Seven times Super Rugby champions the Crusaders will be without captain Kieran Read for their South African tour .
In 2011 in fact on 7th May the Crusaders also had a half backed team on the field and still won their home game at Newlands .
The Crusaders, who lost their first two matches but scored bonus-point try wins against the Bulls and Kings in Christchurch, play the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend and the Sharks in Durban.
The visitors are already missing the services of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who is on a six month rest from the game and All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter, who is staying in New Zealand because of the pending birth of his first child.
The inspirational Read tore big toe ligaments and was officially ruled out of the tour on Monday (NZ time).
The Crusaders usually enjoy success on overseas tours and have the best overseas record in the history of the competition but they will be hard pressed to beat the Stormers and Sharks in successive matches without McCaw, Carter and Read.
Discover more from Martin Myers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a comment