Validation of Super Rugby's next great dynasty awaits Crusaders
What distinguishes good teams from great ones is multiple championships, especially in consecutive seasons.
How this Crusaders team will be remembered in history will be determined on Saturday night. Two titles in two years will validate the dominance the team has had over the competition and set the franchise on a path to become an unstoppable dynasty once again.
A shock loss to the Lions will be a blemish that is hard to wipe off.
Just look at the Hurricanes who recently had the opportunity to build one of their own when they hosted back-to-back finals not so long ago. They lost the first one before claiming redemption in the second. They held a 14-2 regular season record in 2015, the same record as this year’s Crusaders outfit, before losing the final to the Highlanders.
With the sun now setting on that era, they have one title to show for a three-to-four-year period where they legitimately laid claim to the best team in Super Rugby.
It is so difficult to build sustained success, which is why this Crusaders team stands on the verge of a special achievement.
This won’t be lost in an organisation where history plays an integral part in their drive and purpose. A winning culture has forged this champion side, built on the legacy of past achievements. Organisational excellence in all areas has played a huge part in building this current team.
Firstly, they have been able to do what other franchises haven’t – retain aging players that other franchises seem to lose overseas. Consider the frequently overlooked Matt Todd with over 120 Super caps but only 14 test caps. At 30-years-old many would expect he would’ve left by now but he continues to dedicate his playing days to the red and black.
Codie Taylor and Jordan Taufua are other unheralded examples, as is Ryan Crotty who spent a number of years out of national contention before becoming such an integral player to the All Blacks midfield. Israel Dagg has remained a constant despite many ups-and-downs through injury and selection through his career. That experience becomes invaluable to drive standards and shape culture within a team.
Retaining that experience has produced envious levels of depth within the squad as young players like Scott Barrett emerge. With Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano to learn from, Barrett stands to accelerate his growth as a player – which is exactly what has happened. The team has a pack of All Blacks, but they were all developed in Christchurch. The depth this squad has played a key part in overcoming a serious injury toll this season that would derail many other teams.
The youth they have brought into their system has flourished with investment – Jack Goodhue of Mount Albert Grammar was not rated highly enough to keep by the Blues. There were two other star Auckland centres that took New Zealand schoolboy selection that year in 2013 – Johnny Fa’auli and TJ Faiane of St Kentigerns.
Goodhue moved south to play and study at Lincoln University in a backline with another inter-region recruit – Jordie Barrett, who also didn’t make schoolboys selection. Just think about that for a second – the Crusaders had him in their system as well.
They lost Barrett to the Hurricanes but things obviously panned out well with Goodhue, who earned New Zealand under-20 selection before continuing to rise all the way into the All Blacks. Fa’auli is heading overseas next year and Fa’aine has never been able to establish himself at the Blues through injuries.
While other regions sleep on prospects the Crusaders look for diamonds in the rough, ones that possess other intangible qualities, polish them and turn them into All Blacks – and seem to keep most of them around.
The recipe has also worked for established players also have found ‘career rejuvenation’ there. Auckland born-and-bred Bryn Hall has been arguably the best halfback this year in the New Zealand conference. His play has been efficient, smart and clinical. This is a player who spent five years in the Blues squad, notching 32 Super caps over that time. Michael Alaalatoa and Pete Samu are discards from Sydney that the Crusaders have shaped into key players, that the Wallabies now want back. Samu is going but Alaalatoa has re-signed to 2020.
The masterful recruitment and retention of young and old has built the perfect Super Rugby team – an experienced, formidable forward pack full of internationals and a backline with the right mix of youth, talent and athleticism. The coaching staff at all levels has made each player better as they develop in their system – which isn’t unnoticed by other franchises.
There are a disproportionate number of Crusaders academy players across all New Zealand Super Rugby teams – roughly one in four. Other teams profit from their investment. This must have been hard to swallow as nearly all the other franchises captured titles this decade, while the Crusaders were falling just short. The patience is now paying off in a big way with the franchise poised to rule for a long time.
A second title in two years won’t just be confirmation of a dynasty, it will be a validation of everything the organisation does.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments