That was a short-lived revival
“A week is a long time in sport’’. Ever heard that one before? Well, tired old cliché or not, pull that one out for all its worth here.
Because, can your hear that beeping sound? It’s the big Crusaders truck quickly shifting back into reverse on its Super Rugby Pacific rocky road.
Just seven days ago, this very column had proclaimed: “the big red-and-black engine is just starting to rev back up, with one Scott Barrett back in the driving seat and leading the charge superbly”, in the wake of the red and blacks’ 39-0 demolition of the Rebels.
The very definition of flattering to deceive?
And here we are, one week later, and the seven-time reigning champions are back under the pump once more, on the back of a 33-28 home loss to the Reds on Saturday, where, perhaps more than coincidentally, Barrett was an early casualty from the contest with a back injury.
In a game where David Havili showed touches of class (albeit having a kick charged down to concede a crucial try) in a move to the No 10 jersey instigated by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, the Crusaders enjoyed a hefty 63% possession and ran for almost double the metres of the visitors, but errors yet again proved costly.
And just what is it about these Reds and their ability to trouble the Kiwi teams? Last year they were the only side to beat the top-seeded Chiefs in the regular season, then got very close to them again in the quarterfinals.
This year, under new coach Les Kiss, the Queenslanders toppled the Chiefs in Brisbane, where they also blanked the Highlanders and had the Blues only squeak home after the siren, while in the Super Round in Melbourne they took the Hurricanes to golden point. Now they have notched their first win in Christchurch in 25 years, and are looking good for fifth place, at least, on the ladder.
A playoffs place for the Crusaders, on the other hand, is still some hill to climb − something no sane person could have even considered a possibility when Rob Penney took over from Robertson for this season.
With four rounds to play, the red-andblacks remain three points outside the topeight, and this weekend’s southern derby against the Highlanders in Dunedin shapes as monumental for both teams’ hopes. The Crusaders then face a tough fortnight, away to the Brumbies and home to the Blues, before hosting Moana Pasifika, in what could shape as a vital final-round fixture. Who would have thought?
A terrific taste of Tonga
Pub quiz question: How many countries have hosted Super Rugby matches?
You’re doing well if you can name all 11, that’s for sure. New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Japan, Singapore, Argentina, China, Fiji, Samoa, and now Tonga.
Saturday’s clash between Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders in Nuku’alofa was the latest slice of history, with a third different Pacific island nation in as many years having now joined the Super party.
Not for one minute did the horrendous conditions − torrential rain and ankledeep water at the gates − or the 28-17 loss for the home side, sink the spectacle, as 10,000 vibrant fans still turned out in force to make it quite the festival, and further illustrate just how great it would be if Tana Umaga’s nomadic side could set up a more permanent base in the islands.
Razor’s close shaves
Watching the weekend’s action, you could almost feel Robertson shuffling uncomfortably in his seat, given the bangs to some of his top-line cattle, as he counts down to July’s test series against England.
Going into the round, the new man in the national hot seat already had capped internationals in Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Josh Lord, Shaun Stevenson, Asafo Aumua, Cam Roigard, Tamaiti Williams, Ethan Blackadder and Braydon Ennor on the sidelines for varying lengths of time with injuries.
Then there was reason for plenty more angst in the wake of Barrett’s back spasm, Samipeni Finau’s shoulder injury and head knocks to Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie.
They may ll make swift returns, but with now exactly two months till his first test in charge, Razor will be hoping to be dealt a more than decent hand first-up.