Crusaders labour the point
No prizes for guessing what the Crusaders are desperate to rectify when they host the Highlanders tonight. Execution.
Again and again the word was mentioned by coaches and players this week as they prepared for a third consecutive New Zealand derby.
They don’t need armchair critics and keyboard warriors to inform them they have left points aplenty on the carpet the past fortnight through inaccuracy and clumsy decision making.
‘‘It’s been a little bit frustrating, to be honest. We feel like we’ve left a lot of points out on the park,’’ wing George Bridge said.
It cost the reigning champions dearly against the Chiefs in round two, when they created enough opportunities to put 30 on the hosts in Hamilton in the first half, only to muster 12 points and eventually lose 25-15.
The Blues weren’t good enough to bury the Crusaders last week, when the visitors comfortably won at Eden Park but should have done so with a bonus point.
‘‘It’s just our simple finishing execution, a few drop balls and stuff. Maybe it’s because it’s early in the season or something, or the combinations, but we finished some good tries [against the Blues] and we’re looking to build from that,’’ Bridge said.
‘‘Execution has been a big thing for us the last couple of weeks,’’ halfback Bryn Hall added. ‘‘So we’re just trying to fine-tune that and being able to execute and score more points with the opportunities we’re creating.’’
You get the feeling it’s only a matter of time before they get it right and wipe the turf with their opposition, and what better time than a South Island derby to click?
The Crusaders will finally play their first match at Orangetheory Stadium since last year’s final tonight, when they put their 32-match unbeaten run on home soil on the line.
Only one of those matches – against the Waratahs in Nelson this month – was played outside the Garden City. All were won, except last season’s 21-21 draw with the Sharks.
Unsurprisingly, the bookies are giving the 1-1 Highlanders little chance of tipping over the hosts, even after Crusaders captain Scott Barrett was ruled out of the match with a knee injury.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson doesn’t buy it, particularly after watching the southerners bury the Brumbies in Canberra after the buzzer last week.
‘‘The battles over the years, party at Tony Brown’s, then a few years later they beat us three times in a row down there and they had our number. We’ve had some great battles.
‘‘Then they come up a few years ago and Mitch Hunt saved us on the knocker. We’re expecting all that again.’’
Former Crusaders midfielder and assistant coach Aaron Mauger, now in his third season in charge of the Highlanders, sure has one heck of an opportunity to play party-pooper.
If his troops can pull off the upset of the season, you can only imagine the scene when he and assistant coach Mark Hammett front at the Crusaders’ anniversary after the match.
‘‘Of course, they will be there,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘They’re invited and they’re more than welcome. The same with [Blues coach] Leon [Macdonald] as well, and [Reds coach] Brad Thorn can come as well if he wants.’’
Forward Ethan Roots will become the 241st player to play for the Crusaders if he gets off the bench tonight. All 240 before him are invited to the celebration.
Former players will reconnect pre-game and attend the match, before the Crusaders present them with the Tohu – the team’s new logo – and share the adaption of their brand at the function.
‘‘[Former wing] Caleb Ralph is there. He was always entertaining. Usually last man standing. There’s a few, I won’t get into too many names, but there was a few boys who used to enjoy the Holy Grail in the day,’’ Robertson said.