INSIDE The Players champion Sport B9

Contact: [email protected] 03 943 2752 THE PRESS, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 B10

RUGBY With 100 up, Ellis knows ‘Toddy’ where his loyalties lie

Matt Markham been out of the equation. ‘‘I would have to be a highlight, couldn’t even think about playing especially because it was a home The usual offerings of it being ‘‘an for someone else . . . maybe it’s game. honour and a privilege’’ and a because I have been here for so ‘‘As a kid I used to go along with in the mix ‘‘really special moment’’ slid out of long. Dad to games and stand on a Andy Ellis’s mouth when he was ‘‘I grew up here, all of my family bucket on the embankment, and quizzed about his likely 100th and my wife’s family are here, it’s we would talk about what it would appearance for the on home and I could never really see be like to be out there playing.’’ Saturday. playing for any other franchise.’’ With his 100-game milestone up It’s a pretty stock standard Ellis debuted for the Crusaders against the this weekend, reply from players these days, in 2006 against the Reds in just what is next for Ellis is still up for Scots usually offered up to keep an Christchurch, a game he remem- in the air. inquisitive hack happy. bers well, and one he vows never to All Black coach But with Ellis you got the forget. showed he wasn’t an Ellis fan Geoff Longley feeling he genuinely meant what His chance of playing in a final when he took over the All Blacks he was saying, and that he wasn’t in his first season at the top were by leaving him out of his squad Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder just telling the media scrum in dashed with a knee injury, despite good form. is being touted as a frontrunner for front of him what they wanted to although he did get his hands on a Hansen will again name his the Scotland rugby team’s post hear. first title two years later. first training squad of the year along with another New Zea- Really though, the brutal ‘‘Missing that first final gutted today, but Ellis hasn’t given a lander, Vern Cotter. honesty should have come as no me a bit but to get the one in 2008 second thought to a possible recall. The two New Zealand names surprise . . . Ellis is about as was pretty special. ‘‘‘‘It’s today, is it? . . . I’m loving are the ones being most bandied Cantabrian as they get. ‘‘I’ve got some really great being here, and playing here, but about in the Scottish media in So much so that playing memories playing for the don’t get me wrong, I love playing recent days as a decision on a anywhere else has almost always Crusaders, but my first game for the All Blacks too.’’ permanent appointment gets clo- ser. IN BRIEF Blackadder, 41, has been tipped Head1 by the Evening News to New crusade: Todd Blackadder is being make a return to the city where he touted as Scotland’s next coach. Read back in action Beale in clinic played from 2001-04. Blackadder, who is in his fifth He took them to the French title Matt Markham of excitement around the Crusa- ❯❯ Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has season coaching with the Cru- in 2010 and the semifinals in the ders’ camp yesterday as they checked into a private health clinic saders, having started in 2008, also next two seasons, and Clermont sit Just days out from a began preparations for the Blues to deal with ‘‘personal issues,’’ the spent a brief time assisting the top of the French league this match that could potentially clash. Australian (ARU) said Scotland side as forwards coach in season. dictate the rest of their season, the Assistant coach Dave Hewett yesterday. Beale was stood down 2005. He assisted for two years with They are also set to contest the Crusaders have received a timely said Read’s return was a welcome from the Melbourne Rebels last the Edinburgh Gunners. Heineken Cup final, Europe’s boost with the return of Kieran bolstering to the Crusaders’ stocks, week for the second time this However, equally strong is premier club title, against Toulon Read. although he still had to get through season after breaching behavioural speculation that the well- on May 18. Unsighted since a toe injury training this week before he would guidelines related to a programme performed Cotter is in line for the Johnson, who coached Scotland forced him out of the South be considered for Saturday night. to deal with his alcohol issues. job after two potential candidates, to two wins in this year’s Six African trip last month and ‘‘At this stage he’s on schedule ‘‘Kurtley has voluntarily entered a Wayne Smith and Australian Nations, reportedly wants to take subsequent matches, Read re- to be selected this week and it’s private health facility in order to Ewen Mckenzie, quashed specu- more of a back-seat role. turned to the Crusaders yesterday. just a case of him being able to get undertake counselling,’’ the ARU lation about their involvement. Cotter was in the mix for the All He is expected to play in his through the medical side of things said. ‘‘Any future selection will be Reports in the Scottish Sun Blacks job after the last World Cup side’s match against the Blues at and getting through a full week of dependent upon successful suggest the 51-year-old will be but missed out to Steve Hansen. AMI Stadium on Saturday night, training,’’ Hewett said. completion of his treatment presented with an offer soon to With Hansen reappointed until although for how long won’t be Blackadder may be tempted to programme.’’ take the country through to the the next World Cup, the chance for clear until later in the week. ease his captain back, which would next World Cup. an international job with Scotland Read suffered a partial tear to mean Luke Whitelock could gain Strike possible While Australian Scott John- will be tempting as Cotter builds ligaments in his toe late in the another starting cap after impress- son, Scotland’s rugby director, will his CV. Crusaders 55-20 win over the Kings ing in his leader’s absence. ❯❯ The head of New Zealand’s continue in a caretaker role for the Cotter has previously been in Christchurch in round six of the ‘‘His development along with Rugby Players Association says looming tour of South Africa, linked to the England and Ireland competition. His injury was fol- Kieran coming back means if we international players could take Cotter is being touted as the man jobs, but New Zealander Joe lowed by the birth of ’s need to we can look at a rotation strike action to press claims for an to take over long-term from Andy Schmidt landed the Irish head first child and subsequent injury system as some of the guys have integrated international season Robinson. coaching role. that left the Todd Blackadder- played some big minutes of rugby with fewer matches. Rob Nichol Cotter, a former Bay of Plenty Blackadder’s Scottish know- coached side short of their two this season.’’ said the International Rugby coach and Crusaders assistant, has ledge could count in his favour. most prolific players. But with If Read starts from the bench, Players Association will raise the had a remarkable run with French Blackadder could not be contac- Warming up: Andy Ellis at practice heading into his 100th appearance for the Carter back in action and Read due Whitelock’s older brother George issue with the International Rugby club Clermont Auvergne. ted for comment last night. Crusaders this Saturday. Photo: DEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZ to rejoin the fray, there was an air will be captain for another week. Board in July.

YACHTING Deadly training accident due to dominate America’s Cup meeting

Duncan Johnstone Artermis Racing and Luna Rossa – in the America’s Cup. This is his review meets its goals of fact- here in the summer but I’m not unlikely given the huge amount of Zealand chase boat, were on the but now takes on huge importance seventh campaign. He has also finding and putting us in a position going to prejudge it. Iain will investment by teams and the city water at the time. There should Veteran Team New Zealand mem- after last Friday’s tragedy. been involved in three around the to recommend changes, if necess- conduct his review and we will see of San Francisco. also be film from on board the boat. ber Kevin Shoebridge will attend Shoebridge left Auckland last world campaigns where safety ary,’’ Murray said. the outcome and recommenda- Somehow limiting speeds ‘‘Once we have the information, tomorrow’s crucial America’s Cup night on a flight booked ‘‘several issues are paramount. Despite continued speculation tions of that,’’ Barclay said. would also appear to fly in the face the basic facts, all the data, then we meeting in San Francisco where weeks ago’’. America’s Cup regatta director of alterations to the event, or even The Louis Vuitton Cup challen- of advantages teams seek through will be able to re-build the entire the deadly Artemis training acci- Team New Zealand boss Grant Iain Murray started his review of cancellation, amid safety concerns ger series is due to start on July 4 their different designs. chain of events and start to assess dent and the future of the regatta Dalton heads for San Francisco the accident that killed Artemis around the giant 72-foot cata- and the winner of that races Oracle The focus of the review will be why this incident resulted in a will top the agenda. tomorrow with the bulk of the elite strategist Andrew Simpson and marans, Stephen Barclay, chief for the America’s Cup on Sept- on safety and if improvements can tragic loss of life,’’ Murray said. The meeting was long on the sailing crew. sees tomorrow’s meeting with the executive of America’s Cup Event ember 7. be made in that area. Team New Zealand is building diaries of the four syndicates Shoebridge is the sailing and four teams as ‘‘a crucial next step’’. Authority, remained optimistic. With the United States’ repu- Murray is still collating video its base in San Francisco and involved – cup holders Oracle and operations manager for the Kiwi ‘‘We need to establish an open ‘‘I have every expectation that tation for being a legal minefield, footage of Artermis’ capsize. shipped their second AC72 there challengers Team New Zealand, syndicate and vastly experienced flow of information to ensure this we will host a spectacular event cancellation would appear Rivals, including a Team New from New Zealand.