Argentinian international Pablo Matera faced a tough week ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific final, not knowing whether he’d be available or not to play for the Crusaders at Eden Park.
Matera was sent off in the Crusaders’ win over the Chiefs last weekend after receiving two yellow cards – one for repeated team infringements and one for a dangerous tackle on flyhalf Bryn Gatland.
Having received two other yellow cards throughout the season, Matera was summoned to face the Sanzaar judiciary on Wednesday night. Thankfully for Matera and his teammates, the loose forward was cleared to play in Saturday’s final between the Crusaders and Blues, and the 28-year-old now has a chance to secure the first silverware of his professional career.
“[We were] as confident as we could have been,” coach Scott Robertson said on Thursday after naming Matera in the No 6 jersey for the grand final. “You go into those things with all the right intentions but we came out with a hugely emotional Pablo.
“[They] could have gone either way when you go into those things [but] we put a really good case [together]. We’re really thankful the process was really robust and strong and we’re just pleased it came out on the right side for him and the team.
“It’s a final and for him to come all this way and play some sublime footy – he’s been one of the form players for a number of games in a row there – and then to realise he could have missed the final, he’s brought his young family across the world to play and to win a championship. he’s never won anything so for him to have watched that would have been really hard so he’s really pleased he can run out with us on Saturday night.”
