Another blast from the past
It certainly feels like Rob Penney is getting the band back together.
First there was Ryan Crotty, followed by Owen Franks. Now, outside back Johnny McNicholl is back with the Crusaders.
Almost eight years since he played the last of his 39 games for the Christchurch-based franchise, the 33-year-old’s return was confirmed this week, a necessary addition due to a run of injuries in the outside backs.
McNicholl won’t play against the Drua in Lautoka on Saturday, and just how much he was involved the rest of the way was unclear, head coach Penney said.
“We’re really happy with how Chay [Fihaki] is going, and the back three in particular, but we just needed to get a bit more depth there.’’
McNicholl spent four seasons with the Crusaders and left just as he was making big strides. He went on to play 122 games for Welsh side Scarlets, and 10 tests for Wales.
Having lost Will Jordan for the season, Leigh Halfpenny (shoulder) for much of the campaign, as well as being without No 10s Fergus Burke (Achilles) and Rivez Reihana (shoulder), who can both play fullback, for a chunk, the writing was on the wall for McNicholl’s return when he was recently released by Scarlets.
“He has got a massive history here, and people still have strong relationships. It was a conversation that morphed into him coming home. Fantastic for us, but he was looking at coming home anyway.’’
McNicholl, Crotty and Franks played together during the 2010s, as did halfback Willi Heinz, now in his second year back with the team.
Sticking with the theme of players returning, wing Manasa Mataele, back after two years playing for the Western Force, will make his first start for the Crusaders since 2021 when he runs out against the Drua.
Mataele will start on the left wing in place of Macca Springer, one of a bunch of players Penney has opted to sit this week on the back of heavy loads to start the year, and an eye on three consecutive Kiwi derbies after the team returns from Fiji.
The Crusaders have one of their injured hookers back this week, with Ioane Moananu named on the bench a few weeks after hurting his chest during a pre-season game against the Highlanders.
Brodie McAlister, who suffered a knee injury during the same game in Methven, was expected to miss another three or four weeks, Penney confirmed.
The good news is he is back doing some running. As is Burke, who is likely to return during the second half of April, after the team’s round-seven bye week.