Ryan Crotty called into All Blacks squad

Ryan Crotty called into All Blacks squad

Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty has been called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover, replacing Blues centre Francis Saili who suffered a strain to his left ankle in the All Blacks' training match on Friday at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

The 22-year-old will be out of rugby for at least a week.

North Harbour back Saili was one of three wider training group players who assembled with the squad ahead of The Investec Rugby Championship, along with Wellington lock Jeremy Thrush and Counties Manukau winger Frank Halai, with these players returning to their ITM Cup teams on the Wednesday of each Test week.

Crotty will train with the All Blacks before the World Champions head to Sydney on Thursday ahead of the opening match of the tournament in Sydney on August 17 this weekend.

The 24-year-old Canterbury midfielder will likely then return to his provincial team along with Thrush and Halai.

The selection of Crotty, although in the wider training group, is an important one for the inform centre, whose stock rose dramatically during Investec Super Rugby when he shifted from second five-eighth to centre to cover for Robbie Fruean.

IMO crotty has been better then saili in both 12 and 13. sailis still the man, but crotty ahs a more all round game condusive to the All Blacks style, but saili does edge him in the physical category.

i still think the All Blacks could have added a few more players then the 28 man squad they made, it should have at least been a 30 man squad plus anohter three in the wider training squad.

also given that nonu/smith are on the wrong side of 30 and SBW still hasnt sigend (albeit a formality), having a player of the quality of crotty in the ABs mix would have done more good then not, as long as he dosent throw any more no look passes like the one in the semis, lolz.

Is Emery playing ITM cup rugby? He's one for the future.