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Crotty may return for All Blacks despite suffering 6 concussions in just 20 months

By Alex Fisher
New Zealand centre Ryan Crotty

Ryan Crotty and Sam Cane are still in contention for New Zealand’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday after making good progress from recent concussions.

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Crotty suffered a head injury following a collision with Jack Goodhue in their victory over Australia in the opening game in Sydney, while Cane sustained his knock last weekend at Eden Park.

Both have continued to train with the All Blacks ahead of the Pumas’ visit to Nelson and Steve Hansen has not ruled either out of a return.

“Ryan and Sammy are both tracking along nicely,” the coach said, as quoted by stuff.co.nz. “We’ll make decisions about them during the week.

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“We’ve got complete faith in whoever we pick. There’s an expectation that we play well and do the job so whomever we pick it will be because we believe they are good enough to do the job.”

Sonny Bill Williams will not be risked for the clash at Trafalgar Park, though, as Hansen looks to give him more time to recover from his shoulder injury.

Hansen added: “We’ve just got to get him back into contact and make sure that his shoulder is OK, so we’ll give him a bit of time to do that.”

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Crotty was knocked out after making accidental contact with debutant team-mate Jack Goodhue as the All Blacks defeated the Wallabies 38-13 in Sydney.

The 29-year-old, who had made 38 appearances for his country, has now sustained six concussions in the last 20 months.

“It concerns us, definitely,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said in the aftermath of the match.

“He’s already seen a specialist and they’ve given him the all-clear. From our understanding as long as you fully recover and don’t go back when you’re not fully recovered, then you’re OK.

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“He was just unlucky last night. It was freaky – friendly fire from Jack straight in the face. It would have knocked most of us out.”

Team-mate Sam Cane added: “It’s not nice to see. It’s just a tough injury. Everything else has a time-frame but there’s just so much unknown with head knocks and it seems like you can be only one away, if it’s the wrong one, from it being then end of it.

“I’ve seen that with a few mates. It certainly helps you appreciate every week and every game you have and realising how fickle it can be.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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