All Blacks captain Kieran Read is having an operation to repair the thumb he broke during the Crusaders’ emphatic 48-21 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Now unbeaten after nine games, the Crusaders, who ran in seven tries to secure the bonus point as they swamped the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, remain at the top of the Super Rugby competition table.
But it was the sight of No 8 Read, who was replaced by Pete Samu, leaving the field in the 38th minute that will now be the major talking point.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read had to be taken to hospital after suffering a thumb injury.
It is understood a broken thumb can take around six weeks to heal and the All Blacks selectors will be hoping Read can make a swift recovery ahead of the much-anticipated three-test series against the British and Irish Lions in late June and July.
The first test in Auckland on July 24 is just eight weeks away.
Crusaders left wing George Bridge, pictured with the ball, scored three tries against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Crusaders confirmed after the match that Read had been rushed to surgery to have an operation to fix the break. He was taken to hospital for scans, which revealed the extent of the injury.
“I think the whole of New Zealand is worried,” Robertson said in the minutes before being told the exact extent of the injury.
If Read is ruled out of some, or all, of the tests against the Lions it would require the All Blacks selectors to name a new captain. Vice-captain Ben Smith, who has been forced to miss the Highlanders flight to South Africa because he sprained an ankle during the win over the Stormers in Dunedin on Friday night, would be the likely replacement. Smith had his foot encased in a moon boot following the match. Another outside back, Israel Dagg, is due back from a knee injury for the Crusaders in around a fortnight.
If Read and Kaino were unavailable for the first test, it would force a dramatic revamp of the experienced back row. Ardie Savea has never played at No 8 in a test but has performed well in that position for the Hurricanes when he has played there this year.
Highlanders loosie Liam Squire can play No 8 or blindside flanker and was blooded by the All Blacks selectors last year. The Blues’ Steven Luatau is set to leave New Zealand for English club Bristol but, given he played at No 8 Italy in Rome last year and has played 15 tests since his debut against France in 2013, he should not be discounted.
Francois Venter makes a break for the Cheetahs.
The Crusaders’ victory, which featured a hat-trick by left wing George Bridge, wasn’t without its share of contentious decisions but the visitors rarely looked like losing this fixture in the Free State. Crusaders captain and lock Sam Whitelock wasn’t happy to be yellow carded by referee Federico Anselmi in the 72nd minute after being charged with ramming his elbow into an opponent’s face after he took a lineout ball, and the citing commissioner is sure to look closely at this incident.
Robertson said didn’t believe the incident warranted further sanction.
With two minutes remaining replacement playmaker Mitchell Hunt also had to leave the field because he was deemed to have cynically blocked the ball in a ruck, forcing the Crusaders to play out the game with 13 men.
Earlier in the second half the Cheetahs also had a player yellow carded, with lock Armandt Koster punished for infringing at a ruck.
Left wing Bridge hoovered-up two tries in the first spell, both good enough for him to rightly take immense satisfaction from watching the replays when the team sits down for the match review.
Bridge tapped into his strength and determination when he steamed through several weak tackles near a ruck about 20m out in the 34th minute, and just before halftime he ignited his rockets when he pouched a cross-kick by Richie Mo’unga on the halfway line.
It proved a miserable way for the Cheetahs to wrap-up their first shift, and they were unfortunate to have a try disallowed prior to Bridge scoring in the 39th minute.
Cheetahs right wing Sergeal Petersen appeared to have succeeded in breaching the defence when he punched onto an offload by loosehead prop Ox Nche, who had rumbled through the attempted tackles by Joe Moody and Read, but it was controversially disallowed by the TMO.
The Crusaders played with zeal and determination, with fullback David Havili one of the best performing backs.
Bridge ran strongly and proved, once again, his ability to beat defenders is invaluable. The match marked Matt Todd’s 100th Super Rugby appearance for the Crusaders, who play the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend.
Crusaders 48 (George Bridge 3, David Havili 2, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond tries; Mo’unga 5, pen) Cheetahs 21 (Raymond Rhule, Ox Nche, Sergeal Petersen tries; Niel Marias 3 con). HT: 22-7
-Stuff
