Cruden happy with his 'second chance'
New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden is determined to make the most of his opportunity against England after being dropped in September following a night out drinking.
Cruden missed the World Cup champions' flight to Argentina and was left stranded in Auckland as his teammates headed out to face Los Pumas in La Plata.
As a result, the 25-year-old Cruden was given a two-Test ban by the New Zealand Rugby Union but, having served his suspension, returned to action in the All Blacks' tour-opening 74-6 rout of the United States in Chicago last weekend.
Now Cruden has retained his place in the starting side for the All Blacks' match against England at Twickenham on Saturday, with star flyhalf Dan Carter deemed not fit enough despite featuring for 30 minutes against the Eagles following a string of injuries.
Such is the depth of talent and competition for places in New Zealand, the 36-times capped Cruden feared he'd done permanent damage to his Test chances.
"Absolutely, I think you'd be silly not to," he told reporters at New Zealand's hotel in London.
"That was certainly the case. You never know putting yourself in a bit of jeopardy like that what you could potentially lose.
"That was definitely at the forefront of my mind. That has been dealt with now and I get a great opportunity to push on this weekend."
And with less than a year until the World Cup in England, Cruden said sitting on the sidelines had been especially tough to take.
"It's pretty hard watching at home – the team you love playing for and the guys you love playing with, watching them on telly," said Cruden.
"That's why last week I was so excited to be back in the mix and obviously that excitement is going to grow again this weekend, getting the opportunity to start in the number 10 jersey again, which is a huge honour.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rejected the notion that Cruden had been given a "clean slate".
"Our team is like a family and if one of your family members mucks up, you don't stop loving them, you just don't like their behaviour," Hansen said.
"You address the behaviour and then you carry on. That's what we've done.
"It's not a matter of a clean slate or a dirty slate, it's a matter of being Aaron Cruden and being the person we expect you to be and he expects to be. We are well and truly over that one."
Now Cruden cannot wait to run on against England for what is always a showpiece match at 'headquarters'.
"I wasn't expecting to be named in the starting line-up. I guess you never really know until your name is read out," he said. "I was sitting there a little bit unsure.
"To be named in the starting line up is obviously a huge honour, especially to take on the English here at Twickenham. It's going to be a massive battle."
Source: AFP
