When the dust settles, who will the Crusaders have left?
While headline departures have steered the narrative around the Crusaders’ falloff thus far, it appears there are chapters yet to be written in this tale.
Some elite succession planning consistently fed Scott Robertson’s dynastic run over the past seven years, but that luxury looks to be making way for a more traditional rebuild of rostered talent, something heightened by recent reports.
Of course, the promotion of Scott Robertson to All Blacks head coach along with some of his most successful Crusaders assistants has left the club with some almighty shoes to fill off the pitch, while on the green stuff, the absences of Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga and Leicester Faina’anuku continue to prove difficult to overcome.
Over the past couple of weeks, the names of two more All Blacks and the future of the Crusaders’ No. 10 jersey have also appeared in reports suggesting their days in a red and black jersey are numbered.
RugbyPass revealed dynamic winger and perhaps the team’s best player so far this season, Sevu Reece, has been in talks with Montpellier in France and could be Europe-bound by the end of the year.
RugbyPass also reported that flyhalf Fergus Burke is in advanced talks with Saracens and may well join the Gallagher Premiership powerhouse before 2025 comes to pass.
85-Test hooker Codie Taylor’s contract ends in 2025 and he was spotted in Japan recently, reportedly having talks with Toshiba Brave Lupus where he could join Mo’unga in Rugby League One.
With such big names likely on their way out the door, the Crusaders’ future becomes a little clearer; younger, and clearer.
But is that all? Would those departures draw the curtain closed on this fabled exodus, leaving a sizeable core of champions to raise the incoming Crusaders talent?
Well, one thing those three potential departures do tell us – as well as Mo’una and Fainga’anuku’s – is that the Crusaders jersey may not carry the same weight in appeal as it did with their generational coach at the helm.
Sam Whitelock was among a number of Crusaders who openly claimed playing for the Crusaders meant more to him than playing for the All Blacks – a statement that shouldn’t be seen as undermining the black jersey, but as an endorsement of the culture and connection Robertson fostered at the club.
There are several players who may feel it’s time for a change given the revised Super Rugby landscape and what may end up being a new direction at the international level too.
Joe Moody, 35, will see his contract end this year and given his blunt, disappointed response to missing Rugby World Cup selection last year, may be ready to make some money offshore.
Mitch Drummond, 30, could also find himself a tastier contract in Japan once his contract is concluded later this year.
David Havili, 29, is signed until 2025, but is facing increased pressure in the midfield from Dallas McLeod, having already lost his spot in the All Blacks to Jordie Barrett; not the most ideal situation for him to want to re-sign.
George Bower, 31, will also be off contract at the end of 2025. Halfback Willi Heinz is 37.
It’s the circle of sporting life having these players leave, and at this point, it may be considered necessary.
There must be a concern that the team have been caught in denial over the significance of their recent departures, and find themselves in an awkward hangover with the internal expectations to continue the success of recent years while adopting new personnel and IP.
However, we’ve seen this movie before, and two is the magic number.
In 2015, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter were wrapping up two of the greatest Super Rugby careers in the competition’s history.
McCaw, a four-time Super Rugby champion, was inevitably seen as irreplaceable and his status as a rugby icon and All Blacks captain was a generational loss for the team.
Similarly, the loss of Carter, a man synonymous with excelling under pressure, was projected to put the team in a hugely vulnerable position in those late-game situations moving forward.
Those concerns would quickly be rendered unwarranted as the Crusaders won the 2017 title, two years later.
Just two years were needed to kickstart a new dynasty, inspired by a new coach and new talent.
Two years from now, the Crusaders may well have moved on from the aforementioned players, be in a brand-new stadium, Rob Penney’s contract will have expired – if he makes it that far – making way for Robertson’s prodigy in Tamati Ellison, and a new batch of talent – who recently claimed the U20 Super Rugby crown – will be filtering in.
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but don’t tell the Crusaders.
Comments on RugbyPass
Mark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
9 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
3 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI 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)
45 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.
5 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.
45 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.
45 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.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
9 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments