Crusaders concede Waratahs 'slammed' the door shut in loss
The Crusaders have further cemented their standing at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table with another gut-wrenching loss to the Waratahs in Sydney.
Hopes were high for the reigning champions in round eight after a statement win over the Chiefs in their last outing, but any chance to claw themselves off the bottom of the ladder was postponed by an eager Tahs outfit who came ready to fight fire with fire.
A chaotic start saw Sevu Reece claim the opening try of the game within the first minute, but Lachlan Swinton wasn’t prepared to see his side drop to their seventh loss of the season and barrelled over the try line just two minutes later.
That response was indicative of what would become a seesaw match with a dozen lead changes leading to golden point and a dramatic finish.
“It hurts. The feeling out there is what anyone at home would expect. It hurts,” Crusaders captain Tom Christie told Stan Sport after the match.
“We did a lot of good things but left the door open too many times, the Waratahs are a quality football team.
“It’s cliche but it’s true tonight; when you leave the door open, they slammed it shut.”
Christie added that he saw plenty of positives in the match as well: “One hundred per cent, there’s learnings in any game and I think the most important thing after a win or a loss is that we actually bank those learnings, and never rest on your laurels.
“So, we’ll take what we need to out of that game, leave behind what we don’t and we’ll evolve as a team. We’ve been in this position already this year; we’ve learnt, we’ve learnt, but we’ve just got to keep going, keep pushing.
“There’s elements, we’ve just got to put it together for the complete package.”
Coming out of the halftime break down one point, Crusaders coach Rob Penney joined the broadcast to share his thoughts on the contest so far, saying: “Yeah it was (a hell of a first half), high minutes, high meters, it’s pretty tiring.”
The coach then spoke on the return of All Black Ethan Blackadder, who made his season debut in the game.
“He has been (in the thick of it), double efforts. Really proud of him, just a quality individual and a quality player and he’s showing it tonight,” the coach said.
He then commented on the positives he saw from his side in the opening half.
“I guess we’ve been playing a little bit stodgily over the last wee while and we’ve just developed a little bit of confidence on the back of last week. We’re just making a few errors tonight, we’re just not quite as clinical as we were last week.
Finally, Penney offered congratulations to Sevu Reece, who, in another wildly impressive outing, tied the Crusaders’ all-time try-scoring record with 52, after only debuting for the team in 2019. The record is also held by Caleb Ralph.
“Congratulations to Sevu, his family and all of his connections. Caleb would be justifiably proud of Sevu’s performance, they’re two great wingers.”
The final play of the game was a moment of Will Harrison magic, with the reserve playmaker slotting into the pocket and profiting from some strong carries from the Waratahs forward pack which put him in a position to get a clean drop goal attempt away.
The ball sailed blissfully between the posts, and the ensuing scenes around Allianz stadium were anything but. Harrison was mobbed by his ecstatic teammates while a raucous chorus enveloped the Sydney stands.
Penney’s team offered a stark contrast in emotion, and speaking to Stan Sport following the match, the coach emphasised how his team will be better for the experience of the loss.
“Yeah there’s some things you can only learn by going through them,” he told Stan Sport.
“People have to learn by being exposed and it was a different situation tonight.
“You have your discussions around what it looks like when you’re in situations like extra time but it’s really living that moment when reality hits.”
The emotions were heightened for Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond, who expressed his love and support for a Crusaders icon and close friend, Richie Mo’unga, who is mourning a great loss this weekend.
“Obviously, one of my good mates, my best mate’s old man passed away. Just want to shout out to the Mo’unga family, we’re thinking of you all and send our love and best wishes for the next couple of weeks,” Drummond said.
It was a sentiment echoed by interviewer Sonny Bill Williams, who added: “Love you uso, much love to the family.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
97 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
97 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
97 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
97 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
97 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
97 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
97 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
97 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
97 Go to comments