As the Canterbury Crusaders approach a new era without former coach Robbie Deans, teams in the Super 14 will be fancying their chances of ending the Super Rugby domination cast by them since the tournament’s inception in 1996.
The Crusaders have been easily the best Super 14 Rugby province, capturing seven titles, which is four championships better than the next best side – the Auckland Blues.
It is no surprise then to see them enter the 2009 Super 14 season as the reigning premiers, after defeating the NSW Waratahs last year to win the title.
The Crusaders also enter the season in the usual position as one of the pre-tournament favourites, despite some strong performances in recent seasons by the Natal Sharks and the Waratahs.
Although the Crusaders will be the team to beat in this years Super 14 competition, defeating them may just have gotten a little easier.
Having to contend with Deans now helping the rest of Australia’s Super 14 sides, the Crusaders will also have to make do without the premier half in world rugby, Dan Carter.
Carter will miss the entire Super 14 season due to a Torn Achilles Tendon, and will also miss the All Blacks’ first five Tests this year.
This ensures new Crusaders coach Tony Blackadder will be in for a tough debut season.
Working in Blackadder’s favour, however, is the rest of the Super 14 field, which is yet to field a side as consistent as the Crusaders.
The Crusaders most likely title threats include fellow New Zealand teams the Auckland Blues and the Wellington Hurricanes.
Australian sides, the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies, can also count themselves as potential Super 14 champions in 2009.
But perhaps the Crusaders’ biggest challenger comes from South African team, the Natal Sharks, who made the 2007 Super 14 final, and finished third last year.
The Sharks welcome back Springbok player John Smit from a stint in Europe and have the necessary arsenal to challenge the Crusaders.
But despite the loss of Deans and Carter, the Crusaders still boast a formidable team with plenty of All Black experience.
Although it will not be the dominating Crusaders of old taking on the field in 2009, the rest of the Super 14 pack should know better than to ever underestimate this champion outfit.
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