At a glance

Southern Steel 66 (Lenize Potgieter 49/56, Te Paea SelbyRickit 17/22) beat Northern Mystics 60 (Grace Nweke 40/45, Bailey Mes 16/21). Q1: 13-14 Q2: 30-27 Q3: 45-43.

Points (game played): Pulse 30 (10), Steel 23 (10), Stars 17 (11), Magic 12 (11), Tactix 9 (10), Mystics 7 (9). Remember George Bridge, the speedy Crusaders’ wing who ran in 15 tries last year but has only played four matches so far this season?

Good news. The 24-year-old is over the knee/hamstring injury which has sidelined him since round six, and will start on the left-wing against the Lions in Christchurch tomorrow night.

Bridge’s return is one of six changes to the team’s starting side which fronted in their 43-17 romp against the Highlanders before their bye week, and coincides with centre Jack Goodhue, flanker Matt Todd and lock Scott Barrett taking their second – and final – All Blacks enforced break.

Even the biggest Bridge fans would have found it difficult to rue his absence while observing Will Jordan (eight tries), Sevu Reece (four), and utility Braydon Ennor (four) running amok on the flanks. The trio have combined to score 16 of the Crusaders’ 40 tries.

It made for a tough decision when coach Scott Robertson sat down and named his 23 for the rematch of the 2017 and 2018 Super Rugby finals.

Bridge, who has two tries to his name so far this season, hasn’t played since the Crusaders’ 20-12 defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney on March 23, the team’s lone loss this year.