Sydney venue not kind for Crusaders

Matt Todd, Luke Romano and Owen Franks are the survivors from the Crusaders’ most recent success in Sydney in 2012.

Of the players who wore starters jerseys against the Force in Christchurch last weekend, only those three men remain from the run-on side that contributed to the gazumping of the Waratahs in their home territory five years ago.

For the record, the Crusaders triumphed 37-33 that day as midfielder Robbie Fruean impressed by bagging a couple of tries.

Loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett, who will equal Keven Mealamu’s record of 175 Super Rugby appearances if involved in the match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday, hooker Ben Funnell, lock Sam Whitelock and midfielder Ryan Crotty were also used as replacements when they last secured a victory in the New South Wales metropolis.

Among those who have retired, or have moved on, are Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Adam Whitelock, Zac Guildford, Tom Taylor, Andy Ellis, George Whitelock, Tom Donnelly, Ben Franks and Corey Flynn.

There was little for the Crusaders’ to celebrate after their subsequent visits to Sydney, in 2014 and 2015. Both resulted in bitter defeats.

Losing to the Waratahs in the grand final in 2014 still rankles with some who travelled across the creek.

They still remember, no doubt with clarity, Bernard Foley kicking a late penalty to clinch the 33-32 victory in the wake of referee Craig Joubert wrongly accusing McCaw of losing the plot at a breakdown near halfway.

A year later a couple of Waratahs forwards lumbered around the park like irresponsible louts, but got the desired result as they clocked the Crusaders 32-22: it effectively ended any chance of them making the playoffs – the first time they had missed the cut since 2001.

Lock Will Skelton was the chief stirrer, using his herculean frame to blindside McCaw with a shoulder charge and also participating in a tip-tackle on Sam Whitelock.

So you could say the Crusaders shouldn’t lack motivation for this fixture. Victory against the Waratahs, who appear set to replace the concussed Foley with rookie Mack Mason, would also ensure they enter the bye with competition points banked from six consecutive wins.

While they acquired a reasonably kind draw to start their year, they have not had tough derby matches against the Chiefs or Hurricanes or had to travel to South Africa, it would be unfair to sniff at what the Crusaders have achieved since the opening win over the Brumbies on February 25.

Indeed, they were fortunate to evade defeat against the Highlanders, Reds and Blues but given they have been operating under a new coaching regime, a fresh captain and have lost key players such as Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu and Richie Mo’unga with injury (with Kieran Read yet to play), they cannot be accused of not completing their shifts. Yet, they haven’t got close to being producing a complete performance.

That effort against the Brumbies was scratchy, they exploited a lack of defenders when Malakai Fekitoa was controversially yellow carded against the Highlanders, relied on Mitchell Hunt to nail a late penalty against the Reds and used the driving maul to destroy the Blues.

They were wins. But not at all convincing.

The 45-17 bonus-point victory over the Force last weekend looks emphatic on paper, but frustration with the scrum re-sets, a high penalty count and inaccurate moments with the ball resulted in long periods of inactivity.

There’s still room for improvement. And as recent history proves, Sydney isn’t the place to push your luck.