Time to launch new crusade
Scott Robertson’s next challenge as Crusaders coach shouldn’t be underestimated.
There is little time to soak up the feverish high of defending their Super Rugby Aotearoa crown, not when there’s a transTasman competition kicking off this week.
Just how he and his assistants refocus their troops ahead of Saturday night’s competition opener against the Brumbies in Christchurch will be telling.
After all, it’s an unfamiliar challenge. Typically, the Crusaders, unshackled from training commitments, celebrate winning titles well into the following week.
‘‘We’ll have a couple of shandies,’’ Robertson said after their 24-13 triumph over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Aotearoa decider on Saturday night.
The team could be heard celebrating well into the night at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch after sealing a recordextending 12th title, before heading to a private function.
Robertson and co certainly weren’t rushing to plonk themselves in front of a television set to watch the Brumbies and Reds clash in the Super Rugby Australia final in Brisbane.
Rather, there was singing, dancing, chanting, you name it, as the euphoric red and blacks toasted their fifth title in as many seasons.
‘‘A real final. For our beautiful little stadium, which had its overdue date five years ago, it’s brought some great moments out, hasn’t it?,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘We’ll connect [yesterday], and we’ll have a good flush on Monday.’’
Then it’s business as usual at Rugby Park, where they will prepare for the wounded Brumbies, who were pipped by a last-ditch James O’Connor try.
Whether the Crusaders have flankers Ethan Blackadder and Sione Havili Talitui available won’t be clear until tomorrow.
Blackadder played on despite dislocating a finger in the decider, but will no doubt be feeling the pinch after his digit was badly mangled.
Havili Talitui is in HIA protocol after he took a knock to the head warming up for the match, forcing Robertson to replace him with Tom Sanders.
The good news is Braydon Ennor got through 17 minutes in his first professional game since rupturing his ACL in his rightknee last September.
Whether he starts in the No 13 jersey on Saturday remains to be seen, but replacing the in-form Leicester Fainga’anuku would be brave.
‘‘Honestly, I actually don’t know how he does it. The determination in his leg drive,’’ Crusaders pivot Richie Mo’unga said after Fainga’anuku made life miserable for the Chiefs with his rampaging charges. ‘‘When you get to know Leicester, you know why he plays like he does. He’s pretty gangsta [cool], what you see is what you get. That’s how he carries, that’s how he plays.’’
Robertson, having uncorked his latest breakdancing routine, and posed for a plethora of photographs extending five digits – one for each of the five straight crowns they’ve won – was asked how the latest title compared to the rest.
He called them all ‘‘special’’. However, as Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock told Stuff last year, it’s difficult to go past the droughtsnapping win against the Lions in Johannesburg in 2017.
‘‘That was a cauldron, and we hadn’t won it for 8-9 years, so to win that to start it, you’ll never take that away from us, that sort of got us on a roll.
‘‘But every one is special, to beat Kiwi teams, and we call them origin matches, State of Origin, they’re that intense, they’re more than just a club game. It’s pretty special. That trophy is ours now.’’