Lock stocks and two surgically-satisfied fellows
Lock stocks and two surgically-satisfied fellows 4 May 2021
That s what the Crusaders have been dealing with, leading to Saturday s Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Chiefs.
They ve lost Quinten Strange due to a high ankle sprain playing for his club at the weekend.
Assistant coach Jason Ryan says they re unsure how long he ll be out for, but they re getting a clearer picture on All Blacks Jack Goodhue and Joe Moody with their respective knee and shoulder injuries.
The Crusaders starting line-up will be named on Thursday afternoon.
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Meanwhile, the rest were reflecting on what might have been. None more so than the Blues, who at least finished with a win over the Chiefs, albeit against a team without its stars who were resting up for the decider. The Blues also finished level on points, 20, with their northern neighbours and had a superior points differential (+19 to -43), but Super Rugby’s first tiebreaker is decided by matches won (the Chiefs won five and the Blues four). Will that have been comfort to Blues fans drowning their sorrows on Saturday night? Probably not. Here are
Stuff s last Aotearoa power rankings for 2021. However, they will return for Super Rugby after the opening round of the trans-Tasman competition, which starts on May 14.
Blues strike late to see off final-bound Chiefs.
One-test All Black Braydon Ennor may force Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to give some poor soul the dreaded tap on the shoulder this week. Ennor did enough in 60 minutes for his University club at the weekend to convince Robertson he should be considered for the Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday night, despite not having played first-class footy since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the North versus South match in early September.
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Braydon Ennor has been able to use his speed and power to good effect for the Crusaders since his debut season in 2018, and will be available for Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Chiefs on Saturday night.
Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith reveals dissatisfaction with current competition format
29 Apr, 2021 06:50 PM
3 minutes to read
Cheree Kinnear explains the key points in the Silver Lake buy-in.
NZ Herald
All Blacks and Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith has voiced his true feelings surrounding the structure of Super Rugby Aotearoa, suggesting the older format was more enjoyable for players.
2021 marks the second and final year of the makeshift competition solely held in New Zealand involving all five franchises. The season is reaching its climax with the final round to be played this weekend before the decider is contested between the Crusaders and Chiefs in Christchurch on May 8.
Super Rugby: All Black Joe Moody requires surgery, out for up to five months stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.