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“No, I don't think so. I think it's awesome for me because I've been learning off the form player in the world at the moment. I feel like it's a good thing for me,” Burke said. “It’s awesome. Super excited. It's a great opportunity for me to show everyone what I've been working on behind the scenes, and what I've learnt the last couple of years.”
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Crusaders pivot Fergus Burke pictured in action against the Hurricanes in Chirstchurch in March. He moved to the Garden City the following year, before cracking the Canterbury-19s, and representing the New Zealand under-20s at the World Cup in Argentina, the following year.
“It’s still that game against the Brumbies, our first Trans-Tasman game [on May 15], which we’re pitching for him.” The Crusaders can book a spot in the May 8 final by beating the resurgent Chiefs, but will have to do it without a raft of first-choice players, including rested lock Sam Whitelock, as they mark halfback Mitch Drummond’s 100th game for the franchise.
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Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor hurt his knee playing for South against North in Wellington last September. No 8 Cullen Grace has also been rested, while hooker Codie Taylor will come off the bench after playing all 82 minutes of last week’s golden point thriller against the Hurricanes in Wellington.