Dear Crusaders fans, don't cry that it's over, smile that it happened
Crusaders fans, you had a great run. Your team’s record-breaking seven-year dynasty should be celebrated as any other Super Rugby side would have to be considered quite unlikely to ever come close to repeating that feat.
Coach Scott Robertson emerged as one of the smartest rugby gurus in New Zealand during that period, and playmaker Richie Mo’unga passed Dan Carter in the Super Rugby ‘GOAT’ debate.
Forget about the achievements of the Kansas City Chiefs or Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors, what the Crusaders accomplished should be the envy of every other team in world sport.
But all good things must come to an end. For the Crusaders, their run of seven Super Rugby titles in as many years seems quite unlikely to carry into an eighth season.
For the first time in team history, the Crusaders have started a Super Rugby season with four defeats from as many starts. The Chiefs, Waratahs, Fijian Drua and Hurricanes have already bested the reigning champions.
Those two defeats to Kiwi rivals the Chiefs and Canes were by within seven, though. But the Crusaders couldn’t quite hold on or rally when they needed to with the match on the line.
Excuses can be made, sure. It can be simple, comfortable and reassuring to point the finger and pin the blame on another person or reason, but it doesn’t hide the Crusaders from reality.
They’re 0-4.
The Crusaders haven’t been unlucky to lose. They’d be quite lucky to win any of their next few games as well. That’s not to say they can’t but it’ll be supremely difficult.
Let’s look at the facts.
Coach Rob Penney started veteran Mitchell Drummond at halfback in the opening match of the season before rotating the strike with youngster Noah Hotham getting the nod a week later.
But Hotham hasn’t been called upon since with England international Willi Heinz getting to wear the No. 9 jersey against the Drua and Hurricanes. That’s three halfbacks in three weeks.
There’s been some rotation at fly-half too with Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara and Riley Hohepa all starting matches across the first four rounds of the season.
Excuses can be made about injuries to playmakers Fergus Burke and Rivez Reihana, and Taha Kemara’s absence as well, but has that really been the difference between winning and losing?
Reihana and Kemara have four Crusaders games between them.
Key injuries in the forwards to captain Scott Barrett and Ethan Blackadder are noteworthy but other teams are battling through their own issues and have at least registered one win to date.
Jay Fonokalafi debuted for the Waratahs last week after receiving a call-up from coach Darren Coleman while working on a building site. The Tahs went on to almost beat the Blues in Sydney with Fonokalafi scoring a try off the pine.
The Blues and Hurricanes are both without their respective captains Patrick Tuipulotu and Brad Shields, and the ladder-leading Canes are also missing Jordie Barrett through suspension.
The Reds don’t have Hunter Paisami or James O’Connor yet sit in second place, and All Black Tupou Vaa’i and lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi were unavailable to play for the Chiefs in round four.
The Crusaders used to be revered for their ability to develop Super Rugby-ready talent in a squad that already boasted world-class depth.
But the Crusaders don’t look like the Crusaders of old at the moment.
They’re a team that’s still trying to figure out what they’re about in the post-Scott Robertson era, and that’s okay. This was always going to happen.
But it’ll get worse before it gets better.
Next up for the winless Crusaders is a trip north to face the Blues. Last weekend against the Tahs, the Aucklanders had nine All Blacks in their starting side alone and they’ll be desperate for an improved performance.
The Crusaders will then return home to face the Chiefs in Christchurch before going on a bye. They’ll face the Waratahs in Sydney after that – the very same side who beat them comprehensively in Super Round.
There’s every chance the Crusaders could be 0-6 or 0-7.
Maybe the Crusaders deserve some leeway because they are the Crusaders after all. But if we looked at this as if they were any other team, we’d all almost unanimously agree that this is a side that was beaten by four better teams to start the season.
It’s over, and it’s time to accept that.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 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.
2 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.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 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…
1 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 commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments