Crusaders reminded about `substandard’ performance

Stung by their first loss of the Super 14 rugby season, coach Robbie Deans has reminded his Crusaders of their shortcomings as they prepare to meet the Blues in Christchurch on Friday night.

The 18-5 loss to a rampant Chiefs side in Hamilton last Friday ended the Crusaders’ eight-match winning streak, but still left them at the head of the points table, six points clear of the Sharks.

Deans today said he had had a few words with the players about their lacklustre performance and he expected an improvement.

“There’s been words unique to the circumstance, I guess,” Deans told NZPA after the team’s training session.

“We can’t change the outcome in Hamilton. All we can control is how we react to that experience and how we respond.”

He said the Crusaders remained positive despite the setback.

Deans delayed naming his team today because of injuries to centre Casey Laulala, who received a knock to the head in Hamilton and had to be helped from the field, and fullback Leon MacDonald, who has been sidelined by a torn thigh muscle since March 28.

But when the team were finally named, MacDonald was included in the starting 15, as was Laulala, who will undergo final psychometric and impact tests during the captain’s run tomorrow morning.

“We’re going to settle on the mix tomorrow,” Deans said.

“Everyone came through training today, including Casey and Leon, and there was a fair bit of contact,” he said.

“Casey’s reported he’s good to go, but we will impact-test him first thing tomorrow morning just to make sure.”

Deans said MacDonald had trained “really well” this week and had come through “with flying colours”.

Winger Kade Poki returns to the starting 15, with Scott Hamilton taking a seat on the reserves bench while Caleb Ralph has been dropped from the match day squad.

Deans said changes on the wings were “performance-related” and a tribute to the progress youngsters Poki and Sean Maitland had made during their maiden Super campaigns.

“The key thing is that they backed themselves on the field,” he said.

“That’s exactly the attitude we’ll be looking for them to bring to the occasion on Friday night.”

Deans acknowledged the Crusaders’ performance against the Chiefs last week was “substandard” and he said they were aware “we’re going to get a real test this weekend”.

He expected the Blues to be “operating at full noise” despite their failure to fire in recent matches.

“I think you can expect this week they’ll be sparking,” he said.

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