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Two more All Blacks struck down by injury at the Crusaders

Sevu Reece of the Crusaders receives medical attention during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park, on March 18, 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson was announced as the new All Blacks coach yesterday but returns to his club with bad news following the side’s 34-28 victory over the Blues at Eden Park.

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The Crusaders injury toll has deepened with the loss of two more All Blacks in Sevu Reece and Sam Whitelock.

Right wing Reece was forced from the field early in the second half and did not return to action and is now suspected to have suffered a serious long-term knee injury.

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The 26-year-old joins fellow All Black backs David Havili, Will Jordan and Jack Goodhue on the sidelines after four rounds of Super Rugby, while hat-trick hero Leicester Fainga’anuku revealed he played the game with damaged rib cartilage.

The loss of Reece further challenges the Crusaders depth out wide as the injury toll grows.

Youngsters Macca Springer, Chay Fihaki and former Blues winger Melani Nanai will be expected to step in and fill the void.

The other injury for the Crusaders is All Black lock Sam Whitelock, who suffered a broken hand and will potentially spend the next couple of months on the sidelines.

The veteran All Black lock joins forwards Fletcher Newell, Oli Jager, Mitch Dunshea and Cullen Grace on the injury list.

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Whitelock’s timeline for recovery won’t impact his availability for the All Blacks but less is known for Reece who could now miss the World Cup.

All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was also a late withdrawal in the Highlanders clash against the Western Force, suffering a groin injury in the warm-up just minutes before the game.

The Highlanders also lost hooker Andrew Makalio to a head knock in that clash and was forced from the field early in the first half.

All Blacks current injury list after round four of Super Rugby Pacific:

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Cullen Grace, Sam Whitelock, Sevu Reece, Fletcher Newell

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Highlanders: Shannon Frizell

Chiefs: Angus Ta’avao, Josh Lord, Atu Moli, Quinn Tupaea, Tupou Vaa’i, Anton Lienert-Brown

Hurricanes: TJ Perenara

Blues: Patrick Tuipulotu, Akira Ioane, Ofa Tu’ungafasi (concussion protocols), Alex Hodgman

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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