'Look at everything really': Crusaders searching for answers after losing to 'dogged' Waratahs
The Crusaders became the second Kiwi side to go down to an Australian side on a weekend where all the New Zealand sides have been put under pressure.
The Chiefs held off the fast finishing Reds to secure a two point victory 27-25 on Friday night, the Blues were pressured on the way to a 22-18 victory in Perth over the Force and the Highlanders escaped a rampant Drua coming away with a 27-24 win in Suva.
The slow starting Crusaders couldn’t prevent the Waratahs from joining the winner’s circle as they were outplayed from the get go.
The Waratahs raced out to a 17-0 lead at halftime a they controlled proceedings in the slippery conditions on a dewy night at a packed Leichhardt Oval and closed out a 24-21 win, their first since 2019 over the Crusaders.
“We were on the back foot straight away, fourteen points down under a lot of pressure,” Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson said.
“A lot of simple stuff we proud ourselves on, we didn’t get right. They got a lot of momentum.
“In the last 20, we got plenty of opportunities and still didn’t finish.”
Of concern was the way the Crusaders started for the second week in a row. They were slow out of the gate against the Rebels in Melbourne, struggling to a 7-3 halftime lead before exploding in the second half.
It was a similar story this week but the Waratahs were good enough to shut them out completely heading into the sheds which proved too much to overcome in the second forty minutes.
Head coach Scott Robertson admitted the side is looking for answers themselves and they would need to look at ‘everything’ to turn things around before they head into the finals.
“We are looking for the answer ourselves, to be fair,” he said.
“We had a really good week, connected, good mindset, we know playing Aussie teams are a little bit different, how desperate they are, they are a dogged side the Waratahs.
“They put us under that pressure cycle that we just couldn’t quite get out of.
“How do we get better? We are going to have to have honesty, look at our week, look at everything really.
“Because it’s all there, we just have to complete some stuff.”
Crusaders captain Codie Taylor said that the loss mirrored the last time they were undone by the Waratahs in 2019, with similar conditions challenging the visitors which they didn’t adapt well enough too.
“I think the last two losses we’ve had against them it has been the same conditions around the weather and us not starting well,” Taylor said.
“They played really well to the conditions, they got that try straight away, they controlled the ruck really well, put the ball in the air and made it 50-50s.
“When it is dewy, even though it wasn’t raining, that’s the sort of game that if you don’t nail those little moments, you are straight under pressure.
“That was it in the first half.
“We struggled to get a roll on, then came out in the second half and got a couple shots but just didn’t finish.
“The Tahs played well and took their opportunities and they obviously wanted it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments