Champs have eye on the big prize
There’s been a buzz around the Crusaders’ camp this week with their eyes on a third consecutive title and a couple of freshly minted All Blacks in the squad.
Impressive backline duo Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece were among the 39 players named in the first All Blacks squad of the year, hearing their names called out for the first time.
But while excitement levels were high, coach Scott Robertson has implored them to keep their eyes on the prize.
“The old Whatsapp groups have been fired up; love hearts and fist pumps over the last few days,” Robertson told Radio Sport’s D’Arcy Waldegrave. “[But] we moved on pretty quickly because we’ve got a job to do.”
The Crusaders will welcome the Jaguares to OrangeTheory Stadium in Christchurch tomorrow night as they look to lock away the Super Rugby title for another year. It’s a match up that Robertson admits he didn’t expect when the season started, but one that is likely to be a very physical encounter.
The Jaguares impressed all season to finish on top of a tightly contested South African conference and showed they were more than capable of getting the job done at home or on the road.
“There aren’t many guys who would have said you’d be playing them [in the final] at the start of the season. You’ve got to give it to them. You’ve got the ability to front up when they do travel,” Robertson said of the Jaguares.
“We’re really impressed with them. It’s going to take all of, probably more, effort than against the Hurricanes.”
Robertson described last weekend’s semifinal against the Hurricanes as “anything but a final”, with the high
intensity affair going down to the wire.
The side will be without star duo Ryan Crotty and Scott Barrett for the final, with Ennor replacing Crotty in the midfield and Mitchell Dunshea deputising for Barrett at lock alongside Sam Whitelock. Young outside back Will Jordan joins the bench.