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All Blacks great tips more history-making pain for winless Crusaders
Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Mils Muliaina has tipped the Crusaders to create unwanted team history this week ahead of their Round Four clash with the ladder-leading Hurricanes in Christchurch.
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For the first time since 1996, which was the inaugural season of the then-called Super 12, the Crusaders have begun their quest for Super Rugby glory with three losses from as many starts.
The Crusaders, who are searching for their eighth Super Rugby title in as many years, started their title defence with a loss on the road against the Chiefs and a Super Round upset defeat to the NSW Waratahs in Melbourne.
But after being beaten by the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon, the Crusaders are now just one loss away from what would be their worst start to a season in history.
In 1996 they lost their first three games but managed to draw their Round Four clash 16-all with Western Province.
All Blacks great Mils Muliaina believes the Crusaders’ winless start to Super Rugby Pacific will go from bad to worse on Friday evening when they take on the undefeated Hurricanes at Apollo Projects Stadium.
“I honestly think the Hurricanes are going to come away with this,” Muliaina said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.
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“They know how to go down there and be competitive.
“There’s a lot going on in the Crusaders camp but I think the Hurricanes are going to be too strong.”
After starting three different halfbacks across the opening few rounds, coach Rob Penney has stuck with the same No. 9 for the second week in a row after selecting England international Willi Heinz.
Heinz will partner playmaker Riley Hohepa in the halves. Hohepa only made his Super Rugby Pacific last weekend in the loss to the Drua in Fiji.
But the big team news for the Crusaders is the absence of their skipper. All Blacks and Crusaders lock Scott Barrett is expected to miss up to six weeks with a broken finger.
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“Not the start they would’ve thought they would’ve had,” Muliaina said.
“Interesting to see how close these games have been. Last week, the biggest winning margin was 10 and that was against the Drua and (the Crusaders) lost.
“Certainly not good news, the fact that they’re 0-3. And their captain, he’s been really good, inspirational.
“They’ve still got some good cattle there. It’ll be interesting to see, Quentin Strange comes back into the fold of things.
“The big one at the moment is the fact that (Riley) Hohepa will now start for them… they need to bounce back against the number one team at the moment and that’s the Hurricanes.”
It’s a very different story for the Hurricanes, though, who are the only undefeated side in Super Rugby Pacific after the opening three rounds.
The Hurricanes kicked off their season with a clinical win over the Western Force in Perth and backed that up with a golden point thriller against the Reds in Melbourne.
But last weekend’s 29-21 win over the Blues in the capital was a statement win from a side that will be full of confidence and belief ahead of their trip down south.
“The thing is with them you still haven’t got (Jodie) Barrett back,” Muliaina explained
“Great game against the Blues, although the Blues will probably feel they didn’t get the balance right in terms of the bench and what unfolded, but they look settled, they look confident.
“The first three rounds were huge for them. To go over to Perth and then to Melbourne for the Super Round, and then to have this big game to follow up against the Blues, they’ve got some big confidence behind their team at the moment.
“They look really settled, really hardened up front,” he added. “Ruben Love, he’s in some sensational form but that’s on the back of that contact they’re winning up front.
“Really nice balance in terms of their loosies. Peter (Lakai) and Brandon Iose, they’re providing that balance and how good is it to see guys like Cam Roigard really stepping up? Gee, he’s got some power, he’s got some pace.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Karl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
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