Classy Crusaders given clues
As the Crusaders travelled home from South Africa after their two bonus-point victories which kept them at the top of the Super Rugby table, they wouldn’t have needed much more inspiration as they thought ahead to their clash against the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium.
Scott Robertson’s men are in stunning form and going to new heights seemingly by the week.
But if they did need an extra confidence boost ahead of this anticipated clash tomorrow against one of the best attacking teams in the competition, a glimpse at the Chiefs performance in grinding down the Hurricanes in Hamilton in round three might have provided it.
On that wet March night at Waikato Stadium, the Chiefs put the Hurricanes in a stranglehold the visiting backs struggled to break. Dave Rennie’s men also dominated the Hurricanes pack, and it’s here the Crusaders will have an advantage.
The remarkable thing about Robertson’s rejuvenation of the Crusaders is that they seem to have so many more weapons at their disposal now.
They have an All Black-laden pack, minus the suspended Sam Whitelock, which is rumbling on as usual, but they also have a far sharper attacking edge, one that can go through teams rather than around them.
They also look extremely fit — their sharpness on the Highveld against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in their 10-try victory was extraordinary, with first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga and midfielder Jack Goodhue particularly impressive.
The weather in Christchurch tomorrow is likely to be very cold but dry, so the Hurricanes backs, ignited by the irrepressible Beauden Barrett and with midfield muscle in Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso, will get their opportunities, but the Crusaders’ line speed on defence will aim to make life difficult for that trio.
An example of that could be seen in the opening 10 minutes of the Crusaders victory over the Stormers in Christchurch in round nine when the home side hardly touched the ball but the Stormers, smashed time and again by a hard-charging wall of red and black, were spooked.