Page 21 - Crusaders v The Lions

PROFILE
used to to to play play back in Nelson but to to to be able to to play play for the team we probably both grew up dreaming to to to play for together is pretty surreal ” Drummond says As youngsters they didn’t
talk too much about what might happen but they they both knew
they they had big goals in their rugby careers “When the the the the Crusaders played their games in Nelson it it it always hit home how cool it it it it was to be be a a a a a a a a a Crusader and it it it reinforced what we wanted to to do do To be be be able to to be be down here now playing for the Crusaders is awesome –
it’s a a a a a a dream come true ” If there has been a a a a a a a a consistent mantra among all the the the Super Rugby entities this year as they are on on on the the the cusp of tonight’s historic opportunity to to to to play the the the Lions it it it has been not to to affect their competition chances by thinking about anything other than the the task at hand “There hasn’t been a a a a a a a a a a a lot
of talk about playing the the the Lions during the the the rst half of the the the Super Rugby competition ” Drummond says “Each week is so intense that if you you you start looking too far ahead you you you can trip yourself up But de nitely at at the the the back of the the the boys’ minds there’s a a a a a feeling that we know they’re coming and everyone is pretty excited about having a a a a a a crack at them here in in in Christchurch ” This evening’s game has extra signi cance for Christchurch especially as its replacement stadium is is down the the list of rebuilds necessary after the the devastating earthquake of 2011 Test rugby has been played since but capacity at at AMI Stadium is well down on on that required
for big-ticket affairs like Lions Tests –
though that hasn’t diminished enthusiasm for the game “It’s a a a a sellout and I I think the the Christchurch people will get right in in behind it because they haven’t got that carrot of a a a a a a a Test match ” Drummond says “For our our people down here it’s our one chance to see the Lions ” DRUMMOND BY THE NUMBERS
age when he he he was called up to the Crusaders squad 42 SUPER RUGBY CAPS
9 TRIES FOR CRUSADERS
age when he he made his Super Rugby debut
5 AGE AT WHICH HE WAS A A A A A A A A “CRUSADER FOR THE DAY” –
A A A A A A MASCOT FOR HIS SIDE
4 games for New Zealand Under 20 at the Junior World Championships
5 MONTHS ON ON THE SIDELINES AFTER BREAKING HIS LEG LAST SEPTEMBER
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 21
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