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'There is a void': Scott Barrett on how Crusaders will deal with personnel losses
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett admits that the club has a “void” to fill ahead of their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign after losing so many club legends.
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Instrumental first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga and All Black talisman Sam Whitelock headline the departures list, but the greatest loss is arguably inspirational coach Scott Robertson.
Under Robertson the Crusaders won a title every single year, capturing three Super Rugby crowns from 2017-19, two Super Rugby Aotearoa crowns from 2020-21, and two Super Rugby Pacific titles in 2022 and 2023.
2024 is the start of a new chapter for the longest dynasty in Super Rugby as new head coach Rob Penney attempts to avoid a post-Robertson come down.
“Naturally when you lose guys who have played a lot in the jersey, in some respects legends of the club, there is a void there but the beauty of New Zealand rugby and the Crusaders is guys are quick to put their hand up, take those opportunities and fill those gaps,” Barrett told media at Wednesday’s Super Rugby Pacific launch.
“With two new coaches, players moving on off the back of the World Cup cycle, the ingredients are there for a new group to put their hand up in I guess, a new era.
“As someone who has been around a few seasons now, it’s exciting. You feed off the excitement of the new players.”
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Talk that the Crusaders can’t win without Razor or Richie was the “first time” Barrett had heard of such predictions, and highlighted that they had been written off plenty of times before under Robertson.
In 2022 the Blues went 15-1 before losing the home final to the underdog Crusaders at Eden Park. Again in 2023, they went on the road to face the Chiefs in Hamilton and came away with the silverware despite not being favoured.
In both seasons the Crusaders went through a mid-season trough which they dug themselves out of to topple fancied opponents when it mattered most.
“There is a natural expectation in the group, over the past wee while we’ve been faced with adversity and that sort of thing,” Barrett said.
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“We’ve got some young talent and there’s no shortage of excitement for the season ahead.”
The Crusaders captain was confident that a number of experienced players would step up this year having been grounded in the Crusaders’ way for a number of years.
The majority of the title-winning squad from 2023 remain at Rugby Park ready to embark on a potential three-peat of Super Rugby Pacific titles.
“There is a real middle tier of players that have been around the last four to five years, it’s their time to stand up and lead,” he said.
“Tom Christie, Dallas McLeod, names that like that, it’s not their first season and they’ve been a big part of our success the last couple of years.
“With Richie [Mo’unga], Jack Goodhue, Leicester [Fainga’anku], Sam Whitelock moving on, there is still a huge part of the group that remains.
“Systems, processes, expectations, they are still there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
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