Jack Goodhue return adds to Crusaders and All Blacks midfield jostle

Jack Goodhue made his long-awaited return for the Crusaders over the weekend when he got through 50 solid minutes against the Rebels in Melbourne.

Goodhue hadn’t taken the field for a professional match since the second round of last year’s competition where he ruptured his ACL in a tackle but after a quick run around in club rugby last week, the All Blacks midfielder barely missed a beat against the Rebels on Saturday.

Playing at second five-eighth inside fellow All Black Braydon Ennor, Goodhue finished the match with 64 metres, two clean breaks and four beaten defenders to his name.

Looking back at Super Rugby’s inaugural Super Round.

Looking back at Super Rugby’s inaugural Super Round.

Unsurprisingly, Goodhue’s coaches and teammates were over the moon at the 26-year-old’s return to the field.

“It’s been a long time for Jack and the whole group was so excited for him to get back out there off the back of one club game,” said Crusaders assistant coach Andrew Goodman this week. “Thought he’d done an amazing job – solid 50 minutes, contributor on both sides of the ball and he’ll just keep improving as he gets chances over the next few weeks.

“There was a big smile on his face afterwards and all the group were really stoked for him.”

Given the incredible length of time that Goodhue has spent out from the game – missing Canterbury’s NPC season as well as the entirety of the test calendar – it’s no surprise that the Crusaders will continue to ease him back into the action.

“It had been a year off the game so we want to do the best by Jack as he returns back to rugby at this level,” Goodman said. “He had a 40 of club pre that so we’re looking to build his minutes up and build that knee back up and give him the confidence. There’s a bit of lung stuff there as well as you’d imagine after being out of the game for so long.

“You can expect Jack to be playing some more minutes over the coming weeks.”

Now the question remains where the Crusaders will be best served by Goodhue’s talents.

David Havili has been a mainstay in the No 12 jersey this season, missing just two fixtures – including Saturday’s 42-17 victory over the Rebels – and will be favoured to return to that role against the Waratahs this weekend. Braydon Ennor, meanwhile, has been the primary centre for the Crusaders but has shared some of the duties with utility back Leicester Fainga’anuku. Both players are equally as competent on the wing as in the midfield but with Sevu Reece and George Bridge also options, coach Scott Robertson will struggle to find space in the matchday 23 for all his top players, let alone the run-on side.

It’s going to be a similar story later in the season when the international calendar kicks off. The absence of Anton Lienert-Brown, who has been ruled out for six months with a shoulder injury, has now been offset by the return of Goodhue, who will be competing with the likes of 2021 All Blacks Havili, Ennor, Quinn Tupaea and Rieko Ioane in the midfield, while men such as Fainga’anuku, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the Umaga-Jensen brothers also loom as possible options in the midfield.

While there’s an ample number of players for All Blacks head coach Ian Foster to select from in both the No 12 and No 13 jerseys, there are few steadfast combinations or proven test players occupying either of those jumpers at present.

The All Blacks will name a squad of 36 players (or fewer, depending on injuries) for their July test series with Ireland. Despite Goodhue’s only recent return to play, it’s expected he’ll be brought straight back into the squad, as was the case for Ennor last year after returning from a similar injury.