Crusaders look north to boost front row

Slade McFarland was working on an Auckland construction site and unaware Corey Flynn's left arm needed rebuilding when he received a second mayday call from the Super 12 champions.

The vastly-experienced North Harbour and New Zealand Maori hooker was traced by the Crusaders' management to the site and 2 1/2 hours later had packed his bag for Sydney.

"I walked away and the boss asked what was happening. I said I had to go to Sydney and I'll see the boys in another couple of weeks - we'll see what happens. I have to do my duty," McFarland said.

He has been called into the Crusaders squad after Flynn fractured his arm against the Stormers last Saturday.

McFarland was overlooked by Super 12 franchises this season, but has kept in reasonable shape with the North Harbour NPC squad.

This weekend he was expecting to front up for East Coast Bays against Helensville in the North Harbour club competition, but was unfazed about the prospect of confronting the Brumbies on Friday night.

"I've been training at home and with Harbour over the past couple of weeks," he said.

He also played in a 10s tournament in Hong Kong last month and has turned out a couple times for East Coast Bays.

"I'm not at my optimum weight because I was building slowly for the NPC, but I'll give my soul and blood for the cause."

McFarland was confident he could last a full game if the other Crusaders' hooker, Mark Hammett, joined the Crusaders' lengthy injury list.

"It's more of a mind game - switching on to play the biggest game of your life at this time of the season."

McFarland said he would need to swat up on lineout calls, but the fact he was playing with so many familiar faces made his task easier.

The 30-year-old was first summoned to the Crusaders by coach Robbie Deans in 2000 while playing in Wales after Canterbury hooker Matt Sexton succumbed to a serious injury just before the season started.

"There's a large core of blokes I played with in 2000, so that's made it a lot easier to slip into the routine."

McFarland played an important back-up role to Hammett in the Crusaders' march to a third consecutive Super 12 title and yesterday he thanked his former New Zealand under-19 team-mate for his recall.

"I'm lucky because Hammer [Hammett] pushed for me. I heard they were going for [prop] Greg Somerville to cover the spot, but Hammer asked if I was available."

Deans said he had no hesitation in calling up McFarland, once he could find him.

"The guys have a lot of faith in him. He's an ideal man for the job, he's just got a bit of homework to do."

- NZPA