Bedwell-Curtis resurrects Crusaders career
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis isn’t sure what he would be doing if Crusaders coach Scott Robertson hadn’t rang to say he was in a sticky situation.
Making seven appearances for the Crusaders last year, five with a starter’s number on his back, might have been enough to earn Bedwell-Curtis plaudits from his supporters but it didn’t earn him a contract extension.
‘‘When I wasn’t named in the squad, I was a bit gutted and felt a bit sorry for myself for a few weeks,’’ Bedwell-Curtis says. ‘‘And then Razor gave me the call and said ‘we have got a few injuries and want you down here’.
‘‘I was more than happy to come in and carry on in Super Rugby. It’s been great.’’
‘‘When I wasn’t named in the squad, I was a bit gutted and felt a bit sorry for myself for a few weeks.’’
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
The 26-year old back rower was initially squeezed out because Robertson elected to usher in Billy Harmon, Ethan Blackadder and Tom Sanders to provide depth behind incumbent loose forwards Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Pete Samu and Jordan Taufua.
Then Read and Sanders succumbed to injuries. For Robertson it meant having to flick through his contacts list to offer Bedwell-Curtis a new deal.
Read required back surgery in mid-December, and when he will return remains a mystery, while Sanders had damaged his ankle in pre-season training.
Pete Samu was the next to take a hit, suffering a shoulder injury in the second game against the Stormers. Bedwell-Curtis has since started the last three matches at No 6, with an earlier appearance as a replacement.
Despite Sanders making his Crusaders debut off the bench against the Bulls last weekend, Bedwell-Curtis was named alongside 26 other squad members to travel to South Africa and Argentina. The Crusaders play the Lions in Johannesburg on Monday morning (NZT). Exactly what Bedwell-Curtis would be doing if he hadn’t been asked to shift from Palmerston North to Christchurch is unclear.
‘‘Great question,’’ he says. ‘‘I don’t know if I could really answer it. Probably living in Palmy.
‘‘I am a builder by trade, but I am not too sure if I would be building. I would like to expand my knowledge and do something else. I have other interests in business, or whether or not to go back studying or what not. It’s quite a vague answer, but I am not too sure.’’
A shift offshore was discussed, albeit briefly: ‘‘We sort of did (discuss it) – to go overseas. My partner and I weren’t really ready to go. We sat down together, had a conversation and just felt it didn’t feel right to go.’’
Robertson is expected to make changes to his back row for the fixture against the Lions.
Openside flanker Matt Todd, who missed the 33-14 win over the Bulls because he had sore ribs and is the only specialist fetcher named in the travelling squad to South Africa, should start at Ellis Park alongside Jordan Taufua at No 8.
Bedwell-Curtis may remain at No 6, with Sanders providing impetus off the bench.
Lessons have also been absorbed from last year, says Bedwell-Curtis.
‘‘In your first year everything is new and exciting and you run off adrenaline for the whole season.
‘‘It did burn me out there for a second, because you come in guns blazing and are trying to beat everyone on the yo-yo and speed tests and what not.
‘‘In the second year you know what to expect. You know how your body works a bit more differently at Super level.’’