrow while second-year prop Tamaiti Williams, who can also play tighthead prop, will provide cover from the bench.
Rookie Finlay Brewis, who has one cap to his name, is the other specialist loosehead prop on the Crusaders’ roster.
Having welcomed back flanker Sione Havili Talitui from a lengthy foot injury this week, Robertson hailed the team’s depth, but that came with a caveat.
‘‘There is no-one like Joe Moody pushing that scrum forward.’’