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The Crusaders are chokers. I said it. The men from Canterbury haven’t won a title since 2008, and have bowed out in the finals five times since.
The All Blacks, whom until 2011 had a reputation as one of, if not the biggest chokers in sport itself, also bowed out in five consecutive finals series.
No such tag has been given to the Crusaders. They were thumped in both the 2009 and 2010 semi-finals, before allowing a barnstorming Reds side to storm home in 2011. In 2012 Dan Carter pulled up just short with a crucial penalty against the Chiefs, and in 2013 the Crusaders again just fell short, losing 20-19 again at the Waikato.
But if one were to scroll through the columns of the New Zealand and even Australian press, or perhaps on social media, there is an unwavering confidence from fans and pundits alike.
Indeed, in the buildup to this weekends Super Rugby Final, the Waratahs haven’t been given much respect from the other side of the Tasman, and have largely been written off by the New Zealand media.
Former All Black prop Craig Dowd wrote in his ESPN column that the Waratahs have a soft underbelly, claiming that no matter how good the Waratah defence is, the Crusaders will find chinks in their armour.
While Dowd makes a point about the Waratahs inability to gain possession and territory, the comments about their defence aren’t on the mark – as shown on Saturday.
The Crusaders side to side attack will need much more momentum and deception to penetrate the blue wall that is the Waratahs defensive line than Dowd gives it credit for. It would seem many are forgetting that the Waratahs have the best defence and attack stats in the competition, and cherry picking memories of the Crusaders in the mid 2000s.
The Waratahs simply have too good a team, too good an attack and phase play to lose – bar two exceptions.
i) Set Piece Meltdown – If the Waratahs set piece scores less than a C grade, they will lose the game. In games of this kind of intensity, you can’t expect to endlessly score tries from your own half.
ii) Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter – If the Waratahs allow themselves to be bossed around at the breakdown by McCaw, or if Dan Carter sets the pace of the game, or if Read runs riot as a linkman, they will lose.
Whatever the case, this is the final that Australian rugby, indeed Super Rugby has been crying out for. It’s a shame that this game won’t sell out, and perhaps Australian rugby fans should start pressuring the mainstream media for more coverage.
Bring on the final, and may either team win the way Mr. Webb-Ellis intended – by scoring tries!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.