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Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace is back in the starting side after being rested against the Chiefs last weekend.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson wants to see more from No 8 Cullen Grace, starting against the Blues in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon. It’s not that the one-test All Black has been bad. In fact, Robertson believes he’s doing all the simple things well. But he hasn’t made the same impact as he did last year, when Grace earned an All Blacks call-up on the back of his impressive rookie campaign. Speaking ahead of training on Friday, Robertson admitted they’re “looking for more from him” when asked if the 21-year-old Timaru Boys’ High School old boy had performed at the level he expected from him this year.
RICHARD KNOWLER Sam Whitelock would get the captain’s wings and take charge of the first All Blacks team named for 2021. With regular skipper Sam Cane, who earlier this month had surgery to fix a pectoral injury and could be unavailable for up to 6 months, it wouldn’t be right to deny Whitelock. Lock Whitelock has played 122 tests, and guided the Crusaders to 3 titles between 2017 and 2019. He deserves to replace Cane. Injuries and playing sabbaticals to Japan have reduced the options after 8 rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa. Lock Brodie Retallock, first five-eighth/fullback Beauden Barrett and halfback TJ Perenara haven’t been considered because they‘re earning some extra coin and sampling the ramens in Japan.
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Jordie Barrett is among the Hurricanes stars not yet locked in for next season.
Having captured Dane Coles, and expressed optimism about TJ Perenara, the Hurricanes enter a crucial next few weeks quietly confident of securing their Big Five signatures for next year. While an upset victory over the Chiefs on Friday would be a significant pick-me-up in a 1-5 season, re-signing Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape for 2022 and beyond looms as the club’s top priority. And, luring back Perenara. As yet, only Coles, who re-signed until 2023 this week, has committed to the Hurricanes, of those five key All Blacks who form the core of the side.