Why the Crusaders are more like the great Auckland provincial sides of the '80s
Every champion team needs a slice of X-factor to break open a tight clash in which they are not quite firing in all cylinders.
Take, for example, the Crusaders last weekend, who found themselves pushed to the limit by the fast-finishing Chiefs in Christchurch.
Solid on defence and accurate at set-piece, the Crusaders could not break the Chiefs shackles in the first half. There were just two scrums in the first 31 minutes, so the Crusaders could not use that as their usual platform to launch their raids. The conditions were cold, wet and miserable.
Not tailor-made, one would think, for a flying right wing of Fijian extraction, to shine. And yet it was a piece of Sevu Reece magic that split this game open. From a pinpoint Richie Mo’unga crosskick, Reece leaped like a salmon ahead of Damian McKenzie, caught the ball and then sprinted before setting up Will Jordan with the try assist.
In the second spell, the Reece-Jordan combination struck again when Reece fired a quick throw-in to Jordan, who scooted away for the try. Those sort of plays help cement Reece’s status as the finest Crusaders’ No 14 of the 25 years of Super Rugby. Not bad for a man who was just an injury replacement 18 months ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCDOXnUAsym/
In the final analysis, the Crusaders, while far from their best, played the percentages better. That’s what makes them a great team, the ability to find a way to win when they are not hitting the high notes.
It is clearly reminiscent of the peerless Auckland provincial side of 1984-90 under firstly John Hart and then Maurice Trapp and Bryan Williams. That side had the best players, with many All Blacks greats peaking at around the same time, but it also knew that certain X-factor, often in the form of John Kirwan and Terry Wright, could turn a tight contest.
Failing that, Auckland could fall back on a dominant scrum, the boot of Grant Fox, both tactically and off the sand, as it was back then, or its unparalleled support play, which stemmed from fitness levels that were unprecedented for the 1980s.
It made for compelling viewing at Eden Park during the momentous Ranfurly Shield era. Invariably, a challenger would throw everything at the holder. Auckland would absorb the intensity and then crank up their strengths to blow out the scoreline.
In 1986, North Harbour brought the heat in a midweek Shield challenge. The young upstart from over the bridge might have been the better side for much of the contest, but the wily old veteran Andy Haden just took over, calling himself on every lineout ball and, with Fox’s boot pinning the visitors in their half, shut the game down.
In 1988, it is no exaggeration to say that Frank Bunce’s famous tackle on Noel Pilcher saved Auckland’s blushes, and the Log o’ Wood.
Those were just the games when Auckland was not dominant. On many other occasions, it just blew bonafide challenges off the park with speed and clinical finishing. Witness the first 40 minutes of the Otago challenge in 1990. Watch that for slick passing and support play of the highest order.
From 1983 until 1992 when Graham Purvis’ hand helped Waikato edge Auckland in the first NPC semifinal at Eden Park, Auckland lost only once, in 1987, on its hallowed turf. That was when it had to field a B side in the South Pacific Championship against Canterbury. Eden Park was a fortress.
Orangetheory Stadium, once AMI Stadium, will probably be home to the Crusaders for another three seasons until their new home is built. But, in the meantime, it is just about an impenetrable citadel, the Crusaders having dropped just two of their last 46 at the venue, one of those to the 2017 touring British and Irish Lions and in 2016 to the brilliant Hurricanes.
The Crusaders invariably find a way to win, just like Auckland of the 1980s.
But it will still take some effort from the resurgent Blues to spring the big upset on July 11.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments