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Odds stacked against Brumbies in first Crusaders home match since tragic shooting

By Online Editors
The Brumbies game against the Reds will have felt like a breeze compared to what's coming up in Christchurch (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Brumbies won’t be lacking in effort when they take on the Crusaders after expectations were made “crystal clear” by their Super Rugby coach Dan McKellar.

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The Canberra side will take on the reigning champion Crusaders on Saturday in Christchurch, where they haven’t won in 19 years.

It’s the Crusaders’ first home game since 50 people were killed in a shocking terrorist attack in Christchurch two weeks ago, with the club now mulling a name change.

And making the task even more difficult is that the Brumbies are set to rest Wallabies stars in Scott Sio, Folau Faingaa and Rory Arnold as part of the Test rotation policy, although prop Allan Alaalatoa will return from a wrist injury after missing the past two games.

Gun flanker David Pocock is no certainty to play as he continues to battle a persistent calf problem.

Regardless of the odds stacked against them, McKellar is expecting an improved performance than what his team delivered in their last match, which was a 22-point loss to the Reds.

“It’s pretty crystal clear to this group that effort’s an expectation week-in, week-out, day-in, day-out, so I think we’ll get a reaction,” McKellar said on Wednesday.

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“I think the big thing we lacked against the Reds was just effort and intensity around the collision area and we were out-enthused.

“They ran harder and tackled harder than us and we got what we deserved, so we’re looking to turn that around.”

McKellar said his team had used the bye week to refresh mentally and physically and he would look to replacements to cover their Wallabies to inject some extra energy against the ladder leaders, who have only dropped one game – against the Waratahs.

“It’s a great opportunity for players if it is their first starting game or for anyone who’s had limited minutes off the bench,” he said.

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“It’s a special occasion, the Crusaders in Christchurch and there’s no bigger task in Super Rugby.”

Despite their two-four win loss record McKellar said his group still had belief but just needed to find some consistency in their performances.

“There’s still plenty of confidence and belief in the group,” McKellar said.

“We had a disappointing second-half performance against the Rebels and bounced back well against the Waratahs, so there’s a psychology component to it and that’s our job to make sure that come Saturday afternoon in Christchurch we’re ready to play.”

The Brumbies side to face the Crusaders will be named later today.

– RugbyPass/AAP

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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