Off to Africa for Crusaders
At a glance
Over-enthusiastic Crusaders supporters might say only a few torrid nights on the South African brandy, or repeat outings at the celebrated Mystic Boer bar, could result in their boys getting chinned in Bloemfontein next weekend.
Because this unbeaten Crusaders team is running red hot, with the 57-24 win over the Stormers at AMI Stadium on Saturday night stretching their winning streak to eight to ensure they remain one of Super Rugby’s hottest tickets.
Happy days, indeed. But history shows the Crusaders can get scalded if they don’t remain vigilant when they tour the Republic, because only twice did they complete a clean sweep during previous coach Todd Blackadder’s eight-year tenure.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has named a near fullstrength squad for the two games against the Cheetahs and Bulls, to be played in Bloemfontein and Pretoria respectively, with No 8 Kieran Read, who was replaced at halftime in the Stormers match, expected to fully recover from a minor hip complaint.
Of those who have been left out of the tour party of 27 only injured outside backs Israel Dagg and Digby Ioane, and reserve hooker Ben Funnell, would have expected to have been in the tour party. Andrew Makalio has been named as the back-up to first-string rake Codie Taylor.
A major plus from playing the Stormers is it gives the Crusaders an early taste of the rugged, physical style expected from the next lot of South Africans.
‘‘They tried to hold us up in the contact area and we worked hard to get to ground,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘We turned a couple (of possessions) over in the contact area. They are big men aren’t they? The tempo of the game was something that got us those opportunities (to score eight tries).’’
Before dawn on Sunday morning the Crusaders arrived at Christchurch Airport, ready to depart for Sydney where they prepared for a 14-hour flight to Johannesburg.
It should be a cheerful tour party that eventually settles in Bloemfontein, and the Crusaders pride themselves in making the most of these tours to South Africa.
Whether the Cheetahs, rumoured to be one of the two South African teams facing the chop from the competition, know their fate before the game on Sunday morning is uncertain. What we do know is that the prolonged saga about which three clubs will be expelled has been unsatisfactory. That’s not the Crusaders’ problem.
Given his side are scheduled to meet the Hurricanes immediately after they return to Christchurch, Robertson may be mindful about the need to manage key players’ minutes in Bloemfontein. Of the two games, the match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, shapes as the more difficult.
Rattling the Stormers with the rushing defensive line worked, as did the ability to exploit space on the outside channels on both sides of the park.
Once again the lineout drive swept upfield like a tank through porridge, with replacement loosehead prop Mike Alaalatoa profiting from the Stormers inability to splinter the maul.
It was audacious passing in contact, though, that caused much of the chaos during the rout and on the hard track in Bloemfontein their running game should prosper.
‘‘We try not to inhibit the guys, and if it is on, to back themselves,’’ Robertson said in reference to the spectacular offloads. ‘‘Probably in the second half we threw a couple that weren’t quite earned and we pushed it, but in general they have licence (throw passes in contact).’’