Flanker’s new franchise
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis acclimatised back into New Zealand rugby in the Hurricanes’ preseason clash against the Crusaders in Levin.
Former Manawatu¯ Turbos’ captain Bedwell-Curtis, who has been in Japan for the past five months on a short-term deal with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars, has played for the Crusaders for the past two Super Rugby seasons, but joined the Hurricanes this year.
Loose forward Bedwell-Curtis came off the bench in the Hurricanes’ 34-19 pre-season loss to the Crusaders at Levin Domain on Saturday, the first hitout of the season for both teams and the first for the Hurricanes under new coach John Plumtree.
The result didn’t matter much, but Bedwell-Curtis and the other 37 players in the match-day squad all blew the cobwebs out in front of a packed crowd.
Bedwell-Curtis, 27, arrived home on Christmas Day and said he had been acclimatising back into New Zealand rugby since.
‘‘The first [game] is always hard to get into,’’ he said.
‘‘You’ve only been playing against your mates and everyone knows the same calls, so there’s definitely a lot to improve on.
‘‘But it’s just good to get the boys back into a game of footy.’’
He impressed in the past two years at the Crusaders in a team stacked with loose forward talent, so now Bedwell-Curtis should be a good chance of a spot in the Hurricanes’ loose forward trio.
‘‘I’m coming up here to start at either six or eight, so I’d love to give it a crack and I’ll put my best foot forward for a starting jersey.
‘‘It’s wherever Plum wants me to play me. It’s up to him and I’ll play wherever needed.’’
The Crusaders looked the better of the two sides for most of the match on Saturday. They were strong at the breakdown, scrum time and with their rolling mauls, which set up one of their tries.
Damaging Crusaders wing Manasa Mataele scored two tries, one coming from a cross-field kick from Mitchell Hunt.
First five-eighth Hunt was influential with his kicking.
Hurricanes No 8 Gareth Evans and wing Wes Goosen looked their most threatening.
Both teams cleared the benches in the second spell.