Crusaders stars could sit out Blues clash in Super Rugby Aotearoa finale
Having clinched the Super Rugby Aotearoa title with a round to spare, don’t expect the Crusaders to front up against the Blues with a full-strength team in the final round of action this Sunday.
Head coach Scott Robertson, who is reportedly expected to extend his contract with the Christchurch franchise through until 2023, has revealed he is weighing up whether he will rest some of his key players at this weekend’s clash at Eden Park.
Eager to end a six-year drought against their historic rivals, there will be no shortage of motivation for the second-placed Blues, whose title aspirations were nullified when the Crusaders defeated the Highlanders 32-22 at Orangetheory Stadium yesterday.
With the match effectively a dead-rubber given the Crusaders have already stored away the Super Rugby Aotearoa silverware, the clash could present Robertson with an opportunity to blood some younger players who haven’t yet been called upon.
The likes of prop Harry Allen and midfielder Inga Finau haven’t featured at all this year, while others such as Manasa Mataele and Fergus Burke haven’t taken played for the Crusaders since returning from the COVID-19 lockdown.
Fielding such inexperience could prove to be detrimental to the team’s chances of winning, though, especially given the Blues are likely to name a strong side in a bid to end their 12-match hoodoo against the Crusaders in front of a sold-out Eden Park.
It’s a predicament that Robertson described as a tough balancing act in the wake of his squad’s victory over the Highlanders.
“It’s a really good question,’’ he said, as quoted by Stuff. “We haven’t gone too deep into it [selection talk], because we just wanted to get this result sorted.’’
“It’s a balance, because if you chuck too many out your cohesion goes, and you’ve got to make sure you’ve got enough players that are match fit.’’
What is certain is that Robertson will be without two of his key props, Joe Moody and Oli Jager.
Both left the field with injuries yesterday. Moody was pulled from the game with a neck injury after just 14 minutes, while Jager was stretchered off the park after being on the receiving end of a reckless shoulder charge by Sio Tomkinson in the second half.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDsQG5ZgR62/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
That should hand Allen and fellow back-up props Isi Tu’ungafasi and George Bower – who was Moody’s replacement against the Highlanders – an opportunity for game time against the Blues alongside incumbent starter Michael Alaalatoa.
Stuff reports that star first-five Richie Mo’unga, who has arguably been the player of the competition, may also miss the game due to the expected birth of his first child within the next week.
Having played all but four minutes of the Crusaders’ Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign, Mo’unga’s absence could also open the door for one-test All Blacks playmaker Brett Cameron and rookie pivot Burke this weekend.
‘’We will discuss it with him, if that’s the right thing…look, we’ll have chat,” Robertson said of Mo’unga’s availability.
The Crusaders will name their side for the final game of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season on Friday afternoon.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments