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
One 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.
53 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.
53 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
53 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.
53 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”?
1 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.
53 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.
53 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.
53 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.
53 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
53 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
53 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
53 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to comments