Crusaders forced to tap uncapped youngster with another All Black prop down

Fletcher Newell remains without a clear timeline for return after injuring his knee in last week’s win over the Hurricanes, meaning the Crusaders will potentially field a debutant off the bench in this week’s qualifying final against the Blues.

The All Black is the fourth prop to be added to the club’s injury list, making way for Gus Brown to enter the matchday 23, two years removed from his lone New Zealand U20 cap.

“I had a bit of an idea after the game. After a couple of injuries, I got told to stay ready. Then Sunday night I got the call that I was potentially making my debut this weekend,” said the 22-year-old.

“I’m super excited. I called the parents, and they’ll be coming down, so hopefully I get the chance to run out there.

“I’ve been in all year and over all the information, so now it’s just trusting myself. The boys around me and the whole front row crew have been awesome so far this week.”

Newell’s injury has also seen George Bower make the move from loosehead to tighthead, as Finlay Brewis comes in for his seventh start of the season in the No.1 jersey.

Additional changes to last week’s team include Leicester Fainga’anuku returning at openside flanker, pushing Dom Gardiner back to the bench, and Braydon Ennor returning from injury to take a place in the reserves. Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana have swapped roles, with the former now starting and the latter offering impact from the bench.

“There’s a little more edge around, a little lifted intensity, and that will build as we head into the back part of the week,” Crusaders coach Rob Penney says, heading into his final playoffs with the team.

“We felt we got a bit carried away at times (last week), and that won’t be good enough this week. We need to finish better and complete when we’ve got opportunities.

“They’re a quality side, and they’ll be hurting. If you give them an inch, they’ll take it, so we’ll have to be right on.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

27

21

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

Crusaders team to face the Blues:

1. Finlay Brewis
2. Codie Taylor (VC)
3. George Bower
4. Antonio Shalfoon
5. Jamie Hannah
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Leicester Fainga’anuku
8. Christian Lio?Willie
9. Noah Hotham
10. Taha Kemara
11. Sevu Reece
12. David Havili (C)
13. Dallas McLeod
14. Chay Fihaki
15. Johnny McNicholl

Reserves

16. Manumaua Letiu
17. Jack Sexton
18. Gus Brown*
19. Tahlor Cahill
20. Dom Gardiner
21. Kyle Preston
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Braydon Ennor

*Potential debut

Injury list

Cullen GRACE: Knee, 1 week
Maloni KUNAWAVE: Hamstring, 1-2 weeks
Kershawl SYKES-MARTIN: Neck, 2-3 weeks
Fletcher NEWELL: Knee, TBC
Seb CALDER: Calf, TBC
George BELL: Calf, TBC
Aki TUIVAILALA: Concussion, GRTP (Graduated Return to Play)
Scott BARRETT: Back, out for the season
Will JORDAN: Calf, out for the season
Will TUCKER: Shoulder, out for the season
Toby BELL: Shoulder, out for the season
Mitch DRUMMOND: Shoulder, out for the season
James WHITE: Shoulder, out for the season
Tamaiti WILLIAMS: Discitis, out for the season