Another injury, another inquest for Crusaders

The loss of captain and experienced No 12 David Havili seems a logical starting point when attempting to, once again, wrap one’s mind around the Crusaders’ miserable start to their season.

Winless after five rounds in Super Rugby Pacific, the injury-hit Crusaders are, in all likelihood, not thrilled that everyone keeps asking how a team that once made its opponents’ teeth chatter with fear could sink so quickly to the bottom of the competition table.

Here’s the reality: the interrogations will intensify if they’re unable to upset the Chiefs in Christchurch tomorrow night.

Even with All Black Damian McKenzie not starting at first five-eighth, the 4-1 Chiefs will arrive confident that they have the weaponry to harpoon the defending champions, as they did when they beat them 33-29 in the first-round game in Hamilton on February 23.

A sore calf muscle has forced All Black Havili to withdraw from the Crusaders team, with Dallas McLeod to start at second-five; recalled halfback Mitchell Drummond has been appointed captain.

Although Havili hasn’t got close to hitting the high notes this season, his knowledge and leadership had the potential to have almost been tangible in times of crisis. Now that’s gone. The timing couldn’t be worse.

Drummond, who has been with the Crusaders since 2014, talked of the underdog tag potentially buying the team a ticket out of this jam: “It’s obvious the position we are in,’’ he stated. “I don’t think many people expect to win on Friday, which is a position we are loving.’’

Queried as to how a team that had won the last seven titles deals with the ignominy of being last and being talked about for all the wrong reasons, he went down the holistic path.

“It’s making sure everyone is OK, as people. It’s one thing to be in the position we are in, as footy players.

“The main thing is we don’t want to affect guys as human beings. The reality of what happens within these four walls … is there’s a lot going on. The more that our young guys, and our leaders, listen to that, the harder it becomes.’’

Thanks to the soft playoff structure, however, the Crusaders know there’s plenty of time to make the cut; they are only seven points behind the eighth-placed Fijian Drua, but rapid improvements after the 26-6 defeat to the Blues last weekend are required.

Starved of the ball and territory at Eden Park, the Crusaders were forced to make 202 tackles and missed 44. With lock Quinten Strange unavailable because of a sore neck, inexperienced Jamie Hannah had to make the calls and the set-piece resembled a dark comedy; they lost nine on their own throw.

Strange has been named to start against the Chiefs, a rare dart of hot light to penetrate the gloom, and coach Rob Penney will rely on him to ensure those calamities aren’t repeated.

Penney has made five changes to the side that started in Auckland. All Black loosehead prop Joe Moody is a notable omission, having been replaced by Kershawl Sykes Martin on the bench after Finlay Brewis was scratched because of a tight calf.