Crusaders get no sympathy from Shaun Stevenson ahead of derby
It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Crusaders after another loss in round five to the Blues, with the team now preparing to host a Chiefs outfit eager to further the reigning champions’ record run of losses.
The two played each other in the opening game of the season, a rematch of last year’s final – although one of the two wasn’t considering that the case. The Crusaders acknowledged the significant changes to their personnel both on and off the field and considered themselves a different enough team for that match not to qualify as a finals rematch.
The Chiefs on the other hand were hungry to enact revenge, regardless. That game resulted in a tight win for the Chiefs but the narrative has evolved considerably since then.
The Crusaders not only lost that contest in round one, but every contest since.
“Hopefully we can make that five into a six this week,” Chiefs star fullback Shaun Stevenson told Newshub, referring to the Crusaders’ losing streak.
“Obviously we’ve been through our fair share of losses before, and I guess they [the Crusaders] are always up the top, so it’s good to see them down the bottom.”
It’s safe to say Stevenson’s thoughts are shared by many fans after watching the Crusaders win seven titles in as many years.
Regardless of the Christchurch team’s losing streak, opponents remain adamant there’s no room for complacency or anything short of an 80-minute performance against the men in red and black.
“The last few weeks we have been pretty good for the first 50 or 60 minutes, or either just one half that’s good, so we got plenty to work on,” Stevenson added, before elaborating on potential causes for those incomplete performances.
“Probably just a bit of complacency – we started well and then I guess the boys that are coming onto the field, it’s about getting down the right end, especially in bad conditions, not throwing silly offloads away.
“Just be accurate and go out there and execute.”
Last week, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan told Newshub “Complacency is not something that will creep into our environment.” ahead of what would end up being another tight finish against the Highlanders.
The Chiefs had earned a commanding 28-0 scoreline an hour into that game but conceded three unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes and were forced to defend after the full-time hooter to preserve save lead. In the round one fixture, it was a similar story as the Chiefs ran out to a strong early lead, only for the Crusaders to fight back in the second period.
Stevenson is under no illusions, his side can’t afford to continue leaking points like that late.
“They’ve been in the games most of the last five or six weeks, they’re always a tough opponent and we know that, so I think the focus needs to be on ourselves.
“When we do get a lead, good teams put them away.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
3 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 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.
3 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 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.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to comments