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Who Scott Robertson believes is 'desperate' to dethrone Crusaders
Super Rugby champions the Crusaders have reigned supreme for quite some time now, having won six titles as many years. Their dominance is simply unprecedented.
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Sports fans around the world have witnessed some incredible dynasties over the years, including Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and Tom Brady’s New England Patriots.
But a rugby team, who calls a small island nation at the bottom of the world home, is in the midst of one of the greatest eras of dominance in the history of the 15-player game.
Including their maiden title in 1998, the Crusaders have won 11 championships – as well as another two in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
That’s 13 trophies in 25 seasons. To say that’s dominant is an understatement.
While Crusaders fans have come to expect success from their team, there are 11 franchises eager to dethrone the champions this season – including last year’s runners up.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson believes the Blues will be “desperate and hungry” to win it all this season after losing last year’s final in Auckland.
“They’ll be desperate and hungry. They had a hell of a season, 15 in a row, won some tight games,” Robertson said on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine.
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“The Blues are always a great rival, the Chiefs are pretty special. The semi-final was just as tougher or tougher in some ways than the final.
“Every one of those challenges is different. All New Zealand teams on their day are tough to beat.
“The Aussies have built their squads a big better, I think they’re better than they were two or three years ago, the Waratahs especially.
“We know the Brumbies and the Reds have got a great foundation to their team, a lot of Australian players, but for me the Waratahs are a big mover.”
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As the adage goes, all good things must come to an end. Eventually, the Crusaders will reign no more.
But rugby fans have been saying that for years, yet, time after time, the champions prove everyone wrong.
Six-time champion coach Scott Robertson said that while the team have “always got a target” on their backs, the Crusaders need to focus on what they can control.
“You get into it straightaway and it’s a race to the top of the table,” he added.
“Bit different to the northern hemisphere where they have a bit more of a slower, grind of a season where for us you’ve got to be right on from round one.
“We’ve always got a target… when they beat you they think it’s their final, people are crying and they’re elated.
“When you’ve been successful that’s all part of who you are but how do you evolve and how do you get better?
“We get used to it. At the start, the first couple of years, (we were) probably looking at others, now we look at ourselves a little bit more.
“How we enjoy and frame it so we see it as ‘every game is big for us and our opposition’, but how do we be our best every week? How do we be consistent? How do we create an environment where guys feel like they’re getting better? How do we make more All Blacks?
“I pride myself on making sure that every week is special.”
Super Rugby Pacific gets underway on Friday with a blockbuster New Zealand derby between the Crusaders and the Chiefs in Christchurch.
Later that day, Super Rugby kicks-off across the ditch with a clash between fierce rivals the Waratahs and Brumbies in Sydney.
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
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