World Cup winner Aaron Cruden reveals he almost joined Crusaders
Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Aaron Cruden has revealed he was “pretty close” to joining the Crusaders this season after fielding a call from assistant coach James Marshall.
Cruden, 35, is one of the more prolific New Zealand first-fives in Super Rugby history. After debuting for the Hurricanes, the playmaker went on to help the Chiefs win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
But after leaving New Zealand’s shores for a second to pursue an opportunity with Japanese club Kobelco Steelers three years ago, it seemed that the former All Blacks No. 10’s career in the prestigious rugby competition was over.
The Chiefs centurion has done a fair bit of pre-game analysis on Sky Sport NZ this season, but in an incredible twist, Cruden could’ve laced up the boots and taken to the field himself after receiving a career lifeline from a struggling Kiwi franchise.
“I was pretty tempted and pretty close,” Cruden said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“But a lot of the decision I’ve probably made, especially this year around rugby… it’s been more based around the family and just making sure that that really fit for everyone.
“It was tough from a personal point of view, as a competitor I’m pretty keen to still play.
“But I think prioritising my family right now was certainly the way.”
Cruden, who was injured during the Rugby World Cup final in 2011, is currently a free agent after a few years in Japan with Kobe and Tokyo Sungoliath. The former All Black did return home last season though to play for Waikato.
The first-five played four matches in the National Provincial Championship, including two starts, which also included a two-try display in the win over Otago at home in round eight. But the step back up to Super Rugby level, by all accounts, is a tough one.
Richie Mo’unga is no longer there at the Crusaders, and the likes of Leigh Halfpenny and Fergus Burke are unavailable at the moment, which is what opened the door for Cruden to potentially run out in the Crusaders’ famed No. 10 jumper.
But it wasn’t to be.
“I’m not sure if I could have helped down there right now anyway,” Cruden continued.
“Maybe a little bit of experience, but those young guys getting that exposure, I think they’ll certainly be better for it in that Crusaders 10 jersey.
“It just doesn’t quite fit timing wise,” he mentioned. “But I did obviously say to them I really appreciated the offer and the interest in a 35-year-old veteran that’s still got a bit of game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
ABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
225 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
225 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to commentsjesus - that front 5!
1 Go to commentsShould be an absolute cracker of a game! Will be great to see DuPont & Ntamack in tandem once again🔥
1 Go to commentsBest team ever…. To have played? These guys are still pressure chokers. Came nowhere when it counted. What a joke
84 Go to comments