Equation simple for Crusaders
The equation is simple for the Crusaders – beat the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night and they will be in position to claim the Super Rugby Aotearoa title in front of their home fans the following week.
That’s easier said than done, however. The Chiefs are no ordinary 0-6 team and the Crusaders know it.
So there is zilch chance of the competition leaders rolling into Hamilton and treating them like a doormat, be it subconsciously or not.
Coaches and players made that crystal clear ahead of training yesterday, as another ultratight weekend of derbies loom.
They know they didn’t cut the mustard in a 34-32 loss to the banged up Hurricanes last weekend, when their 36-match unbeaten home run was halted.
So, too, was their charge to the title. Now, they must beat the Chiefs for a chance to put the fiveteam competition to bed against the Highlanders on Sunday week.
‘‘You know the battles we’ve had. Crusaders-Chiefs over the last few years, just look at those results, how tight they’ve been,’’ Crusaders assistant coach
Andrew Goodman said.
He is right. The Crusaders and Chiefs have split the last four matches between the sides, including the two played this year, one each side of Covid-19.
With five losing bonus points to their name, the Chiefs have been desperately unfortunate in Super Rugby Aotearoa, having been on the wrong side of contentious calls multiple times.
Crusaders players and coaches
were still clearly stinging yesterday, a day after they reviewed their first defeat at home in more than four years.
‘‘I guess it was a bit of a strange feeling on Saturday night in the sheds, the boys weren’t quite sure how to react to it,’’ fullback Will Jordan said.
Halfback Mitchell Drummond labelled it ‘‘pretty disappointing’’, pointing out the Crusaders gifted the Hurricanes points through ill discipline and mistakes.
‘‘It hurt. It’s obviously not a positive thing to lose. But to feel that hurt, to know that everyone in our group cares is one positive we can take,’’ he said.
‘‘We had a pretty honest review yesterday.There were some tough conversations and I think that’s one of the positives from our group, we can have those tough conversations and everything is driving towards making the group better.’’
The group now includes Tasman players – flanker Jacob Norris and wing Tima Fainga’anuku – who have joined the squad as injury replacements for Ethan Blackadder (knee) and David Havili (thumb).
It remains unclear if centre Braydon Ennor will be over his foot injury in time for Saturday’s game, although Goodman said he was increasing his running load.
In Ennor’s absence, the Crusaders’ edge defence was twice found wanting as Hurricanes wing Wes Goosen cashed in.
Not that Goodman was putting the blame on rookie replacement Fetuli Paea. He was more peeved with the lack of discipline, which gifted Jordie Barrett six penalty attempts, lack of physicality at the breakdown, a wonky lineout and skill execution.
‘‘He has been class for us all year, Braydon, but I thought Fetuli came in and did a really good job, carried really well, made some good tackles, some good reads on defence.
‘‘A bit of our skill execution wasn’t where it needed to be. We had a look at the Hurricanes and compared.
‘‘Their passes were all out in front, they were crisp, they were running onto the ball. We had a few out the back shoulder. In a tight game like that, it’s the little things that make a difference.’’
Number eight Whetukamokamo Douglas is also in a race against time to be declared fit to play the Chiefs, having sprained his MCL in the second half of the game last weekend, Goodman confirmed.