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Crusaders mainstay Oliver Jager reacts after falling with a foot injury against the Highlanders in Temuka on Friday.
A potentially serious injury to closed-head prop Oli Jager has depleted the Crusaders’ last-minute 28-26 win over the Highlanders in their first preseason game.
Jager was helped off the Temuka turf in the second half of the game Friday night and was unable to put any weight on his left foot after the game.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson shrugged when asked about the post-game hit, knowing full well that Jager has had a bad streak of injuries in recent years, and that coming out of preseason games unscathed is more. important than the result.
The reigning champions lost forward Tom Sanders (broken cheek) for 8-10 weeks during an inter-squad game a week ago, and are without center Braydon Ennor (knee) and hooker Andrew Makalio (neck) for the entire Super campaign. Rugby Aotearoa. .
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Robertson could not provide details immediately after the game, but it’s fair to say that Jager will not appear in next weekend’s preseason game against the Blues at Eden Park.
Jager’s injury was Robertson’s biggest complaint, though the fact that his team barely fired a shot in the first half and trailed 26-0 in the division wasn’t far off.
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Crusaders co-captains Luke Romano, left, and Whetukamokamo Douglas of the Crusaders post with the Farmlands Cup after defending it against the Highlanders in Temuka on Friday.
“I think in the first 20 minutes we had about 12 penalties against us and every bounce of the ball, and everything we tried, it didn’t go well. I thought, ‘Shoot, what have we done in preseason?’
“There was a lot of thought, how did we get this result?”
But his team, playing without their All Blacks host, and David Havili and Bryn Hall, came back with four converted attempts in the second half to win a thriller, one that wasn’t sealed until Highlanders center Caleb Makene. annulled a 40-meter penalty with time expired.
Crusaders wing Sione Havili crashed a minute earlier, before Brett Cameron made a clutch conversion to put the home team up.
“[Brett Cameron] He’s worked hard and that’s a reflection of that, ”Robertson said of his confidence-boosting performance.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Highlanders wing Ngatungane Punivai is attacked after scoring a try in the first half against the Crusaders in Temuka.
Havili’s attempt resulted in the first glimpse of the new captain’s challenge rule, when Highlanders skipper Michael Collins asked for it to be revised.
It also didn’t take long for the new goal-line abandonment rule to appear, with the Highlanders’ Mitch Hunt first five-eighths covering the Crusaders with a perfectly weighted kick early in the first half.
That led to hooker Liam Coltman scoring the first of his two attempts. Wings Jona Nareki and Ngane Punivai scored the others for the Highlanders in an impressive first half.
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Crusaders fans hold a last-minute rehearsal against the Highlanders in Temuka on Friday.
“You have to give it to the Highlanders. They played with great rhythm and were amazing for 40 minutes. Then he turned on his head, didn’t he? Robertson said.
Member of the broader training squad Timoci Tavatavanawai scored a double for the hosts, including a beauty from a set piece, while rookie prop Fletcher Newell scored on the back of a wild run from 140kg prop Tamaiti Williams. .
Unsurprisingly, Highlanders coach Tony Brown praised his team’s performance in the first half, particularly running back Folau Fakatava, who set up Nareki’s try with a chip kick, but lamented his inability. team to win the lineout in the second half.
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Highlander Teariki Ben-Nicholas and Crusader Whetukamokamo Douglas play a lineout ball in Temuka on Friday night.
“Just some guys who haven’t played much Super Rugby, are Miter 10 Cup players, they will learn a lot from that.
“It stands out where we probably lack a little depth.”
The Highlanders’ locks Josh Dickson (hit to the head) and Bryn Evans (ribs) were the only injury concerns for the visitors, but neither of them are expected to stay out for long.
Both teams will have their All Blacks back next week, when they are allowed to play 40 minutes.
Robertson hopes to give most of his reps a chance, saying they are all eager for minutes before their first game of the season against the Highlanders in Dunedin fifteen days from now.
Crusaders 28 (Timoci Tavatavanawai 2, Fletcher Newell, Sione Havili tries; Brett Cameron 4 with) Highlanders 26 (Liam Coltman 2, Jona Nareki, Ngane Punivai tries; Mitch Hunt 3 scam). HT: 0-26
