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The 3 winners and 3 losers from the Six Nations, including the Boks
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Former All Black hints at Christian Cullen parallels for Crusaders star
By Henry Lee
Former World Cup-winning All Blacks first-five Stephen Donald has not shied away from how good he thinks Crusaders fullback Will Jordan is, after the 54-Test All Black’s skills were on show against the Highlanders.
Jordan scored a superb try in the opening five minutes in Christchurch, stepping past a number of defenders on his way to the try-line.
The versatile All Black outside-back then played a key part in setting up Xavier Saifoloi, but the try was ruled out for an offside infringement close to the ruck.
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Jordan missed the clash in round four against the Blues for his brother’s wedding, and was sorely missed, as the fluidity and cohesion in the backline were below par from the Christchurch-based franchise.
Donald, speaking on his podcast with Kirstie Stanway, the Aftermatch, posed the question of whether anyone else could score Jordan’s try in the first half.
“But just when he injects himself in the game like there appears to be nothing that can be done at the moment about it, as far as stopping him,” Donald said.
“Like that first try he gets, who gets that? Yeah, peak Christian Cullen? Yeah, not many others.”
The Sky Sport broadcaster said that if you’re in the Highlanders camp, you’re disappointed with the result, having had 15 players on the field for 80 minutes, unlike the Crusaders.
“Yeah, he’s on another level right now, his speed and his power. Look that game against the Highlanders. The Highlanders would travel back to the Dunedin, put Will Jordan aside and thought, we’ve let one slip there.”
“But Will Jordan on the weekend was the difference.”
Despite claiming the important victory after the start they have had, Donald said the Crusaders will be disappointed with the way their defence performed on the weekend.
“At times in the first half, I thought the Crusaders looked a bit disjointed defensively. You look at some of the line breaks that the Highlanders were making, yep, it was good play, however, defensively, the defence coach, I’m not sure who’s gig that is at the Crusaders at the moment, they’d be fuming with some of the connections.
“But literally, guys doing one thing and the guy inside them doing another thing, essentially, that’s where the Highlanders were making their line breaks.
“I mean, with all respect to a great friend and colleague of ours, Angus Ta’avao, he doesn’t make too many 60 meter line breaks, and again it was just connection defensively.
“So I just wonder if the Highlanders will really look at that tape and think we let one slip.”
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