Ethan Blackadder. Photo: Photosport
- The Crusaders face the Brumbies in their final Super Rugby Pacific regular season clash
- The 14-time champions sit in second spot on the championship ladder as a return to the playoffs beckons
- The team is expected to be bolstered by the timely inclusion of All Black loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who is likely to mark his return from injury with a long-awaited 50th appearance for the red and blacks
Crusaders and All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder says his desire for test rugby remains unwavering after another injury-enforced stint on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old is expected to make a timely return for the Crusaders for the side's final regular season meeting against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Blackadder has been unavailable for about a month after picking up a hamstring injury at training, the latest setback in a career spoiled by misfortune, and time in the casualty ward.
This is underlined by the fact the no-nonsense operator will bring up a long-awaited milestone of 50 games for the franchise on Friday.
Blackadder admitted he knew the landmark was looming earlier in the campaign.
"I was meant to play if four weeks ago and then got that niggle," he said.
"One game is special so to run out there in that jersey 50 times is extra special so yeah can't wait."
Blackadder made his Super Rugby debut back in 2018, meaning he has averaged about seven games per Super Rugby season.
"I had an old team-mate Jordan Taufua, he played a hundred in eight years so yeah it does (feel like it's taken a while)," he said.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson shakes hands with Ethan Blackadder. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The return of the 15-test All Black is well-timed, not only for his team who are already without fellow test star Will Jordan, but for him personally as he seeks to get some game time under his belt ahead of the international season.
Blackadder will again be vying for a spot in the year's first All Blacks squad amid a congested throng of loose forward incumbents and contenders, including Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali'i, Peter Lakai and the uncapped Du'Plessis Kirifi,
When asked if he felt he had played enough rugby to warrant All Black selection, he replied "who knows".
"My job is right here right now and they can sort the rest out," he said.
Although he remained laser-focused on the Super Rugby business end, the desire for test rugby remained unquestioned.
Before then, he is a welcome inclusion for the red and blacks who remain in second place on the championship ladder.
It follows a testing few weeks that has included a home defeat to the Chiefs and scratchy wins over the Waratahs and Highlanders.
The team has also been forced to defend for large periods, amassing more than 600 tackles over their past three games.
Coach Rob Penney felt comfortable the fearless flanker was primed for a return to the trenches against Australia's top-ranked side.
"He had a good run before his injury. His conditioning is without question," he said.
"Ethan's Ethan, he has a massive motor, he doesn't need to do a lot on the grass to be ready.
"He wont go eighty obviously, but he will add another dimension to us, I have no doubt."
Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kickoff 9.35pm Friday
