Robbie Deans maintains sentimentality played no part in his decision to start Andrew Mehrtens alongside Justin Marshall for Saturday night’s Super 12 rugby match at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.
So, Daniel Carter’s relegation to the reserves must fall into the sensible category.
Whatever the emotions, Deans has done Marshall, Mehrtens and the Crusaders supporters a big favour by naming them in the run-on side to meet the Cats.
When halfback Marshall gallops on to Jade Stadium, he will be the first Crusader to make his 100th appearance, while first five-eighths Mehrtens will surely break the Super 12 record of 959 points that he shares with Australian Mat Burke.
While it is no surprise Marshall has been handed the number-nine jersey — he has started every match this year — Mehrtens’s elevation was by no means a certainty, with Carter preferred for the pivot’s role for most of the season.
”No, those factors [the Super 12 records] did not play a part in the decision,” Deans said on Thursday. ”But it’s great they can play together for this match and I’m sure they will enjoy it.”
The Crusaders marketing machine will also be hoping to wring every cent out of a match that would usually be something of a damp squib.
The Crusaders are second on the Super 12 log with five wins from seven matches, while the Cats have only one from seven and sit second-last.
It is not the sort of encounter to get the pulses racing, so the chance to see Marshall and Mehrtens meet their respective milestones gives it an extra edge and should ensure a few more dollars for the Crusaders franchise’s bank account.
Deans said he made the decision to start Mehrtens and rest Carter on the bench soon after last weekend’s 51-23 annihilation of the Stormers in Cape Town.
Marshall has played nearly every minute of this year’s matches, but Deans said there has been no temptation to give him a break to freshen up.
”No, at this stage he’s been travelling well and hasn’t been banged about.”
Two other changes have been made to the starting side who butchered the Stormers last weekend, with Kevin O’Neill and Ross Filipo starting at lock ahead of the injured Norm Maxwell and Chris Jack.
Maxwell had surgery on the finger he dislocated and broke in South Africa on Wednesday night, and although Deans said the surgeon was pleased with the operation, he may be out for up to six weeks.
Jack, who has been carrying a shoulder injury, after making a tackle on Bulls number eight Anton Leonard a fortnight ago, has been named on the bench.
Filipo will play his first Super 12 match since injuring his medial ligament in the opening round loss to the Brumbies on February 26. He has played for only 40 minutes since then, turning out for his Wellington club, Petone, last weekend.
Moving Jack to the bench has squeezed Sam Harding out of the side and Sam Broomhall will be forced to play at openside flanker if Johnny Leo’o is injured.
Once again, Ti’i Paulo has been named as the reserve hooker with Corey Flynn, whose damaged rib cartilage, incurred against the Waratahs on April 2, is still on the mend.
”He’s back training and wasn’t far away from being available to play, but because of the nature of the injury we decided not to risk it,” Deans said. — Sapa-NZPA