Oh no, not the Tahs again
Mention the Waratahs to Crusaders fans and you might well be met with a thousand-yard stare.
And not just due to the conclusion of the ill-fated 2014 Super Rugby final in Sydney. There’s more to it than that.
Forget the Waratahs’ well-documented struggles that have seen them nosedive down the ladder on the back of five straight defeats, this is a team that’s had more success against the Crusaders than most over the past decade.
You might even call them the Crusaders’ Australian bogey team, given the Waratahs are the only side from there to beat them since 2016, and only the Chiefs (seven) and Hurricanes (five) have beaten the Christchurch-based team more than the three victories they’ve put together since 2017.
At a glance
Crusaders: Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua, Dallas McLeod, Johnny McNicholl, Riley Hohepa, Noah Hotham, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie (capt), Ethan Blackadder, Jamie Hannah, Quinten Strange, Fletcher Newell, George Bell, George Bower. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Dom Gardiner, Christian LioWillie, Mitchell Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer
Waratahs: Max Jorgensen, Triston Reilly, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Dylan Pietsch, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon (capt), Langi Gleeson, Charlie Gamble, Lachlan Swinton, Ned Hanigan, Jed Holloway, Harry Johnston-Holmes, Julian Heaven, Hayden Thompson-Stringer. Reserves: Theo Fourie, Lewis Ponini, Tom Ross, Miles Amatosero, Hugh Sinclair, Jack Grant, Will Harrison, Joey Walton.
“I’ll leave that one to the analysts to try and get to the bottom of. But we’re aware of that, there’s quite a lot of history there, we’ve been on the wrong side of it a couple of times,’’ interim Crusaders captain Tom Christie said ahead of tonight’s clash in Sydney.
“It just kind of adds to that challenge, adds to that fuel. Going on tour is always fun, we love it, we pride ourselves on how we tour.’’
All three of the Waratahs’ wins were on Australian soil, the most recent a 37-24 victory in Melbourne during the Super Round last month.
As was the case when they rolled the Scott Robertson-coached Crusaders in 2019 and 2022, they did it on the back of their pack taking it to the red-and-blacks.
And make no mistake, the Waratahs are certain to instruct lock Jed Holloway to attack their last-ranked lineout again, while former Crusaders academy member Charlie Gamble and fellow loose forwards Langi Gleeson and Lachlan Swinton will again hunt like a pack of famished wolves.
“They’re one of the top lineout defensive sides in the competition, so they’re going to do that against anyone, let alone us,” flanker Christie said.
“It’s an exciting battle with their [loose forwards], they are great at the breakdown, they apply a lot of pressure there so we need to make sure we go to that with an attacking mindset and walk forward to that challenge.’’
The good news for Crusaders fans hoping they don’t have to wince repeatedly through Gamble feverishly celebrating breakdown penalties against his hometown team is that help is on the way in the form of Ethan Blackadder’s long-awaited return.
Limited to just five games a year ago, and sidelined since the pre-season with a calf injury, Blackadder will start at blindside flanker at Allianz Stadium.
His return has further added a spark to the Crusaders, who snapped their dismal five-match losing streak ahead of their bye.
Not that they’re getting ahead of themselves. Just ask head coach Rob Penney, who is staring down the prospect of two defeats to his former side in the space of a little more than a month. “Two desperate teams. I guess there will be fireworks.”