Crusaders look formidable again
The Crusaders will go into the 2019 Super Rugby season in the familiar position of favourites after unveiling the most complete squad in New Zealand.
The Kiwi franchises all revealed some familiar faces yesterday as well as a swag of new talent but it is Scott Robertson’s squad that looks the most impressive.
Even in a World Cup year, when they will have to manage their key All Blacks smartly, the Crusaders have an imposing look about them.
Indeed, they have two halfbacks and two No 10s currently with the All Blacks in Japan – Bryn Hall, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo’unga and Brett Cameron.
While the other Kiwi franchises have enough to topple the Crusaders on their day – and that includes the Blues, if they get their preparation right – over the course of the season no one is better equipped to deal with the unforeseen than the champions of the past two seasons.
As always, there is a nod to the future in the Crusaders squad. Outside backs Ngane Punivai and Leicester Faingaanuku will no doubt be used sparingly as they learn the ropes.
But it is the sheer number of top-end All Blacks and an outstanding ‘middle tier’ of players that sets them apart.
Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett are four-fifth of the current All Blacks tight five and players such as Ethan Blackadder, Tom Sanders and Quinten Strange are the sort of unheralded athletes that help you win titles.
Of the rest, the Hurricanes look ready to mount a challenge with their powerful backline while the return of fullback James Marshall is a smart piece of business.
Marshall was a key contributor to their 2016 success and his clever play from fullback may get the best out of Beauden Barrett, in the same way the All Blacks are using Damian McKenzie to take the pressure of the All Blacks No 10.
The Chiefs, too, are stacked with explosive ball-runners and look to have a quality propping department, although a midfielder will have to step up to fill the hole left by Charlie Ngatai.
The Highlanders have a gap to fill as well after the departure of Lima Sopoaga but their chief concern will be eliminating some of the inconsistency that held them back in 2018.
When the men from Dunedin fire, especially at home, they are a handful for anyone. They have a number of younger players with a year of Super Rugby under their belt who are ready to kick on.
The Blues welcome back Ma’a Nonu but their most significant recruitment has come among the coaches.
The highly rated Leon MacDonald and Tom Coventry will be expected to bring some high standards and a harder edge to the Blues, and they certainly have some potential to work with.
As ever, though, their fortunes will be linked to whether they can find that elusive No 10 who can drive them around the park.
Auckland’s Harry Plummer looks like a cool customer, although it is too early to put the burden on him.
Instead, Otere Black and Stephen Perofeta look set to compete for the No 10 jersey and it is Perofeta who may yet come through.
Some of his contributions in 2018 did not match his talent and he still looks like a player with the right set of skills for Super Rugby.
The Crusaders, however, have set the bar high in the past two campaigns and must be considered contenders for the three-peat.
It is a case of ‘catch us if you can’ from the red-and-black machine in Christchurch.