Read ruled out

Read ruled out

9 Jul 2012

A rib injury has sidelined Kieran Read for at least one week and the Crusaders are considering Luke Whitelock as a potential No 8 replacement.

Read injured his ribs in last Friday’s match against the Chiefs. He will definitely not play against the Force in the Crusaders’ last league match, and coach Todd Blackadder hopes the All Blacks loose forward will be fit for the play-offs.

Richie McCaw has deputised for Read at No 8 this season, but Blackadder told Fairfax News that there are other options. Whitelock or even Matt Todd could start against the Force.

‘I would really like to see Richie back at No 7 and maybe we will mix things around a bit,’ Blackadder said. ‘Having Richie there [at No 8] is definitely one option that has worked for us.

‘The other is that I could try and put a specialist No 8 in there like young Luke – or I change the configuration of the other loose forwards for just this one game.’


7 Comments

  • 1.stew: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 08:20 am

    Championship dragons – hope Luke has a good game – turn to the dark side of the force Luke

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 08:25 am

    Oh no bad news.

    I have him in both my fantasy teams.

  • 3.stew: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 08:28 am

    I do think at full strength the Saders are unstoppable at home or away … they key issue is injuries as with any team – heres hoping

  • 4.HHS: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 08:31 am

    Read is playing great rugby atm and it’s a big loss. Force a banana skin team for the Saders.

  • 5.stew: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 08:40 am

    Cant wait to give those little Blue Bullies a real spanking in Christchurch – revenge is soooooooo sweet !

  • 6.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 14:58 pm

    I know that inbreeding is a big thing down there, but seriously how many Whitelocks are there in Christchurch?

  • 7.viewer: Reply to this comment
    9 Jul 2012, 18:15 pm

    @6 yomama
    lol, but you’ve missed the mark. The four Whitelocks in the Crusaders are brothers. They have no other siblings.

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