Crusaders star George Bridge issues Super Rugby warning
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
Crusaders wing George Bridge politely suggests those thinking the Super Rugby champions are due for a dip this year – after losing a wealth of experience in Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Ryan Crotty, Matt Todd and Owen Franks – may want to think again.
He says Scott Robertson’s men, hoping to blaze yet another trail by winning four championships in a row, have been invigorated by the new, impressive, talent coming through.
Robertson, determined to put the disappointment of missing out on All Blacks head coach behind him, has again gone outside the square in selecting former Wales international wing Mark Jones as an assistant coach, and in an interview with the Herald, Bridge added that it was business as usual for the man known as Razor.
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“Four in a row is the main objective but I think the fact we have a couple of new coaches and new leadership group brings a couple of new factors which is really exciting,” Bridge said. “It changes things a little bit for the better – there are a few new voices around.
“We just want to keep getting better and better which I think is a really good mindset. We’ve had a really good pre-season and have quite a few young lads coming through who are bloody exciting to watch – I experienced that [last] weekend for the first time.
“Super Rugby is such a tough competition so having that depth is really important. I feel we’ve got that so hopefully we can be consistently performing every weekend.”
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Keeping the consistency of the past three years will be a challenge in this season of rebuilding, but it’s the same for just about every other team in the competition.
There is no denying the experience the Crusaders have lost. But with captain Scott Barrett, Joe Moody, Luke Romano, Codie Taylor, Mitch Drummond and Whetukamokamo Douglas in the new-look leadership group, there is still a steely look to their squad.
“And I see myself as a leader coming through,” Bridge added. “Even though we lost a lot of caps, a lot of us having been playing four-plus years of Super Rugby now. It’s not like we’re inexperienced at all.”
Bridge, 24, enjoyed a massive breakout year in 2019. He had been on the All Black scene since late 2018 but it was starring role in the rout of the Wallabies at Eden Park – on the opposite wing to Crusaders teammate Sevu Reece – which really launched him into the stratosphere.
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He handled each challenge with calmness and control, scored tries in the big World Cup tests against the Springboks and Ireland, and now must be considered the incumbent for the black No 11 jersey.
“I enjoyed last year,” he said. “It was a long year. I had that disappointment at the end of it which has given me a real drive to keep improving. Obviously Super Rugby is such a quality competition and I just want to keep getting better. We’ve got some quality outside backs too which has been keeping me on my toes.”
Coach Robertson endured his own personal challenge when losing out to Ian Foster for the All Blacks job before Christmas but Bridge said there was no sign of that at Crusaders headquarters.
“Obviously he was pretty disappointed not to get that but he loves our team and he has put so much time and effort into it over the last few years. I don’t think anything has changed. He’s made that pretty clear. He cares about the team. I’ve only been in for a week but what I’ve seen is business as usual.”
This article first appeared in nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments