Owen Franks back for Super Rugby run-in
Owen Franks of the Crusaders warms up prior to the Round 11 Super Rugby match between the ACT Brumbies and the New Zealand Crusaders at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Saturday, April 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng)
The Crusaders have confirmed that All Blacks stalwart Owen Franks will be available for this weekend’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Highlanders.
After tearing a muscle in his shoulder on April 6, the 31-year-old has been on the sidelines for over two months, but will return for the crucial end of season shake-up.
His absence has not hampered the defending champions, who once again won the New Zealand Conference and finished top of the overall standings, but the Christchurch outfit will now be able to field their All Blacks front-row for the first time this year.
“(Franks) has done a lot of work, credit to him, that’s the man he is,” forwards coach Jason Ryan said.
“We know against the Highlanders we’re going to have to change gears and ramp things up a lot more. We’ve talked a lot as a forward pack of changing gears. We have to.”
The Crusaders will go into the encounter as clear favourites but Ryan is wary of a Highlanders side that will be determined to put in a positive display, with several players set to depart.
“No doubt they’ll want to put in a performance. We’ve got a few leaving as well. There’s a lot of experienced players moving on after the end of the World Cup,” he said.
“I know the Crusaders and Highlanders games are always just absolute classics. We talked about that this morning, we’ve got a lot of respect for them. We all get on good off the field, but come kick-off there will be no love lost.”
Ryan also wants to see a significantly improved effort from his charges, despite comfortably being the best team during the regular season.
He added: “We’ve got to ramp it up. One thing with Super Rugby, all you do is put yourself in position to play in a final,” he said. “We’ve done that. Now, you’ve just got to be the best team for three weeks.”