The Crusades were seen by the European participants as liberation and purification missions. The trek from the west of Europe through Turkey to Palestine was arduous, to say the least, and waiting for them in the ‘Holy Lands’ was every type of pestilence, hardship, and challenge.
Clothed in hot armour, restricted in tactics by their heavy combat training and weaponry, they sometimes struggled when lured into fluid battle zones.
Siege warfare was their bread and butter; as well as shock clashes between direct warrior groups. Inherited from the Greek hoplites and Roman legionnaires, the crusaders could mount a cavalry charge that no force in Palestine could endure.
The best defences mounted by the locals against the crusaders’ might were environmental: shipwreck, banditry, disease, heat, poison, and the lack of supply chains and medicine.
This weekend, the roles are reversed.
The Sharks are swimming against the tide of history; they will lay siege to Christchurch, and try to sack the Crusaders in their own home. The cold castle is protected by a sheriff who is related to the defenders, and laying in wait for the heathens from Africa: King Richard, Prince Daniel, Lord Kieren, and in the front row, Franks.
They say this counter-crusade is doomed. A fools’ errand. Bismarck du Plessis and his pious beasts should go home. They will never breach the walls. They cannot leap the moat.
Their trebuchet man, Francois Steyn, is tired. General Patrick Lambie is not up to this level. Yes, they have heavy cavalry: Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel, Marcell Coetzee, du Plessis, and Steyn, but the architect of their battle plan, Jake White, is said to be approaching these walls with too much caution.
Let’s compare the 2014 campaigns of these armies.
They are even in offloads (171 completed by the Crusaders; 172 by the Sharks).
The Sharks have beaten 19 more defenders (Alberts and Bismarck and Deysel plough through tackles); but made 36 fewer clean breaks (they don’t seek space).
They have committed precisely the same amount of handling errors: 196. They knock on at the same rate (177-173).
The Sharks kick much more than the Crusaders (527-446).
The Crusaders steal more lineout ball (25-22); but both are adept at that deadly skill. They both steal about the same amount of turnover ball.
The Crusaders have scored more tries (39) than the Sharks (32).
Crucially, the Sharks have conceded 34 more penalties, and have been yellow and red carded more.
However, when they fought last, all those statistics held true, but the Sharks still sacked Christchurch, and drank all the beer.
Will history be told the way the soothsayers predict? Or will the foreign army reign supreme?
Chris
Guest
The Islamists have done their fair share of raping, murdering and pillaging during their time amongst the Arabs.
WEST
Roar Guru
The Sharks will be pleased to face something less Highlander-like in this semi. After being tested by some quality backline play by Patrick Osborne, Ben Smith and line breaker Fekitoa last week in Durban, they will take on a more forward-oriented Crusaders side. If anything, that shock loss to the Sharks in May sparked a revival in their season and they've been in blistering form since, the other thing is the pressure on the Sharks to try and build a sustainable lead during the first hour but their gameplan is not geared for an expansive approach early on. Interesting that The Sharks achieved a Super Rugby record last weekend by landing their 74th penalty goal for the season. But their strategy is somewhat limited when opposition teams don't make mistakes and the Crusaders have conceded fewer penalties than any other team in the competition, an average of just 9.5 per game this season. Pat Lambie and Frans Steyn face off with Colin Slade and Dan Carter. This group of four could be where the game is won and lost by their decision-making. Crusaders by 10.... give or take a penalty.
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
"Play rugby properly" - yes!!
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
Great article Harry, but of course if the Sharks want good beer perhaps they should give up the siege and head West to Greymouth -- do prefer the puts hair on your chest Monteiths to the Speights stuff myself :-)
Firstxv
Guest
better than naming a side after a NZ band though surely? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warratahs
Harry Jones
Guest
Ha! Agincourt. Yes! I agree about the "test feel" of this matchup.
Old Bugger
Guest
Harry There's a new book just hit the counters in NZ called "Legends in Black-NZ Rugby Greats on Why we Win". Interviewees include Sir Brian Lochore, Buck Shelford, Ted Henry and Sir Colin Meads amongst others. The interviews go to the core and asks questions as to why the ABs have such a strong culture and an ethos for winning - simply put, one answer is "you dont get bouquets for losing". Meads quotes "The belief that the team would win was driven by strong leadership" and in my long in the tooth memory, undoubtedly, the AB's have had some wonderful leaders, coaches and captains. Each coach and captain had their own style as Meads says - "there may have been different styles over the period but, there was only one great message." I shall be lining up for a read on this one and a read of your book Harry as soon as it hits the stands. Again, well done and looking forward to it.
Billy Bob
Guest
Agreed Harry. And an entertaining inventive piece you wrote. The stats may stack up against invading armies, but we would do well to remember that Henry V did well at Agincourt with no one confident (even his own) of his team's chances. General Jake is a wily old fox, with a cunning plan, I am sure. And if this game is 'test like' Bismark may lead with a passion that remembers a recent Test in NZ, where, it would be fair to say, he wuz robbed. The key to this game will be how tired will the Star 3 All Blacks? (sorry, make that 10) and how intensely will Bismark lead his giants into contact. Sharks have a slim chance, in my view, but, as the week drags on I've had an 'Agincourt' feeling about this game. Should be a cracker.
Harry Jones
Guest
I think Reinach has a huge speed advantage over Ellis. (Over most 9s). But Ellis is calmer. Jordaan, Mvovo might be fastest backs on the field. Will Fransie free them up w a miracle offload? But Dagg is MUCH more experienced than Marais. McCaw isn't McCaw any more. Coetzee and Deysel won't defer to His Highness. Those ribs will be examined by Alberts. But the Saders are surely fitter; given the HUGE minutes the Sharks have played? Or will they be undercooked? Can Slade rise? Or will they rue using DC at 12? Fascinating
44bottles
Roar Guru
It's well documented that the ABs need at least 2 Smiths on the park at any one time. This Smith-deficiency will hurt the crusaders
44bottles
Roar Guru
You like a good fishing session Marto?
Harry Jones
Guest
It is amazing that Saders have 3 once-in-a-generation players: Read-Carter-McCaw. The Sharks only have Bismarck as a candidate for best player in the world in any given season (although if Frans Steyn stayed in shape--body and head--I think he'd be up there). To me, though, I think these two teams have some similarities. They play rugby properly. And have the ability to strike when they need to. Home advantage is big though.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Nice
Harry Jones
Guest
Jeez, I think you left out the dangers of the storms of the Fairest Cape.
Harry Jones
Guest
Cheers! Yes sir! Ja, I think this will be a microcosm of a Bok-AB test, but the "AB" will miss Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, and Conrad Smith.
Harry Jones
Guest
Agree. Sharks can play test footy.
Harry Jones
Guest
I want to go on a shebeen raid. My book is the story of union from birth to now, but told through the lens of specific positions (as they evolved), interesting people (leaders), and how it fit into the history of nations. It's also (hopefully) funny (or wry)
Harry Jones
Guest
Yes, I was surprised too. Two very good teams; discipline may be the key.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Nice work again Harry!!! So Diggercane is first in line for that signed copy.... maybe I can be in the queue too?! I have a good feeling about this weekend.... As Jake says "It has to happen sometime." It's going to be a Test match out there.
MARTO
Guest
Shorks by 15..That crusaders backline is dreadful.. 9 10 13 14 are rubbish.. Shorks will win it easliy ....