All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue is returning to the Crusaders’ starting line-up 12 months after suffering a serious knee injury.
Goodhue will wear the No.12 jersey and partner Braydon Ennor in the midfield against the Rebels in Melbourne on Sunday after successfully coming through a week's training following a return for his Shirley club last weekend.
Goodhue’s return is timely given All Black midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown’s shoulder injury, which will keep him out of the Ireland series in July at least.
Lock Sam Whitelock also returns from injury – a timely comeback from a finger problem following Scott Barrett’s four-week suspension.
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However, there is bad news too for the Crusaders, with All Blacks prop Joe Moody failing to make the four-match tour of Australia, where the Crusaders will play the Rebels, Waratahs, Force and Brumbies, due to a knee injury.
Moody sustained the injury in last weekend’s 27-23 defeat to the Blues in Christchurch.
All five Super Rugby Pacific matches this weekend will take place in Melbourne due to the competition's "super round".
Moana Pasifika’s match against the Force has been postponed due to a Covid outbreak at the Force, their fourth postponement already this season.
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