Crusaders' Matt Todd hopeful of spot in All Blacks’ 2011 Rugby World Cup squad - Rugby News
The Crusaders aspiring Matt Todd, believes he has a shot at making his place in the final squad of All Blacks for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). The big show is kicking-off this year on September 9, in New Zealand and the battle for final selection in the national squad has started across the globe. The prospective youth and injured veterans are making their best efforts to prove themselves before the selectors.
Todd will have a golden chance to prove himself before the selector in the upcoming crucial Super Rugby clash against the Blues on June 11. The Blues occupy the top spot among the other New Zealander derbies in the current season. The Crusaders could snatch the top ladder position from the Blues even with a narrow margin victory and that is why the match has real significance for the play-off stages. Matt Todd’s role will be very important in the game as their skipper, Richie McCaw, is feared to miss the match due to an ankle injury.
The openside flanker, Matt, made his Super Rugby career start in the previous season of Super Rugby for the Crusaders. He made his debut for the Canterbury side in the absence of All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw and has played 20 matches for his Super Rugby team Crusaders.
Matt Todd, who has come up as a very promising young man, may be the best substitute for Richie McCaw. McCaw is not at his very best because he is confronted with various injuries this year. Talking to reporters in the practice session in the morning, Todd said, "The winner of this game goes top of the New Zealand Conference and put themselves in a pretty good position for the playoffs, so I'm under no illusions about the challenge in front of me."
He further said that, "This is the time of season where you want to be performing well in these big games and if you can show you can handle the pressure in these sort of occasions, in these games, I guess it does bode well for your future aspirations."
The 23-year-old will play his 21st match of Super Rugby against the Blues on June 11.
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