Crusaders injury update – Rugby news
Crusaders who have delivered a punch at the face to the current super rugby champions during the last weekend are eyeing to sustain and further improve their performance in the matches to come.
The intensity and sense of urgency regarding their game and strategy is apparent from the fact that the Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has asked his team and particularly to his defensive line to deliver more. The comments came after the Crusaders with
their impressive defensive line have denied the Blue Bulls to score a single point during the match.
Crusaders currently leading the New Zealand conference will be taking on their conference fellows Waikato Chiefs during the weekends. This will be the Crusaders eight match of the super rugby and would be eyeing a win and a bonus point to get to the top
of the Super XV combined standing.
Crusaders overpower the Bulls challenge by defeating them by 27 points and the most impressive thing was that they kept Bulls scoreless during the 80 minutes of the game. Crusaders have been able to achieve such results in absence of their some important
players most significantly in absence of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
Crusaders are further strengthened with the return of Richie McCaw; however, they definitely will not be happy with the unavailability of the Carter due to his injury. All Blacks Captain McCaw will take the field for Crusaders for the first time in the season
during their upcoming clash with chiefs. McCaw was sidelined due to foot injury (Stress Fracture) and will be part of the bench.
It is still to be determined how much time he will get on field and how much pressure his foot can take, but one thing is certain the Blackadder will not take any hasty decision.
Regarding Dan Carter, Crusaders must feel worried particularly after the recurrence of the same (hamstring). Carter suffered the injury during their game against the Sharks played at Twickenham earlier in the season.
Carter left the field during the 63rd minute of the game, with already scoring 19 points in the match that includes three penalties, three conversions and a try. Matt Berquist came as his replacement and since then had been a regular feature for Crusaders.
Carter was set to return for the Friday’s game and soon after the announcement of the squad for the game, he felt pain in his hamstring and made his way back to change rooms limping. This would allow Matt Berquist with another game for Crusaders, who has
played exceptionally particularly he performed exceptionally against the Bulls. Sam Whitelock who suffered an ankle injury against the Bulls has been ruled out a month.
In other changes, Crusaders have opted to put the Wyatt Crockett at the Reserves in Bench. Ben Franks brother will start at tight-head prop while Ben will start at loose-head.
It will be interesting how Blackadder will handle the players like Matt Berquist and Chris Jack in the future games particularly after the return of Dan Carter, McCaw fully fit, and Whitelock.
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