The Crusaders, already without Richie McCaw, suffered another captaincy blow ahead of their tour to South Africa.
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Coach Todd Blackadder confirmed that All Black No.8 Kieran Read has been ruled out of Super Rugby for a minimum of four weeks.
Read suffered an injury to his right foot during last Saturday’s 55-20 win over the Southern Kings.
Scans showed a partial tear of ligaments under his big toe.
“It is hugely disappointing that Kieran cannot join the team to South Africa,” Blackadder said.
“He has been playing some brilliant rugby this season and it is unfortunate that this injury will keep him out of the game.”
The Crusaders face the Stormers in Cape Town this coming Saturday and v Sharks in Durban next Friday – before heading to Perth for a less demanding encounter with the Western Force.
Jordan Taufua was named to replace Read in the Crusaders’ 26-man touring squad and fellow loose forward George Whitelock will assume the captaincy in his absence, the team added.
The absence of Read follows earlier confirmation that All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter has also not travelled with the team as his wife is due to give birth to their first child.
Crusaders squad: Dominic Bird, Tyler Bleyendaal, Shane Christie, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Tom Donnelly, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Zac Guildford, Willi Heinz, Nepo Laulala, Tom Marshall, Johnny McNicholl, Joe Moody, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Luke Whitelock, Sam Whitelock.
No McCaw, Carter or Reed?
The Crusaders are there for the taking.
See the Stormers will be withou Daywalker after a hearing
Still think the Stormers can take them
But need to throw in that the Stormers have produced when desperate,(now they know they can do it), it’s time to build on the previous two weeks and not suddenly thiink they are good cause they beat the top two teams in two weeks
Rugby remains a weird game of bad losses and great victories, all within a short space of time
Saders could be there for the taking for this game. Read is a huge loss so is Carter. They also don’t have McCaw.
Come on Stormers just beat them. They then face the Sharks only 6 days after this game the following Friday. Hope my boys beat them as well.
We could make it a double and send them back home without any win on their tour to SA….hehe. Now that would be great. Would really enjoy it if Stormers and sharks beat them and send them home without any win on their tour to SA. Don’t think that has ever happend to the Saders coming here, this could be a first though.
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