How Tom Christie took Razor's mentoring to succeed Matt Todd as the Crusaders' No 7
When the Crusaders defeated the Chiefs 37-26 to achieve their first Super Rugby Pacific victory in 2024, Captain Tom Christie said, “I think there was just a sense of freedom. Obviously, there’s been a little bit in the media if you chose to read it and it was kind of like the shackles were off. It takes a little bit of pressure off, we just wanted to come out here and play Crusaders rugby and I think we showed that. We showed that when we get it right, we’re a dangerous team.”
The Crusaders had lost an unprecedented five consecutive matches. Why wouldn’t the Crusaders play with freedom from the outset? They’ve won seven consecutive Super Rugby titles.
“After five weeks we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves; pressure we wouldn’t necessarily put ourselves under earlier in the season,” Christie responded to RugbyPass.
“There was a desperation to get the monkey off the back. I think everyone knows the process and everyone would give their all for this jersey, this jersey’s a special thing, there’s a lot of history in it and everyone really cares about it.”
Christie is dyed-in-the-wool Christchurch. He was educated at Shirley Boys’ High School and played in the First XV from 2014 to 2016.
His debut for Canterbury was off the bench in the 2017 NPC final where Canterbury defeated Tasman 35-13. He’s since represented the red and blacks 55 times (35 wins).
Christie became a Crusader in 2020. He battled with a dislocated shoulder before establishing himself permanently in 2022. He has played 39 out of the last possible 40 games. The Chiefs victory was the first time he had led the Crusaders.
“That wasn’t planned. Mitchell Drummond was captain but he pulled up lame with a vomiting bug so Noah Hotham replaced Mitch at halfback and I was asked to captain with David Havali also out,” Christie explained.
“The late notice didn’t give me much time to think about it, which was a blessing in disguise.
“I wanted to play my own game and naturally find that balance between leading by example and communicating with the boys.
“I must admit the emotion didn’t hit me until I ran out of the tunnel. It was a great opportunity.”
With 16 tackles and two pivotal turnovers in the last ten minutes, Christie was to the fore of the Crusaders success. Their horrific injury list, which has eliminated several All Blacks, appeared briefly irrelevant.
“Everyone’s got injuries, they’re an unfortunate part of the game. You have to adapt, keep moving, and remind young guys they’re there for a reason,” Christie said.
The biggest reason Christie is a Crusader is his relentless appetite for tackling. Christie topped the season tackle count in 2022 (246) and 2023 (231). This year he leads the chasing pack with 127 tackles in six games.
Former All Blacks openside and assistant coach Matt Todd played a similar role for the Crusaders.
In a three-year title span from 2017 to 2019, Todd made 558 tackles ranking second twice and eighth for the most tackles in a season. Todd won 102 of his 141 matches for the Crusaders.
“I love tackling. I developed that at Shirley Boys. In my first year in the First XV, we were second to last and I topped the tackle count,” Christie said.
“You want to limit time on defence so getting more turnovers is always a focus but I’m happy to do what’s required.”
Shirley Boys made the final of the Crusades First XV competition in Christe’s last year at school in 2016. In 2017 he was a member of the most recent New Zealand Under 20s side to win the junior World Cup. At the Crusaders, Christie worked closely with new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson on becoming a more rounded openside.
“Razor is an incredible man; what you see is what you get, and he doesn’t shy away from that. He believes to succeed you have to build a relationship of real trust so constructive feedback comes from a place of care and consideration.
“We connected most strongly about my game because we played the same position but see things differently.
“When reviewing a game Razor always allowed me to see things from a different perspective, and take good things away from it.
“Typically it would be highlighting where I could have made a better decision like positioning in the defence line or when and where to attack a ruck, little things like that.
“Openside is such a competitive position. You’re always seeking those little advantages.”
The Crusaders travel to Sydney this weekend to joust with the wobbling Waratahs who haven’t won a match since conquering the Crusaders 37-24 in Round 2.
Christie debuted for the Crusaders in a 42-25 win over the Waratahs in 2020. He hopes to “build upon the momentum” while “taking things one game at a time.”
The Crusaders have only missed the Super Rugby playoffs in 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2015. They won away finals in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2022 and 2023.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great 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.
63 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.
63 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
63 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.
63 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.
63 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.
63 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.
63 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.
63 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.
63 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!!
63 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…
63 Go to comments