Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is hailing the return of All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue, after a successful comeback from a long injury layoff in Super Rugby Pacific.
Goodhue made his competitive return in last weekend's 42-17 victory over Melbourne Rebels after rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in last year's Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
The 26-year-old returned to playing earlier this year in Christchurch club rugby, but was thrown straight into the deep end against the Rebels, starting in the No.12 jersey and getting through 53 minutes unscathed.
And off the back of an impressive return after such a devastating injury, Goodhue will back up against the Waratahs this weekend, only this time named to start at centre.
Goodhue's return is also a timely one for the All Blacks, with midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown ruled out for six months with a shoulder injury.
"He's a big body, he can dent the line extremely well," Robertson said.
"But we're just so pleased he came straight up to play. From the injury, he's played half a club game then come straight into a Super Rugby game.
"It looked like he hadn't been injured. It's remarkable really, [given] the level of injury and what the physio and the whole S&C [strength and conditioning] group have done, and himself personally to get himself back up to that level.
"His knee was great after the game. There was no swelling as such, he just went straight back into it and it just worked perfectly with Braydon [Ennor] with his week off as well.
Goodhue's return gives the Crusaders an embarrassment of riches in midfield as they look to win their sixth competition in as many years under Robertson.
Aside from Goodhue, the Crusaders also boast test-quality options in David Havili and Braydon Ennor, with the biggest difficulty coming in the shape of which player has to be left out each week.
This week will see Havili and Goodhue take the field, with Ennor on All Blacks rest orders.
Robertson, though, assures all three will have their chance to play as Super Rugby Pacific nears its pointy end.
"It'll work itself out over the season," he said. There'll be form, there'll be injuries, there'll be combinations that we look at.
"You've got to have depth, and we've got some great players there."
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