Scotty Stevenson: The team behind the Crusaders dynasty
Scotty Stevenson (and Scott Robertson) are already looking towards a three-peat.
It was done, and it began again.
What they began, they finished on Saturday night in Christchurch. The Crusaders won a game all but a few thought they would win. There may have even been some within the Lions who couldn’t quite bring themselves to believe in miracles, even though miracles lie at the heart of their culture.
The Crusaders did what they said they would, and then immediately thought about doing it again.
There have been many words written about the Crusaders – Ali Williams, in his RugbyPass column this week, did a fantastic job in broad-stroking the philosophy of the side, his own personal experience as part of the championship-winning side of 2008 neatly augmenting what has become so obvious to those of us who sit outside the tent – and central to every story has been the concept of dynasty. A dynasty relies on something else: a relentless subjugation of individual aspirations for the betterment of the team.
Make no mistake, that is not to say the Crusaders don’t value the individual. For a side that has long been criticised for being, let’s just say, a touch vanilla, the Crusaders are as representative of the depth and breadth of New Zealand as any other super rugby team, and they celebrate the differences their people bring with them when they arrive at Rugby Park in Christchurch – as long as those differences add, rather than subtract, from the team’s ultimate goal: winning championships.
It was always Robbie Deans’ question to everyone in his charge: what can you do today to make the team better. Scott Robertson, a very different man to Deans but a disciple of his teachings nonetheless, has taken up that eternal inquiry and turbocharged it. In a Short Ball podcast episode last year, on the eve of the Crusaders’ victory over the Chiefs in Suva, Robertson outlined the two key pillars of his organisational philosophy. To paraphrase: come to work happy to be there, and whinge up.
That simplicity (there is nothing simple about Scott Robertson, by the way. He just wants you to think that) has been fundamental to the team’s return to the summit of Super Rugby. Without something so sound to create shape and meaning, you cannot possibly add the level of detail required to get through a season. The mosaic of matchday information has been laid down within this framework by Robertson and his assistants, Brad Mooar, Jason Ryan, and Ronan O’Gara, and by a wider team of support coaches who add the finishing touches. What emerges is a picture of perfect harmony, from a game with plenty of imperfections.
Which brings us to Saturday night in Christchurch, and scenes after most of the punters had wandered out through the Addington Gates and into the frosty night. There, on a field strewn with purple streamers and victory confetti, the turf scuffed by a thousand spring marks, the team gathered as one. Scott Robertson, midway through a television interview could see the circle forming and excused himself so he could half hobble half run to the waiting team (he had twisted his knee break dancing, because, of course he had) and the ritual that was about to take place.
Two swords. One held by the captain, Sam Whitelock, the other by the retiring front row forward Wyatt Crockett. Whitelock, a man who once put his own game ahead of everything else, such had been his quest for personal perfection, was changed by the elevation to captaincy. His aggressive and empathetic leadership serving to boost his own game, all while forcing him to be more aware of what those around him were going through. The man on his left was going through a lot. Crockett had played 203 times for the Crusaders, but hadn’t been picked for the last two games. He smiled through his own natural hurt.
The team had won the title and for that he was happy. He walked into the circle, addressed the team briefly, and plunged his sword into the wet ground of AMI Stadium. Moments later, Sam Whitelock did the same. Two swords, two leaders, two titles, two years. Two is bigger than one.
It was in this observance of tradition that the Crusaders were laying down the pathway to the future. One look around the group was enough to feel bullish about the team’s hopes next season. There was Ethan Blackadder, and Quinten Strange, and Will Jordan, and Tom Sanders, and Mitch Hunt and Oli Jager and the many others who had been a part of this win and not a part of this match. They, too, wanted this moment. The wheels were already turning. Scott Robertson walked (gingerly) away from the group. “Mate,” he said, “I’ve got a couple of great ideas for next season that I have been working on, can’t wait.”
It was only 30 minutes after the final whistle. I looked at him with a mixture of bemusement and awe. You would think he could give it a rest, just for one night. No, I thought, that’s just not how it works down here.
Not with this team. Not when they are only just beginning.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments