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!
Spikhaza
Guest
Listen up Kiwi Jokers!!!! Guess who just choked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right, the Crusader's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remain seated boys, I called it
Joe King
Guest
Factually incorrect Jak. But that's ok. I can see why you thought I was a Kiwi. I'm just an Aussie who can see some of our poor character traits. I'm not defending Kiwis as perfect. I just care about the way Aussies come across, or pointing out why we can be annoying.
IronAwe
Guest
Chiefporky, whilst curently the Aussie conference is arguably the weakest, it was brought in at the demand of the South Africans, not us. We may be benefitting from it at the moment, but it wasnt our idea. Also, The Force wasn't a weak side this year either. So only the Reds and the Rebels.
stillmatic1
Guest
so you think it is more "adult" to write a complete troll of an article!? hardly seems very mature, does it?
eyeball
Guest
I am surprised the 'McCaw is a cheat who should be penalised every time he goes near the ball' brigade have been oddly quiet. No doubt Phil Kearns will start harping on about it as soon as he gets near a microphone on Saturday.
eyeball
Guest
What is this NZ rugby arrogance that annoys you so much? Imagine if you were lucky enough support a team that won just about every game they played. NZers expecting the ABs to win every game is not arrogance, it is based on historical reality.
eyeball
Guest
What is the point of your r@cist rant? As a testament to the quality of your character, it doesn't read very well.
fanie
Guest
What happened before does not matter what happens tomorrow is what matters and you are right the Crusaders are going to choke on the champagne in the cup.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Interesting analogy, believe it if you will. The term choking, I know is loosely used. On the America's Cup, there are many articles written on this, whether Spitall who was not good enough for 6 races suddenly became unbeatable by Barker, or whether Ainsley when he took over was so much superior to Dalton. Such was the increase in boat speed engineered by the team from Warkworth following the lay-day that it was acknowledged mid contest that it was likely the only way the NZ boat could win that extra race was gear failure on the US boat. Probably a more balanced view might have been expressed in this link. http://maritimo48.com/2013/09/26/americas-cupemirates-team-nz-didnt-lose-oracle-team-usa-won/ I guess Jak if that is 'choking' my perceptions are wrong, and so be it. Another analogy, if a swiming champion suddenly had to wear a textile suite against hi tech suited opposition and lost would that be choking?
WEST
Roar Guru
Cool, look forward to it. All the best on Saturday, Waratahs are going to be damn tough to beat, just quietly they've done everything right, all they need to do now is finish it off.
Vic
Guest
So Joubert is being payed by the NZRU to let the Saders choke? Man oh man - from ridiculous to plain stupid. Are you sure J -Pot isn't a paid spy for the Kremlin? If the Tahs lose will it be the South African's fault?
WEST
Roar Guru
This is 2011 all over AGAIN. Reds won and the Australians where going to take over the world.... Then they didn't. .....Take over the world.... But wait... Whats this, ...THE WARATAHS will take over the world now! Their is some poor misguided people around here, good luck in the final, as a kiwi I hope the Crusaders destroy the Waratahs and put the clowns back in the circus for another few years ...... At least!!
Spikhaza
Roar Guru
If the Crusaders win, I'll happily write a full piece on the roar apologising to every Kiwi and saying I have sh*t tipping skills
The V Man
Guest
I agree James. He doesn't speak for all Ozzies but comments like that reek of smugness. The problem they have year after year is they rate their players who have actually won NOTHING. McCaw had an interview on telly tonight and his eyes said it all. I expect tomorrow will be the same as in a fortnight and Ozzie tears will fill the room again. Remember - forwards win matches and backs decide by how much. Five of the Crusaders forwards will start for the All Blacks in a fortnight. Too strong, too tough, and too good. Six IRB player of the year awards versus NONE. Bring your hankie........
Soapit
Guest
Not really. In fact if he were trolling it would kind of indicate he didn't care what they thought and was willing to suffer in their estimation to give himself a quick laugh. Really makes perfect sense if you think about it Not really sure what the final paragraph is on about so you may well be bang on with that bit
Sam Starr
Guest
I woudnt consider the Crusaders to be chockers they mightn't have won a trophy in six years but they still have seven titles. The tahs have 0 the tahs are chockers if anything but GO THE TAHS! I hope they win ive waited long enough.
WEST
Roar Guru
so spike, what garbage will you come up with if the Crusaders win. Real Waratahs taken back to mother ship, impostors spoil certain victory.... That would fit along side this article nicely.
WEST
Roar Guru
Ha HA!!! now your just being funny. The roar is trying to take the pi$$ or what?
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Choke might be too strong a word, but I do Agee that the NZ press have assumed that the Crusaders are going to win. If the Waratahs do not get the line out right, then we can expect Dagg to kick the ball into touch all through the game, the crusaders will win back the ball and it will be game over! This i feel will be the Crusaders game plan to win. The Waratahs must not lose this part of the game. My money is on the Waratahs as I think they will compete well in this area. I also think the Crusaders coming 2nd in the competition was flattering as they had some favourable decisions from the referees that got them home, for example to no try decision to Gibson from the Highlanders.
Starchild
Guest
The only thing the Crusaders will be choking on is Adam Ashley Coopers love poetry.