All Blacks rookie suffers cruel blow eight minutes into new Super Rugby season
Crusaders and All Blacks scrum-half Noah Hotham.
Rookie New Zealand scrum-half Noah Hotham suffered a setback in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Hurricanes when he was forced off through injury early in the game.
The 21-year-old’s duel with fellow All Blacks number nine Cam Roigard was viewed as one of the potential highlights by fans ahead of the match.
Injured after eight minutes
That battle did not last long, however, after Hotham left the field after just eight minutes of an entertaining clash in Christchurch.
This, after he hurt his ankle while trying to tackle Hurricanes hooker Jacob Devery while he was scoring the first try of the New Zealand derby in the sixth minute.
Despite the injury, Hotham attempted to play on and tried to run off the injury but he did not last long and eventually hobbled off the field shortly afterwards with Kyle Preston coming on to make his Crusaders debut as his replacement.
Hotham’s injury will be a big concern for Crusaders head coach Rob Penney as he started the Super Rugby Pacific campaign in crisis mode as he was already without the services of 13 players ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes.
Among the injured players are New Zealand hookers Codie Taylor and George Bell, former Wales outside back Johnny McNicholl, All Blacks utility back Braydon Ennor and experienced forward duo Quinten Strange (lock) and Dominic Gardiner (utility forward).
Hurricanes’ dominance continued
The Hurricanes continued to dominate the early stages of the game as Devery crossed for his second try in the 15th minute before Preston opened the Crusaders’ account midway through the half with Taha Kemara adding the extras.
That score was followed by a Cullen Grace try, which was also converted by Kemara but the visitors responded with a penalty from Harry Godfrey, who also converted Devery’s tries and a five-pointer from Kini Naholo.
That meant the Hurricanes held a 22-14 lead at half-time.
The second half started brightly for the home side with Preston crossing for his second converted try in the 55th minute, before Callum Harkin added a penalty shortly afterwards which meant the Hurricanes held a 26-21 lead by the hour-mark.
That was the last time they would score points, however, as the Crusaders finished stronger with Sevu Reece scoring their fourth try – with James O’Connor adding the extras – before Preston clinched his hat-trick and a 33-25 victory for the Crusaders in the 74th minute.
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