No grizzles from coach this week
Recently re-signed coach Todd Blackadder has some compelling reasons to be without complaint this week.
Having watched his side dismember the Blues with a record 59-12 victory in Saturday night’s Super match at AMI Stadium, Crusaders boss Blackadder can sweep the previous weekend’s nightmare defeat to the Rebels from his mind.
If that loss cast a pall over Blackadder’s disposition, then it should be all sunshine and happiness over the bye week before his men confront the Highlanders in Christchurch on June 1.
It is not just agreeing terms with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which has extended his Crusaders contract until the end of 2013, which will have him feeling so chipper.
The ruthless pounding of the Blues confirms what Blackadder has suspected all along. For the past three months he has preached this team are capable of playing triple-a rugby and on Saturday they proved those words were not hollow.
Last month’s wins over the Stormers and Hurricanes were memorable for differing reasons (mainly because they executed the contrasting game plans so well) but it was the way everything clicked that proved so compelling in their win over the hapless Blues.
Five tries before halftime and another four after the break; dynamite passes that stuck; Dan Carter in magnificent form at first five-eighth and kicking goals; a scrum that intimidated and then embarrassed their opponents, and a back row that completely overshadowed their opposites. It was all there, a magnificent package that few dared believe existed after their shocker against the Rebels.
This was also a result achieved without their star player, No 8 Kieran Read, who did not play because of a sore pelvis but will be available to face the Highlanders.
Blackadder’s re-signing by the NZRU must be difficult news for Blues coach Pat Lam to hear. A gentleman, even in the face of such adversity, Lam can only envy Blackadder.
In recent days Lam has watched the NZRU take the unprecedented step of advertising his job mid-season and he is expected to be a goner when the season review is completed.
‘‘I think we will all sleep a little better tonight,’’ Blackadder joked after the win over the Blues. Sleep is probably not so easy for Lam these days.
Blackadder’s contract extension means that by the end of 2013 he will have been in charge of the Crusaders for five seasons.
It also coincides with the expiry date of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s deal. Hansen is about to begin his twoyear tenure and will next year attempt to persuade the NZRU to stretch it through to the 2015 World Cup.
When Sir Graham Henry retired, Blackadder didn’t apply for the All Blacks job, stating he needed more experience at Super level.
‘‘I love this Crusaders team and I really want to win a championship while I’m in charge,’’ Blackadder said. ‘‘There has been a contract negotiated for next season. I’m really pleased. But coaching is one of those professions where you know it’s all down to results and that is the nature of the business we are in.’’
Blackadder also denied reports the Crusaders were in contract talks with Blues midfielder Ma’a Nonu.
‘‘That’s blindsided us. We haven’t been talking to him, so I don’t know where that has come from.’’
The Blues were pitiful and they committed a multitude of sins; their lineout was patchy, the scrum was blitzed, their defensive alignment ragged and their kicking and handling was woeful.
Blues’ errors contributed directly to four of the Crusaders’ five tries in the first half; Piri Weepu’s fumble led to Matt Todd’s opener, Richie Mccaw benefited from Sam Whitelock robbing Ali Williams of lineout ball, a dodgy clearance from Hadleigh Parkes set-up Luke Romano’s effort and Michael Hobbs’ shonky clearance resulted in Corey Flynn scoring after the bell.
Dan Carter’s tender groin, which had generated so much debate over the last fortnight, passed its examination when he kicked six conversions. Several were from wide out, his punting in general play never lacked depth and the backline hummed with the experienced playmaker back in control.
Meanwhile, in Dunedin, the Highlanders roared back into life just as it seemed they were out for the count. They humbled a Bulls team which had started the weekend as Super Rugby’s competition frontrunners but ended it with a 16-11 loss which will have them re-evaluating ahead of this weekend’s game against the Chiefs.
The Highlanders are back on track after successive losses.
For 40 minutes at Dunedin Stadium, the Highlanders looked very much like a team in the depths of a slump.