CRUSADERS MISERY TO CONTINUE A LITTLE LONGER.
Crusaders assistant coach James Marshall has conceded it will take a miracle for David Havilli or Cullen Grace to feature again this season
The pair will have scans on Tuesday before the Crusaders can be sure of the severity of Havili’s hamstring injury and Grace’s dislocated kneecap, but they’re preparing to defend their title without the midfielder and No 8.That’s despite offering a glimmer of hope regarding Grace, who Marshall said had dislocated his kneecap in the past and not been sidelined for a substantial period of time.
However, with just four weeks remaining in Super Rugby Pacific, time is not on the Crusaders’ side. Grace suffered his latest injury blow in the first half of last weekend’s bonus point victory over the Waratahs in Christchurch, when teammate Codie Taylor landed on the back of his leg after he carted the ball into contact and got caught upright.
Havili limped off in the final quarter of the match, after bursting inside the opposition 22m and going down in a heap.
That would result in the Crusaders’ list of players done for the season due to injury ballooning to nine. They’ve also just farewelled young guns Macca Springer, Noah Hotham and Taha Kemera, who have joined the New Zealand under-20s ahead of their World Cup campaign.
Ahead of Saturday night’s regular season finale against the Hurricanes in the capital, the Crusaders have used a staggering 45 players this year, including 13 debutants.
Marshall confirmed flanker Ethan Blackadder, who hasn’t played since tearing his calf against the Brumbies on March 24, wouldn’t return against the Hurricanes, but he would train this week.
If Havili is indeed finished for the year, it’s a significant blow to the Crusaders’ kicking game ahead of the sudden-death stage of the season.
Havili has an excellent short kicking game and, equipped with a booming punt, is often asked to unleash bombs from deep inside his own half.
Jack Goodhue and Dallas McLeod are the Crusaders’ primary options to replace Havili in the No 12 jersey.
In his first season as a Crusaders assistant coach, Saturday night marks Marshall’s first game up against the side he played 54 matches for, adding extra meaning to a game the red and blacks will need to bag one bonus point from to secure the second seed, if the Blues record a hefty bonus point win over the Highlanders on Friday night.
Saturday night ,Wellington, June 3rd, Hurricanes v Crusaders,
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