Injured fullback Will Jordan did not join his Crusaders team mates on the training field in Christchurch yesterday.
No surprises there, after Jordan was forced to retire with a injured calf muscle in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match against the Chiefs in Christchurch last Friday night.
While Crusaders Assistant Coach Brad Mooar chose his words carefully on the subject of Jordan, it was what he did not say that may have been music to the ears of the team's next adversary, the Hurricanes.
Mooar gave no guarantee that Jordan, who has previously been sidelined for six weeks with a calf injury, will be available for the Crusaders' final round-robin game in Christchurch on Friday evening.
Mooar says it was a long process just to get Jordan back from his previous calf injury and it is all about protecting him, post coming back from that.
He says they will get more clarity on that as the days go on, as to where he sits.
If Jordan is scratched from the match against the Hurricanes, the Crusaders will be forced to leave one of their most deadly attackers in the stands at One NZ Stadium.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie and his fellow selectors will also be monitoring the situation.
Although the All Blacks won't play their Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland until July, injuries to key players at this time of the season have the potential to cause anxiety for all parties.
This week’s matches see the Crusaders taking on the Hurricanes at 7.05pm Friday, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua meeting the Reds at 9.35pm, the Brumbies facing Moana Pasifika at 4.35pm Saturday, the Chiefs playing the Blues at 7.05pm, and the Western Force up against the Waratahs at 9.35pm.
Source: stuff.co.nz
