I’m a tried and true Crusaders supporter and over the years we’ve had a lot of amazing times. Years ago, I can remember being told you couldn’t win a Super Rugby final as the away team. One in ten chance, they said.
Aussies I worked with were positively crowing over our imminent defeat and when the boys blew the Brumbies off the park on their home ground the thrill was huge. I pinned that newspaper story up on the board for all those Aussies to see and it stayed there for years.
The year the boys went through an entire season undefeated I must have worn out the edge of my couch. Towards the end each game was exhausting to watch. To begin with no one would speak the possibility out loud so as not to jinx it After that final game I just shook my head in disbelief and just knew it wouldn’t ever be done again.
So many great memories, so many last minute never-say-die victories. It’s been better than good.
Now, what about last weekend.
What commitment, what courage.
In some ways it was the best of what this Canterbury province stands for. A reliance on each other, where you put to one side your own selfish glory and work as a team. You put it on the line for each other and although many speak of these things only those who do it really know it’s heart. It’s the same kind of brotherhood that’s born of war.
What outsiders will never get is the height of the mountain these young men have climbed this season. Everyone knows Christchurch is stuffed but those of us who call it home know what that really means each day.
The friends who died, the dad’s who are working out of town to pay the rent, the families sharing houses with each other 14 in two bedrooms, the kids who still don’t sleep every night, the companies squeezing their offices into one room. All boiling water and keeping toilet flushing to a minimum together – so we can help each other get through.
These Crusaders from an earthquake zone, who lost their home track and train away from friends and family. For them every game is an away game.
Without Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Andy Ellis and Ben Franks they took the field against an in-form Stormers team playing on their home ground and full of Springboks. Before half time we’d lost Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland, Kahn Fotuali’i and Adam Whitelock. That took the injury toll to ten front line players. When the final whistle blew they had made 170 tackles and triumphed.
In all the years I have followed an amazing team who has achieved extra-ordinary results I have never been more proud. Or more humbled.
Blackadder called it guts, and guts it was. Guts to forget about the odds, stop looking to someone else to get it done but roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Just how much guts only those living in the rubble of an earthquake zone understand. The emotional side of me doesn’t care what happens next, these young men are already my winners who stood up to triumph through incredible hardship. And not only on a rugby field.
My hat is off to these Crusaders.
Many sons of Canterbury have done noble deeds, but none stand more valiant than you.
Of course, the other side or me is willing the boys to finish the job and cap another astonishing campaign.
Matt
Guest
Just reading this obviously long after the fact and got to say johnny-boy, whoever you are, grow up. The point of the article was about the trials that the crusaders have had to go through this year and how proud he was of them, not a "kiwi's are better than aussies'' rant. It was about more than rugby, because when you watch a entire city being brought to its knees the way Christchurch has then you see what adversity and character really is.
Winston
Guest
Awesome
clipper
Guest
Good news just in that NZRU are giving the Crusaders around $1m to ease the financial burden - after all they've lost their 36k stadium, and with it quite a bit of revenue, and who knows when it will be up and running again. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/canterbury-crusaders-to-receive-bailout-from-nzru/story-e6frg7o6-1226053623802
johnny-boy
Guest
OJ - perhaps you should admit you were using your dark glasses when watching the game - as opposed to the pea green glasses you wear watching australian rugby sides - which I have to admit are at times quite accurate
johnny-boy
Guest
OK Jerry fair comment - perhaps poor defence would have been more accurate - I guess I was using matching hyperbole.
Stellenbosched
Guest
Don't worry about apologizing Ralph. No harm done. Thanks anyway.
Fan of Tahs
Guest
HEY! Easy tiger
Sylvester Hyde
Guest
I'm grateful I'm a Crusaders supporter, it's the only way being a NZ Warriors supporter can be bearable..
Sylvester Hyde
Guest
It's rare to see tries scored through good defence I would have thought JB?
Ben S
Roar Guru
http://warriorwriters.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/troll.jpg
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Well versed as you are in pathetic defence, Johnny, you might want to stop pretending you watched the game.
Sam
Guest
An Australian website? I typed on theroar.co.nz to get to this point. Maybe it is more Australasian than you would care to admit. Reading through a few of these comments you seem to have a blind hatred for kiwi rugby Johnny-Boy. It gets in the way of what, at a pinch, I suspect is the well reasoned individual that you are. Or perhaps you are trying to wind up? If you are incensed about kiwis (and others) gushing about NZ rugby, why do you read articles entitled 'These Extraordinary Crusaders'?
Tui
Guest
Jerry
Guest
That hardly caused the try - the ball had been passed and by the time they collided, neither would have been able to prevent the try. Perhaps Burger could have targeted one of the support players, but trying to tackle the ball carrier in that situation is hardly pathetic defence.
johnny-boy
Guest
Jerry did SBW score the try - no. The try was scored after two Stormers defenders collided in to each other. Hardly stern defence, more like keystone cops again.
Jerry
Guest
What exactly was 'pathetic' about the defence for the first Crusaders try? Once SBW got the off-load it was simply good support play and passing before contact - if you reckon letting SBW off-load is pathetic, every team so far has been pathetic.
johnny-boy
Guest
Harry - here's what I saw, pathetic defence by Stormers for 1st try, pathetic defence from Crusaders for Stormers try, pathetic defence from Stormers again for Crocketts try and penalties to Stormers for Crusaders again trying to cheat at breakdown finally forcing referee to issue a yellow card. Is that all you've got ? Add to that a game between the Highlanders and the Chiefs that was funnier than a keystone cops movie and some humility might be prudent
Ralph
Guest
I apologize if you felt put down in any way. A win is only as great as the competition, it's true. The Stormers have been playing very good football by any measure. Before the game I was pretty sure they would win, being a home game and all and the end it was a close fought game. To say a team is good is not the same as saying the other team is bad.
Ralph
Guest
It's the modern media way ;)
Harry
Guest
Highlights here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F2j3ZsEcFE Watch from 25 seconds to 50 seconds for Crusaders support play at its finest.