Super Rugby Aotearoa: Injuries mar thrilling Hurricanes, Crusaders clash with Joe Moody, Jack Goodhue, Ardie Savea limping off

The Hurricanes and Crusaders might've played out a thrilling Super Rugby Aotearoa contest that had everyone on the edge of their seats, but All Blacks selectors came away from the encounter very worried.

Crusaders stars Jack Goodhue and Joe Moody both limped off in the space of five minutes in the first half with what looked like serious injuries. 

Moody injured his ankle during an attacking scrum in the 24th minute and was helped from the field by medical staff. In the second half of the contest, the new Super Rugby centurion was seen in a moon boot.

Joe Moody limps off injured
Joe Moody limps off injured Photo credit: Photosport

Four minutes earlier, Goodhue tried to make a tackle on rampaging Hurricanes centre Peter Umaga-Jensen, but dropped off the tackle and his leg clashed with teammate Bryn Hall. 

Like Moody, the All Blacks centre needed help from the field, with Crusaders coach Scott Robertson concerned about the seriousness of the injuries.

"Both will have scans, but it looked serious," Robertson says. "It was a knee for Jack and plantar flexion [foot] for Joe after the scrum. 

"The scan will define that, but look, I didn't get through Otago University, so I can't be a doctor."

The moment Jack Goodhue injuries his knee
The moment Jack Goodhue injuries his knee Photo credit: Photosport

Robertson feels the intensity of the competition has ramped up over the past few weeks, as teams battle for a grand final place. 

"I feel like the intensity, the physicality, the contacts are massive," says Robertson. "It's a brutal game."

The Hurricanes weren't spared injuries either, as captain Ardie Savea left with a knee injury, after an impressive showing. 

"Some of the boys were hurting after last week, none more so than the captain," Hurricanes coach Jason Holland says. "He was awesome in that first 40, then gutsing it out until about the 60-minute mark. 

"We're trying to figure out how bad it was. I've tried to be a medic a lot of times this season and I'm not great at it, but it was encouraging to see him soldier through.

"We watched him pretty closely when he first did it to see if he could run, and he really accelerated and changed direction off that knee a few times. We're hopeful, but he's pretty sore right now."

The Hurricanes have a bye this week, which will give Savea time to recover, while the Crusaders play the Chiefs in just six days time. 

Join us at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Blues v Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa clash