Turnovers key for Crusaders
Opposing lineups
If the Crusaders are to unload a power-punch against the Lions, the onus may rest on ruck scavengers such as Kieran Read and Matt Todd to perfect ‘‘the Jackal’’ turnover and give their mates licence to create chaos.
Regardless of what happens in the Super Rugby quarterfinal in Johannesburg tomorrow morning (NZT), the Crusaders cannot afford to harbour regrets when returning to their bunker inside the Ellis Park stadium.
You can’t say the Crusaders are marching into an ambush at the famous stadium near central Jo’burg, because they know exactly what they are in for.
This Lions side is stacked with fresh men who spent last weekend in the gym instead of playing against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, and will be backed by a partisan crowd that demands their side vigorously rip and tear against a team forced to travel 13,000 kilometres from New Zealand, via Sydney, to Jo’burg.
Before they left for South Africa the message from coach Todd Blackadder to his crew was to fix their minds on the positives and don’t dare start moping about the 35-10 loss to the Hurricanes last weekend.
As slight as it is, the Crusaders still have a chance of winning the competition and that starts with sticking it to the Lions.
The good news is their record against this club is extremely good. They have won their last seven encounters, including the 43-37 victory, when midfielder Ryan Crotty pouched three of their six tries, at Ellis Park on April 2.
At this time of the season, no team is going to make dramatic alterations to their game plan.
They might make subtle changes, like sending ball runners towards defenders they suspect might not enjoy repeat sets of heavy traffic colliding with them, but the basic framework remains.
So while Blackadder and captain Read could try to create space around Lions playmaker Elton Jantjies by directing the big artillery down his alley, they won’t go attacking from all points of the park.
Then there is the task of breaking-up the Lions’ defensive screen, something the Crusaders will hope to do by executing heists at the rucks.
The Lions have won an average of 8.7 turnovers per game, 1.2 per game more than the Crusaders.
Yet the Crusaders know that the Lions’ penchant for shifting the ball and involving backs Lionel Mapoe, Courtnall Skosan and Rohan van Rensburg, who have scored 25 tries between them, can be costly.
‘‘They kind of live and die by their attack,’’ Crotty said. ‘‘They score a lot of points, but also turn over a lot of ball and that creates counter-attack opportunities for us. If we can get our defence right and force turnovers, we will give ourselves opportunities.’’
Those turnovers could result from big tackles, by wrestling the ball from the carrier or using the jackal technique when they he goes to ground.
South African Craig Joubert will control this match. The last time he reffed such an important fixture involving the Crusaders was when he incorrectly penalised Richie McCaw in the grand final against the Waratahs, resulting in Bernard Foley kicking the match winner for the Aussies.
Joubert cannot afford to lose the plot again; if he allows loosies Read and Todd to legally forage for turnovers the Crusaders, even without injured wing Nemani Nadolo, have the firepower to strike.
The Lions have the most successful attack in the competition, but they have also conceded the most points.
‘‘I guess that is what’s worked for them so far this season, they have thrown the ball and scored points,’’ Crotty noted.
‘‘It’s a double-edged sword, you can play that attacking game and turn the ball over and open yourself up to counter-attacking opportunities.’’