All Blacks duo ruled out for Super Rugby final and bulk of Rugby Championship
By Patrick McKendry, New Zealand Herald
Key Crusaders and All Blacks Ryan Crotty and Scott Barrett have been ruled out of Saturday’s Super Rugby final against the Jaguares and, in Crotty’s case, the entire Rugby Championship after X-rays on their hands confirmed the worst.
Midfielder Crotty suffered a fractured thumb during the Crusaders’ 30-26 semifinal victory over the Hurricanes and underwent surgery on Sunday. He is out for up to eight weeks, a time-frame which will rule him out of all rugby until early September, when he will hope to be available for the All Blacks’ World Cup warm-up test against Tonga in Hamilton on September 7.
Lock Barrett suffered a fractured metacarpal at the base of his index finger in the same game and is out for five to six weeks which means he will be touch and go for the All Blacks test against Australia in Perth on August 10. The All Blacks also face the Wallabies a week later at Eden Park.
Neither Crotty nor Barrett would have been considered for the All Blacks’ first Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on July 21 due to the Crusaders making the final. The All Blacks play the Springboks in Wellington a week later.
The news will be extremely disappointing for both men, and in particular Crotty, who won’t get to play in Super Rugby’s showpiece before moving overseas next year. However, on the plus side they are both likely to be available for the World Cup which kicks off for the All Blacks on September 21.
The injuries put a new slant on tonight’s All Blacks Rugby Championship squad announcement, with Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu and Highlander Jackson Hemopo set for big roles over the next few weeks.
As for the midfield, Sonny Bill Williams and Anton Lienert-Brown are likely starters for the first test against the Pumas, while Ngani Laumape and Jack Goodhue are almost certain to be included and possibly new cap Braydon Ennor, who has impressed hugely for the Crusaders this year and could start in Saturday’s Super Rugby final in Christchurch.
The Crusaders will be big favourites to win title No10, and their third in succession, despite facing a near Argentina test-strength team.
Veteran Ma’a Nonu, 37, remains on the All Blacks fringes, but probably needs another injury to force his way into the squad despite impressing on his return to the Blues this season.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments