'I'm holding onto this': Big smiles as Veteran Crusader Owen Franks breaks 14-year try drought
The big prop has only scored three tries in his career with the last coming in 2010.
Halfback Nic Stirzaker is a Melbourne Rebel until the end of 2017 after signing a new two-year deal with the Super Rugby club.
The 23-year-old has been earmarked as a future skipper after captaining the Melbourne Rising side in the National Rugby Championship this year.
He joins prop Laurie Weeks in committing to the club this month.
Stirzaker has made 24 Super Rugby appearances since joining the Rebels in 2012 and is in a tussle with veteran Luke Burgess for the starting halfback role.
Melbourne coach Tony McGahan said re-signing he speedy No.9 was a priority for the club.
“Nic continues to show that he is capable of improving his game and he has a wonderful attitude to his rugby,” McGahan said.
Stirzaker was excited to extend his stay in Melbourne and cited the closeness of the playing group as a key factor in his decision.
“We have a tight group, and I think we are going to keep improving on the field, he said.
“With the likes of Tom English, Luke Jones and Sean McMahon just finishing on the Wallaby spring tour, you can see that we have the right sort of guys to move forward and that can only be good for the club.”
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The big prop has only scored three tries in his career with the last coming in 2010.
The kick failed to pass the 22-metre line.
In the Canterbury region, it's not claret but pinot noir.
The Crusaders scrum was dominant, so rather than risk yellow cards or penalty tries, Melbourne's coach replaced the three forwards at once.
The referee initially awarded the try but had to overturn it - presumably on advice from TMO.
Melbourne's scrum was embarrassed by the push from the home side.