Crusaders won trophy they wanted most
Make no mistake, the Crusaders wanted to win the trans-Tasman competition and make it six titles in five years.
But there should be no doubt they’d take the Super Rugby Aotearoa crown over the latter, a watered down competition jammed into a farcical six-week window, had they been given the choice to only win one at the start of the season.
Triumphing in the brutal allNew Zealand competition was up there with winning the 2017 Super Rugby title, when they beat the Lions in Johannesburg.
Their second straight Super Rugby Aotearoa crown followed the three consecutive Super Rugby titles they won, and was their primary objective this year.
Nevertheless, the red and blacks were irked – mostly with themselves – for failing to reach the trans-Tasman final, winning all five games but missing out on points differential.
Despite the competition being meaningless and flawed in the eyes of some, they set their sights on winning two competitions this year, and failing to do so ensured their lofty goal wasn’t met.
Best performance
29-6 win against the Blues in Christchurch in round nine.
Talk about booking a home final, and killing off the Blues’ title hopes, in comprehensive fashion.
The Crusaders outscored the Leon MacDonald-coached side four tries to none in a bonus point romp in front of a sold out crowd at Orangetheory Stadium.
It was their 14th straight win against the Blues, who have won just 11 of 39 games between the teams, the last of them way back in 2014.
Worst performance 33-12 loss to Highlanders in Christchurch in round six.
Not just the Crusaders’ worst performance in 2021, but their biggest stinker since coach Scott Robertson took over in 2017.
The 21-point defeat is comfortably the largest of the nine losses he’s overseen, with the 40-27 defeat to the Chiefs in Fiji in 2019 next in line.
To think the Highlanders were coming off a pig of a week, one in which they stood down six players – including Josh Ioane – for breaching team protocol.
It didn’t matter, not against the flat hosts, who failed to treasure possession and never led in a match the Highlanders blew out with late tries.
Player of the season First five-eighth Richie Mo’unga
Perhaps only lock Sam Whitelock is as valuable to the Crusaders as the 27-year-old pivot.
His ability to break games open with his scorching running game is second to none among New Zealand No10s, and whenever the Crusaders needed a spark he was there to provide it.
Think the Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Chiefs. On the ropes and clinging to a 15-13 lead with two players in the bin, Mo’unga took over the match on the back of a dazzling run, before kicking a drop goal and two penalties.
Mo’unga slotted 62 from 75 (83 per cent) attempts off the tee, and scored six tries to be named Crusaders player of the year for a second year running.
With 929 points in 82 games to his name, it leaves him poised to surpass Crusaders great Andrew Mehrtens (990 in 88 games) into second place behind Dan Carter (1708 in 141 games) for most in franchise history.
Find of the season Prop Tamaiti Williams
At a shade under 140kg, but deceptively fast and skilled, the Crusaders have got themselves a real point of difference in Williams.
The 20-year-old can also play both sides of the scrum, although he was solely utilised at loosehead prop during his seven appearances (one start) during his rookie year.
Expect big things from him under forwards coach Jason Ryan in the coming years.
Outlook for 2022
As long as Scott Robertson’s new deal doesn’t fall through, the Crusaders will without a doubt head into 2022 as favourites to win a sixth title in as many years.
Their 2022 roster will have a familiar look to it, with tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa (Leinster) the lone frontline player departing in the off season.
Wing Manasa Mataele (Force), flankers Tom Sanders (Japan) and Whetukamokamo Douglas (TBC), and unused first five-eighth Brett Cameron (TBC) are also understood to be leaving.
However, they will be boosted by the addition of one of the best loose forwards in the world – Argentina’s Pablo Matera.
His addition makes for a formidable loose forwards group in 2021, welcome news for Crusaders fans after they were at times found wanting at the breakdown in the aftermath of Tom Christie’s seasonending injury in round four.