Updated: 8.52 am Monday 20th April
Is history about to repeat itself? The big favourites for the upcoming World Cup might have been hit with a big injury worry. Current first choice outhalf Aaron Cruden limped out of the Chiefs Super Rugby victory against the Crusaders. A scan on Monday confirmed the worst with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury ending his World Cup dreams
At this stage of the year, with the World Cup just five months away, the ruptured ACL injury that Cruden sustained rules him out for six to eight months and end his hopes of representing the All Blacks in England.
When New Zealand won the World Cup on their own soil four years ago, they were struck down by an injury curse to their outhalves which claimed Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Cruden as it's victims before Stephen Donald was called up to kick the winning goal in the final.
This year they have more depth, with Dan Carter showing that he still remains as good as he was from injury, Beauden Barrett tearing up trees and Colin Slade doing well too. New Zealand could also call upon the impressive Highlander Lima Sopoaga, Chiefs U20 star Damian McKenzie or Crusaders Tom Taylor. There's actually a train of thought in New Zealand that Ulster's new signing Charles Piutau is more likely to make the World Cup after this news.
While there is huge depth there, losing Cruden so early will be a blow, and could mean that they wrap Carter and Barrett in cotton wool for the remainder of the Super Rugby season and the Rugby Championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHmYKdEmDZs
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[Stuff]
