Christian Lio-Willie: Crusaders conscious 'it's easy to fall out' amid early woes

Christian Lio-Willie admits it’s been a “tough couple of weeks” for the Crusaders, who have two games in the loss column two weeks into the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

But the reigning champions will have to make running repairs with no mercy shown from the upcoming schedule, which includes a date with their 2025 final opponents, the Chiefs, on Saturday night.

The Hamilton-based outfit have won their two Kiwi derbies to start the year, and will host the Crusaders in a fixture that always pulls in the punters, especially if the Waikato faithful smell blood in the water.

But the Crusaders are clear on the areas for improvement needed, with accuracy an obvious work-on after 41 turnovers lost in the opening two rounds. But Lio-Willie says there’s another key area his team must set the tone.

“I’d just say winning the physicality battle,” he told Sport Nation. “The Chiefs are a massive physicality team, and they love the breakdown, so if we don’t match them there and if we don’t take it to them first, that’s where we get punished.

“I think as well, making sure that we go out and (strike) first and not have to absorb it, because once the Chiefs get a roll on, as we can see, they can punish us.

“So, the physicality around the breakdown is definitely something that you’ve got to nail against a team like the Chiefs.”

The team’s set piece is traditionally one of the best in the competition, but in 2026, the lineout has the lowest success rate of any team so far. Lio-Willie says the structures are there; it’s just on the players to get them right.

“That’s the main thing, our execution. I think we’ve got some great plans, with the likes of Antonio (Shalfoon) and Jamie (Hannah) running the show, so I think it’s definitely just down to our execution and connection between the hookers and jumpers and lifters.

“That’s the only thing that’s let us down, it’s just our execution and our skill set. I think once you get that right, once you tidy that up, we’ll definitely get back on the horse a little bit.”

Losing when there are championship expectations is tough for any team, and in such a tight competition, there’s only so much room for error.

But the Crusaders are determined to grow closer through the adversity rather than splinter.

“Through the few events that have happened, we’ve made sure to get tighter and connected even more. We know that it’s easy to fall out, especially with the two rounds that’ve just happened.

“But we’ve definitely kept tight, especially with the wider group coming in. We’ve had a good social committee that’s set up a few things and a few events this week. So we’re definitely kept tight.”