Crusaders v Blues
Christchurch, 7.35 tonight
Anthony Boric has been there. He felt the physical pain and understands the mental anguish of recovery.
He was in last season's long-term casualty ward for locks with Blues buddy Ali Williams and was later joined by Bryn Evans. All three missed huge chunks of the season though Boric managed to return for the end-of-year tour with the All Blacks.
That came after a difficult five months of rehabilitation from surgery to repair a toe he broke in the late stages of the Super 14 series.
"It just went. I got tackled and it snapped. I had done the same thing in my other foot several years before and there must have been a genetic weakness there," he said.
"I had to get my head around the problem because I had never had much time away from rugby before that. I figured there was nothing else I could do about it, so I had to be positive and use my time well.
"It became an opportunity to get into the gym, get bigger and work on my weaknesses."
Boric took advantage of that time to push more weight and strength into his 2m frame though he felt the lack of match conditioning when he returned to the national sport.
"I envy and am amazed by people like Richie McCaw who seem to be able to come back and perform straight away. There is a fair bit of freakishness there."
Boric and his Blues buddies face those hurdles tonight in Christchurch as they search for a third away win this season, this time against the competition heavyweight Crusaders.
Boric is likely to find himself in lineout duels against up and coming Sam Whitelock, who has been given the extra duties of calling those shots for the hosts. That decision means another All Black lock, Isaac Ross, will have to make his injury return from the bench.
In the middle of the Crusaders' power band will be Brad Thorn, the 35-year-old machine who has pushed his All Black tally to 37 caps as other younger men have fallen to injury.
So while Williams and Jason Eaton have succumbed this season, there remains a decent array of talent for the Three Wise Men to compare.
Thorn and Boric head that list while Ross, Evans and Tom Donnolly all wore the national black last season.
Then there is Kevin O'Neill, who is on an injury break but played a test in 2008 and returning Crusader Chris Jack, who is coming out of the rehab unit soon and looking to add to his 67 All Black caps.
He and Ross first need to barge past Whitelock to reclaim their Crusaders' places if they are to challenge for international duty, while the Highlanders also have the raw and robust talent of Josh Bekhuis making his mark.
This is Boric's fifth season of Super rugby, he has played two years with the All Blacks and been a provincial captain. Those selections mirror his effort and potential.
He remains a young man, just 26, in the punishing arena of tight forward work but he is now the second-highest capped All Black lock in action.
"There is a long way to go this season, we are positive after last week but this game with the Crusaders is another step up," Boric said. "I have played 13 tests, which is not a lot, but you prick up your ears when accidents happen to others.
"I saw Jason's [Eaton] incident on replay and it was freakish really, because it did not look to be too much and then he walked off the field.
"I have always wanted to be in the All Black mix and this game with the Crusaders is always a good marker. They are pretty sharp."
The Blues were disappointed in their set piece, especially the lineout, against the Highlanders but redressed that last week in difficult conditions against the Reds.
"It was about collective technique and having a communication rethink," said Boric. "We tried some different things and they take a bit of time to gel."
The secret about playing the Crusaders was not really a mystery. They had to be confronted and stopped before they made the advantage line.
"Sounds easy doesn't it," Boric said.
He and his teammates will discover tonight whether they can maintain that optimism.
CRUSADERS v BLUES:
Crusaders
Jared Payne
Sean Maitland
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Zac Guildford
Daniel Carter
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read
George Whitelock
Richie McCaw (c)
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Ti'i Paulo
Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Peter Borlase, Isaac Ross, Jonathon Poff, Kahn Fotuali'i, Adam Whitelock, Colin Slade.
Blues
Paul Williams
Joe Rokocoko
Rene Ranger
Benson Stanley
Rudi Wulf
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Viliame Ma'afu
Serge Lilo
Jerome Kaino
Anthony Boric
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
K Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Filo Paulo, Tom Chamberlain, Chris Smylie, Daniel Kirkpatrick, George Pisi.
