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
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments