'Herculean': Rob Penney's verdict on All Black prop's performance

All the glory might have gone to replacement playmaker James O’Connor in the Crusaders 25-22 victory over the Blues on Friday night, but Crusaders head coach Rob Penney knows that O’Connor’s kick was just the icing on the cake.

Before the successful kick by O’Connor after the final hooter, the Crusaders forward pack worked hard to put pressure on the Blues at scrum time, before a huge push by All Black prop Fletcher Newell forced Australian referee Nic Berry to award the Crusaders a penalty.

Newell, who has now played 22 Tests for the All Blacks, played the full 80 minutes for the Crusaders against the Blues, which doesn’t happen too often with props.

Penney was quick to praise his prop, saying his performance was ‘herculean’.

“It’s rightfully so that you mention Fletcher, playing 80 minutes as a tighthead prop and then finishing the game with that special scrum at the end to allow James to get the glory,” Penney told media post-match in Christchurch.

“All the glory really goes to to Fletcher and the other boys that are helping him in the forward pack but for him to go 80 minutes is, herculean.”

The Crusaders head coach also mentions the rest of his front row, explaining that the whole front row is world-class.

“Well, we’ve got a world-class front row, there’s no doubt about it.

“We’ve got combinations that can do the job.”

Crusaders captain David Havili played the first 40 minutes against the Blues on Friday evening, before being replaced at halftime by Dallas McLeod, but Penney confirms the substitution was just precautionary.

“I could imagine, from the outside in, you’d be a bit concerned. He’s got through a really good 40 minutes and his leadership is invaluable, and he’s no worse for what he got through.

“He was tightening up, and he was scared that he was going to get a small tear. They didn’t want to add another few weeks to his recovery, and so none of that manifested. He’s feeling really good now, he’s still got a lot of bruising, and deep bruising but I think in another seven days, 80 minutes will be within his grasp.

“We’ve got the bye so it’s just how we treat the next sort of 10 days, leading into our Highlanders game to set him up to really be flourishing at the back end.”

When asked about whether he will rest Will Jordan in weeks to come, the 60-year-old head coach jokingly replied, explaining that he hasn’t played enough rugby in the past year to warrant a rest in the next couple of weeks, especially with the bye coming up.

“Will’s absolutely loving it, he can’t get enough. He hasn’t played enough rugby in 12 months to need a rest, surely.

“Those discussions are ongoing though, we’ll be guided by him and some of the powers above, but
yeah it’s not likely that he’ll be rested but that could change.”