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'There was some upset guys afterwards': Crusaders won't dwell on 'seven genuine try opportunities' missed

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

For the first time since Scott Robertson took over as head coach in 2017, the Crusaders won’t be contesting a Super Rugby final.

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Having topped the log in Super Rugby Aotearoa and disposed of the Chiefs in that competition’s grand final, the Crusaders won’t feature in the Trans-Tasman equivalent after failing to nab the requisite winning margin against the Rebels on Saturday evening.

Despite winning all five of their matches against Australian opposition, their points differential sits seven points of the second-placed Highlanders, leaving them third on the overall table.

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It’s a cruel way for their season to end, having won their last seven matches.

“We had a really clear vision of leaving our mark on two trophies this year, and six in five years,” Robertson said following the Crusaders’ 52-26 win over the Rebels. “But we got five in five years and it’s been a hell of a run.”

The Crusader entered the game knowing they needed to score a bonus point against the lowly Rebels whilst also besting their Australian opposition by 33 points in order to book a place in the final.

The 26-point win still pushed the Crusaders into second place on the Trans-Tasman rankings after the match but the Blues’ win over the Western Force ultimately ended the Cantabrians’ season.

What will sting especially for Robertson is that his charges had ample opportunities over the past two weeks to secure the points needed to top the log.

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The Western Force scored a try with the last play of the game in Christchurch last weekend which robbed the home side of their winning bonus point, while there were also a handful of opportunities that went begging against the Rebels.

“We just didn’t take the opportunities that we created ourselves,” said Robertson. “Plenty of opportunities, seven genuine try opportunities that we didn’t take in the game to get the job done.

“We’re really proud but also probably disappointed, over the last five weeks there was some big moments. Probably the biggest one was the last play against the Force, we probably would have had a home final in reflection, if you look at the board if we could have been better there.

“There was some upset guys afterwards, but you’ve just got to pat them on the back, you don’t want to dwell too much.”

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Regardless of how the 2021 season has finished, it’s been an exceptional run for the Crusaders since Robertson took over.

In 2017, the Crusaders travelled to Johannesburg and best the Lions in their backyard before doing the same in Christchurch a year later. It was a similar story in 2019 with the Crusaders scoring a 19-3 win over the Jaguares.

Last year, the Crusaders topped the log in Super Rugby Aotearoa, handing them their fourth title in as many years.

The nature of the Trans-Tasman competition, where points weren’t carried over from the local Aotearoa and AU competitions, meant that it was always going to be a roll of a dice to determine who out of the relatively evenly-matched New Zealand sides would compete in the final.

Ironically, neither of the Aotearoa finalists will take the field in the final this weekend – underlying how peculiar the Trans-Tasman competition really is.

It’s expected that a more standard format will be adopted next year – and regardless of who wins this year’s final, the Crusaders will almost certainly enter the 2022 competition as clear favourites.

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Trevor 28 minutes 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 4 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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