Crusaders hit ’Tahs for six
Punch the word ‘‘patchy’’ into an internet search engine and a link to the Crusaders’ season-opening win against the Waratahs ought to pop up.
But they all count and coach Scott Robertson will gleefully bank the 43-25 win and the five competition points that came with their round-one fixture at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park.
His point of view after the match was predictable – ‘‘Good start, lots to work on’’.
But that was only natural after his team allowed the Aussies back into the contest, having torched out to a 24-6 lead at halftime and being forced to survive a Waratahs’ resurgence before finally kicking on and dispatching the Rob Penney-coached outfit six tries to three.
‘‘Some massive positives,’’ Robertson continued. ‘‘Some young players performed extremely well. We lost a little bit of continuity through discipline and kick strategy, but the Waratahs took some exceptional tries and it was a hell of a tussle. The key moments that we took got us home.’’
And as for what those positives were: ‘‘When the game got close, got down to six points, our composure and ability to take some chances... being brave and composed,’’ he said.
Robertson’s first win in charge of the red and blacks since missing out on the All Blacks coaching job to Ian Foster kicked off a new era for the back-to-backto-back champions – one without a host of franchise greats.
Stripped of more than 1000 caps, with All Blacks Joe Moody and George Bridge rested, and his playing representatives on limited minutes, there was an added element of intrigue to their first match.
Now unbeaten in their previous 32 home games, there was plenty to like, including young backs Will Jordan, Leicester Faingaanuku and Braydon Ennor all touching down against the wasteful tourists.
The Crusaders also enjoyed the edge at the scrum, and mostly defended with vigour, but their lineout (9/13) was scratchy, particularly when Andrew Makalio was at hooker in the first half.
Under the guidance of Robertson’s mentor for the first year, the Waratahs might have looked at the score throughout the match and wondered how the game got away from them so swiftly.
They enjoyed numerous purple patches but butchered a couple of tries. The TMO also disallowed a try to fullback Kurtley Beale after halfback Jake Gordon’s pass to Will Harrison was ruled forward in the leadup.
The manner in which the Crusaders leaked a couple of tries will also grate them.
Take nothing away from blockbusting local wing Faingaanuku, who scored a 50m belter of a try after soaring high and collecting a Richie Mo’unga kick, but watching three Waratahs, including Michael Hooper, slip of him would have irked Penney.
There was also Ennor’s 26th minute strike, a nicely worked try on the counter, but the opportunity was created by Beale losing the ball in a carry.
But it’s what the Crusaders do. Losing a mountain of experience hasn’t robbed them of their ruthless streak and ability to burn teams on the counter.
There’s also still plenty of composure, evident by the Crusaders keeping their cool after conceding two quick-fire tries to impressive
Waratahs wing Mark Nawaqanitawase.
Crusaders fans need not have worried. First, Ennor took a Bryn Hall pass close to the ruck and flopped over the line, then Jordan finished off a sweeping 80 metre move with his impressive pace.
Lock Luke Romano iced the game by smashing over the line with five minutes to play, only for Alex Newsome to snare a consolation try for the visitors in the final minute.
Having taken over the goalkicking duty after Mo’unga got some early medical attention to his left-knee, David Havili finished with 13 points to hs name and was named man-of-thematch.