The Crusaders will welcome back All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor for their next Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific game and could possibly have ex-test centre Braydon Ennor too.
Assistant-coach James Marshall confirmed Taylor would return from a hamstring injury for the March 9 home match against the Reds and he was hopeful Ennor - who has not played Super Rugby since 2023 - would also be available for selection.
Marshall said the Crusaders had had feedback from a refereeing representative that Chiefs lock Josh Lord should have had a yellow card for tugging James O’Connor’s jersey and preventing him receiving a pass which could have resulted in a try with the score at 17-14 in the second half.
Marshall said the Crusaders knew the incident would be reviewed and “deemed worthy of a yellow card’’ and said a try at the time ”could have been a complete game-changer’’.
"Fair play to Lordy for doing that and getting away with it. There could easily have been a try from it and a big turning point.”
That did not necessarily mean the Crusaders would have gone on to win.
He considered the loss of the try-scoring opportunity rather than the failure to issue a yellow card was more critical to the Crusaders’ cause.
Marshall acknowledged the Crusaders were guilty of “overplaying a bit’’ and failing to finish attacking opportunities, but they did ”get the go-forward they had the previous week“ in the win over the Hurricanes.
Taylor’s comeback will boost the pack, especially with All Blacks understudy George Bell out for the entire campaign.
Ennor trained well last week and Marshall is hoping he will be back for the Reds game, “although that’s yet to be confirmed’’.
Source: Stuff.co
