In the Crusaders victory, Leicester Fainga’anuku scored two magnificent tries

Leicester Fainga’anuku has now scored five in his last two games as the Crusaders defeated the previously unbeaten ACT Brumbies 35-17 in Super Rugby Pacific.

In the upcoming days, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) may anticipate hearing from Scott Robertson, and it won’t be about his recent promotion to All Blacks coach-in-waiting.

No, following his team’s bonus point victory over the Brumbies in Christchurch on Friday night, Crusaders head coach plans to get permission to use captain Scott Barrett for a sixth straight game as his team’s injury issue intensifies.

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All Blacks are normally only allowed to play five straight matches as part of NZR’s rest regulations, as Barrett has done. Although exemptions are occasionally granted, the Crusaders are specifically looking for one before their round six match against the Reds in Brisbane the following week.

Scott Robertson, the Crusaders’ coach, acknowledged that it was a reasonable question.

Prior to the Crusaders’ 35-17 victory over the Brumbies, Zach Gallagher had to be scratched due to a hamstring injury. Sam Whitelock, Mitchell Dunshea, and Quinten Strange were already missing three of their five contracted locks due to broken hands, chest injuries, and hamstrings, respectively.

Defenders lock Scott Barrett has participated in the team’s first five games of the season, but it is uncertain whether he will feature in Brisbane’s matchup with the Reds the following week.

Possibly. When asked if he anticipated to play in Brisbane, Barrett—the only healthy specialist lock in the team—said, “I assume we will assess over the weekend what the plan is.

The only thing that is definite is that loose forward Ethan Blackadder won’t be making the journey across the ditch after joining the double-digit casualty list on Friday night with a calf injury.

One of the team’s top players thus far this season, Blackadder, was ejected from the field late in the first half of the game and will spend an uncertain amount of time on the bench.

Robertson expressed regret that Blackadder’s injury prevented them from having a clean casualty sheet, which obviously soured what would have otherwise been a brilliant night.

He was in discomfort from a bite to his calf when we removed him. There will be a delay of a few weeks. Definitely not a “bang.” Yet that was sufficient.

Apart from that, we completed the task. We’d love to finish a lot more, but it wasn’t as clean as we’d anticipated. In the first half, we had numerous opportunities.

Robertson has a point. If the Crusaders had been more decisive and patient inside the Brumbies’ 22 they would have had a far larger lead at the half than 21-3.

But, on a night when they also had to replace backup tighthead Kershawl Sykes-Martin with Seb Calder before kickoff due to a neck injury, Robertson found it satisfying to come away from the match with the previously unbeaten Brumbies with five points.

As was the thunderous applause he received from passionate spectators as he ascended the south stand to his coaching post a few days after being named the All Blacks’ new manager beginning in 2024.

I didn’t anticipate it. A lot of appreciation was shown. After pulling off back-to-back victories, the happy coach gushed, “It means a lot when the people are behind you.

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Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku scored two tries against the Brumbies

He now shares the record for most victories as Crusaders coach with mentor Robbie Deans (88), a figure he might top next week in Brisbane.

He will certainly hope that his captain is in charge. He wouldn’t rule it out that any of the walking wounded might come back.

“It’s up in the air. The calvary is on the way. I’m not sure if it will cross the hill this week, the following week, or after bye (round nine).

source https://thedailyrugby.com/in-the-crusaders-victory-leicester-faingaanuku/