Flynn's arm broken - he's gone for season

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OUCH: Corey Flynn gets his injured arm attended to in Canberra. The Crusaders hooker is in doubt for Friday's Super 14 clash against the Hurricanes.

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It just gets worse for the Crusaders, with hard-nosed hooker Corey Flynn today ruled out for the rest of the Super 14 with a broken arm that must place his rugby future under a cloud.
Crusaders pipped at the post
Bad weekend for NZ sides

Flynn was today diagnosed with a complete fracture of the radius -- the same bone he broke while playing for the All Blacks on their end-of-year tour -- and was immediately replaced in the Crusaders squad for the remainder of the competition.

Wider squad member Daniel Perrin comes into the squad, with former Highlander and draft player Jason Macdonald now assuming the status as senior hooker for Friday's visit from the Hurricanes.

Flynn re-broke his left arm in Saturday night's 16-18 defeat to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, and after a CT scan revealed the extent of the damage there was only one course of action available.

A Crusaders media release said the fringe All Black would "discuss his options" with an orthpaedic surgeon, though given the troubles he has had with broken arms -- he has fractured both limbs during his career -- it must put some doubt in his ability to make a full recovery.

Flynn's situation is just the tip of the iceberg for the Crusaders, who will also go into the Canes match without All Black halfback Andy Ellis, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the Brumbies clash.

Fullback Leon MacDonald is also out of the picture with an ongoing shoulder complaint, while skipper Richie McCaw (concussion) and lock Brad Thorn (heel problems) would also have to prove their fitness in this week's short turnaround.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was disappointed for Flynn, and conceded his absence would be felt. But he was confident that all of his crocked players could be replaced adequately.

"It's really unfortunate, especially for Corey who has had some terrible luck with both of his arms," Blackadder said.

"However, we'll still put a very competitive team on the field for the Hurricanes game. We learned some key things in the loss to the Brumbies and the players are very keen to put them into practice on Friday night."

Tyson Keats has also been added to the squad as temporary cover for Ellis.

A monumental defensive effort by Blackadder's Crusaders came up frustratingly short in Canberra on Saturday night as the Brumbies got home 18-16 on the back of a last-minute try from Mark Gerrard and a difficult conversion from the nerveless Stirling Mortlock.

It had looked as though a typical tireless tackling display would be enough to get the Crusaders up to their second straight win of the new season, but the Brumbies finally found the reward for a massive second-half territorial and possession advantage just in the nick of time.

The Brumbies all but set up camp in the Crusaders' 22 for the last quarter of an hour, but it looked as though they were to be denied by a huge defensive display, a la the final of 2000.

Ross Filipo's try just over a quarter of an hour into the second spell had given the Crusaders a 16-11 lead that they clung to with grim determination. However, wave after wave of Brumbies pressure finally found a chink in the armour as Gerrard powered through the tired tackles of Colin Slade and Adam Whitelock for the match-winner.

On the good news front, wing Sean Maitland resumed a full training load this week after recovering from his hamstring injury. 

The Hurricanes will present a formidable task for the Crusaders, even back on their home turf. Colin Cooper's side would have gained a lot of confidence after finally getting their game in gear late in the piece to run down the luckless Highlanders 22-17 on Friday night in the capital.

They will also welcome back skipper Rodney So'oialo from suspension and are likely to restore both of their All Black midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith to starting duties. Nonu had a big game for the Canes off the bench, sparking their second-half revival with a blockbusting performance, and Smith scored the winning try as he showed good pace to race in on the angle.

Both the Crusaders and Hurricanes now have a win and a loss in the new season.