Crusaders start training for Super campaign

RICHARD KNOWLER

Lugging around 150 year old stones at a Christchurch synagogue was a unique way of marking the start of the Crusaders’ preseason training.

The chore of sorting the remains of a wall pummelled by the 2011 earthquakes was one of several tasks on the job sheet when the Super Rugby champions, minus the 17 men involved in the All Blacks’ recent tour of the northern hemisphere, returned to work yesterday.

It was all smiles as the men went about their manual labour while a BBQ sizzled behind them, but they surely knew the fun wouldn’t last; because when strength and conditioning trainer Simon Thomas gets his hands on them today the grins will evaporate.

Thomas, with the permission of head coach Scott Robertson, will deliver fitness programmes that are expected to push the players into the eye of the hurricane. And it could get untidy.

It all starts with the ‘‘Bronco’’, an exercise that requires athletes to run a series of shuttle runs, and is designed to test their base levels of fitness. On some websites it’s described as brutal and cruel.

For Robertson it provides a chance to observe how the young men will react when in extreme discomfort.

‘‘When you push yourself to the limits you find out how people respond,’’ Robertson noted. ‘‘It is a team sport and a lot of guys can help them through it. They just keep pushing the ceiling higher and higher, the harder they push themselves.

‘‘They will learn how their body reacts to the stress. And mentally. It is our job as coaches to make them succeed and give them every chance to perform well next year.’’

The squad will be released for the Christmas break on December 21, and return January 8.

The All Blacks will be gradually filtered back into the pre-competition schedule prior to the round-one game against the Chiefs on February 24.

It is yet to be determined whether captain Sam Whitelock and No 8 Kieran Read will be available for that match.

Richie Mo’unga, currently nursing a broken hand bone, and Mitchell Drummond made their All Blacks debuts in the midweek match against the French Barbarians in Lyon on November 14 and will join the Crusaders in the New Year.

Props Owen Franks and Joe Moody, unavailable for the European tour because they were recovering from surgery, are likely to return in late March or early April. Outside back Israel Dagg also missed the

"We want to find out a lot about them and they want to find out about themselves."

Scott Robertson, above

tour to rest a problematic knee. Jordan Taufua broke his arm while representing Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup final and should be available for the Chiefs fixture.

In December rugby-centric trainings will be held Tuesday and Thursday, with strength and skills work on Wednesday and Friday. The squad will also do jiu jitsu and yoga once a week, as well embarking on runs up the Port Hills.

‘‘The players are competitive by nature,’’ Robertson noted. ‘‘We want to find out a lot about them and they want to find out about themselves. Obviously you get to that limit and the body and mind will do some crazy stuff.’’

Not everything will be focused on getting the body primed for the defence of the title. Players will also be reminded of what standards must be adhered to when not on active duty.

‘‘These guys are professional athletes and the respect and responsibility they have got for themselves personally, and how they are perceived in the community is critical,’’ Robertson said.

‘‘The average life of a Super Rugby player is about four years. Opportunities come and go and you want to be part of a group that improves that stat, and be a long-term professional rugby player.’’