Crusaders have only one concern
INJURY NEWS: With impeccable form and clear favourites to win the Super Rugby title, the unbeaten Crusaders have an only concern after their win over the Chiefs.
Following the 57-28 thrashing of hapless Chiefs, loosehead prop Joe Moody’s latest injury scare seems to be the only worry for the head coach Scott Robertson.
Moody left the field after just seven minutes with sprained his right ankle during the team’s 19th consecutive win at Christchurch. The prop’s setback is a worry for the Crusaders, who are already limited when it comes to loosehead prop stock.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Robertson revealed that he would know more about Moody’s condition in the next few days, but he is unlikely to play the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday and will probably be out for several weeks.
The All Black’s latest injury is another unfortunate addition to last year’s broken thumb, broken finger, and split eye-lid.
With no Wyatt Crockett at the Crusaders following the veteran’s retirement, a position of real strength has become thinner in terms of reinforcements. Harry Allen did well to play more than 70 minutes as Moody’s replacement, but with Owen Franks rested, the Crusaders scrum went backwards a few times before recovering.
“What an effort from a 20-year-old – to play 70-odd minutes is huge,” Robertson said of Allen, who is in his first year at this level. “He’s got a great future. There was sort of a little bit of Wyatt Crockett about it, to come on and just do the job. For a young fella, [I’m] really proud.
“[Assistant coach] Jason Ryan has done a lot of work with [our] props – all our props, to get them ready at any time. It was a bit see-saw there, but in the end, we did enough, and created enough off our scrums to still perform.”
Source: @NZHerald
