What most Super Rugby fans knew already but were too hesitant or polite to say was finally confirmed on Saturday night. The Crusaders of 2015 are not a finals team.
Indeed, on the evidence of what we have seen this year, unless there is some savvy off-season recruiting, perhaps in tandem with a change of coach, this does not appear to be a team capable of maintaining what they previously regarded as an entitlement – a permanent place in the top echelons of Super Rugby.
Certainly the highs of seven titles since 1998, and the globetrotting heroics of 2011 following the Christchurch earthquake, now seem part of history as opposed to the now.
Their performance against the steadily improving Waratahs was nothing more or less than what was expected, a non-confrontational style of game relying on side to side ball movement, punctuated by, well, not very much at all in the way of line-breaking penetration.
Three times this year this style has paid handsome dividends, against the Sharks, Cheetahs and Reds, all of them sides inhabiting the lower reaches of the ladder, who couldn’t offer sufficient commitment to defence to shut down the Crusaders’ run.
But a quality side like the Waratahs was always going to be much better equipped to not only defend against such one-dimensional attack, but to also turn this into an offensive weapon.
Thus on numerous occasions we saw the Crusaders predictably attempt to shift the ball laterally, only for the midfield receivers to be sitting ducks for a well organised, rushed defence.
There is an old saying that you have to go forward first to earn the right to go wide, which is something the Crusaders have ignored for a couple of seasons now. Call it arrogance or call it an unshaking belief in a previously successful game plan, but it seemed scarcely believable that a side containing three of the greatest All Blacks ever did not stop to knuckle down at any point, and consider that a change in approach was required.
That they didn’t want to engage the Waratahs in an abrasive, combative forward style of game is fair enough, but that implies that they have other compelling strengths elsewhere. This Crusaders’ backline, however, does not have the collective spark and flash points of individual brilliance which the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders all have for example. Which ultimately left them in no man’s land, ripe for the picking.
Because of the different set-ups, and because Super Rugby is not Test rugby, it is way too premature to be extrapolating this into claims that Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are has-beens, and Kieran Read is nothing but a shadow of the world class No. 8 he was.
But Steve Hansen will have concerns nevertheless, particularly around Colin Slade, who bumbled around like a novice before gifting a break-out try to the Waratahs, and then picking up an injury for good measure.
To the Waratahs’ credit they were well up for the task and, despite the closeness of the scoreline until Bernard Foley’s late try, always seemed to have the game in hand.
Unless things go dramatically off the rails in the next few weeks, they will secure home ground advantage for the early part of the finals at least, and on that basis will be every chance of repeating last year’s success – irrespective of whether they are as good as last year’s side or not.
Michael Cheika-coached sides can always be expected to be physical and aggressive and he will be delighted that, even without Jacques Potgeiter, his players left an indelible stamp of authority on the game.
He will be less happy that two players, Tolo Latu and Will Skelton have been cited, deemed to have met the threshold for a red card offence, for lifting and dumping Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock in the first half.
As always, the best test for incidents like these is for players, officials and fans of one side to imagine if the jerseys were swapped over, and to think about how they would view the matter from the other side.
In this case Skelton initiated the incident by lifting Whitelock, seemingly intent on body slamming him into the ground. TV replays from ground level, from the touchline, show this most clearly.
Whitelock’s legs were tipped well above the horizontal due to the intervention of Latu, which certainly has him in a deal of trouble. In Skelton’s case he will no doubt argue that had Latu not intervened then he would have no case to answer, but the video does not support this.
It might not be the worst lifting tackle seen this year but with SANZAR having made it clear that lifting tackles are outlawed it will be no surprise if there are a couple of spare seats on the Waratahs’ flight this week to South Africa.
What would concern referees boss Lyndon Bray is how having two players cited for a red card offence could result in only one yellow card being produced on the field. In this regard, referee Marius van der Westhuizen, who for the most part had an excellent match, seemed hopelessly out of sync with his TMO Peter Marshall.
Van der Westhuizen correctly identified Skelton as the instigator, yet was thrown off course by Marshall insisting that Latu, by coming in late and lifting the legs, was the most culpable. Which was also correct, but where things broke down between them was their inability to grasp that it didn’t have to be one or the other, they were entitled to deal with both.
Van der Westhuizen was also interested in checking Latu for a punch, but Marshall had already clocked off, as if nothing further could be served by pursuing a bloke who already had a yellow card, so that matter fizzled out. All very messy.
Skelton continues to make giant strides, this year contributing for 80 minutes, game after game, jumping in lineouts, and imposing himself physically in attack and defence. Last year I wrote in praise of his potential and there are good times ahead for all to enjoy his developing career.
On Saturday night, however, he was involved in four incidents which, on any other night, with a different referee, could have seen him yellow carded. The lifting tackle on Whitelock, a thinly-disguised cheap shoulder into McCaw’s back, a driving shoulder into Whitelock on the ground, and pulling down a Crusaders’ maul close to the Waratah’s line.
That’s bordering on being a serial pest, and van der Westhuizen’s post match review will no doubt ponder how Skelton managed to slip under the radar and play out all 80 minutes.
Skelton hasn’t turned into Dr Evil overnight, this is simply another phase in his development, and he will surely learn to find the right balance between aggression and stupidity.
But if the tribunal does happen to provide him with a week or two off, he would be well advised not to feel unlucky or victimised, and to focus instead on how to find the edge of the line and stay just on the right side of it.
Rebel
Guest
Still defending the indefensible. They are saying the nominated home ground, you know where all the players had their homes, or damaged homes in some cases. That is obvious. Everyone knows a ground within the catchment is a home stadium. You trolled for no reason other than to score points in you imagined battle. Pathetic. Get a grip and discuss rugby.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the post, Allanthus. Week by week, starting round 1 I was waiting for when Saders would start their run for the finish line. Until round 11 loss vs Highlanders then thrashing by Chiefs the week after. Will be interesting to see the off season response coming up
Rugby Tragic
Guest
To lose a final, you have to be good enough to get there ...
Old Bugger
Guest
I addition, it doesn't pay to not have an FH who can run at the opposition back line. The Saders suffered with not having a big IC/OC combination but the biggest downfall IMO, was missing a FH who could make the opposition back line hesitate, by running straight instead of laterally. Slade's game unfortunately involves a lot of lateral running which means it takes a finite longer time for him to receive the ball and do something with ball in hand before distributing or kicking. In that same finite period, he is allowing the opposition defence to be the metre or two closer on defence thus minimising his own outside backs, with their options. Worse still, lateral movement increases the distance between the tackled player and the follow-up clean-out forwards to rescuer their ball....another Saders fault that was exposed by the Tahs. The major key IMO for a back line to challenge its opposition, is for the FH to get his mitts on the ball as early as possible - only then, can he tempt the opposition back line into hesitating what his next move will be......Slade doesn't do this often enough and the Tahs defence picked it from the first get-go and then continued to harass the Saders back line all night because of Slade's slow ball receipt. The AB selectors will need to sort this out quickly and since BB hasn't shown that he has the ability to take the ball forward from set-piece then it leaves DC to take the lead......Blackadder needs to bite the bullet and give DC these last Saders matches so he can regain his confidence back at FH and lead from the front. Otherwise, just watch the H'landers this week against the Chiefs and see if Sopa can bring the ball up against the Chiefs line.....from a personal viewpoint, I hope he doesn't but if he does and it leads to a Landers win, then I certainly believe that Sopa, should be playing some time in the RC and taking his chances for an RWC berth. The Tahs defensive effort could be a blueprint against a slow feed FH in the AB side - there will be ample time with Azza Smith at HB but, continual lateral running will be a huge impediment for the ABs to gain front foot, go forward movement.
Len
Guest
And have the record of the most lost finals too..
Ralph
Guest
Canterbury rugby has a long and proud record of outstanding achievement. Our Super rugby record is without peer, champions multiple times, away final victories, a hat trick of titles, an unbeaten season. But as a local when I look across that long history looking for what Churchill famously called 'their finest hour', I will never go passed 2011. We didn't win the title. We didn't go unbeaten. But we did do something that, God willing, will never be repeated. With literally no stadium to play in every game we played away. We camped in a broken city and buried our dead. We roamed the globe leaving wives, sons, daughters and other loved ones in the midst of daily earthquakes. And in spite of it all, we made a super rugby final anyway. I guess only those who lived through it will know the depth of what that means. And I'll tell you what, the experience has left me very forgiving of my rugby team. If they need a few off years, which in truth had to come because we all had them, then that's fine with me. I'll remember when the chips were down they stepped up and they stepped up big. We'll be back. But give us a bit of time please.
Ralph
Guest
Think of it as cumulative and unavoidable post traumatic stress syndrome. You don't want to make excuses but neither can you escape the consequences.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I totally agree they were severely disrupted, they played under great stress. Never question it. The point is a lot say they had no home games in 2011, which means they were all neutral or away games and that was not the case.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
You guys will be back... to much history for that not to happen Kia... but like the Blues, maybe need some fresh ideas... the talent is there ... but maybe the puppeteers have gone missing ...
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Ralph, I for one felt for you guys. I was in Christchurch for last test match played at Lancaster Park (AMI Stadium) before it was condemned following the 2011 earthquakes. ChCh is a city I visited often for business (we had a branch office in St Aspahs Street back on the 70's) and I enjoyed the company of many Cantabs ..... except when it came to rugby ... why... that is another story, as a Aucklander you would understand. Following the 2011 disaster the resilience of the Cantabs were mirrored in their rugby team, the Crusaders ... I still could not get myself to support them, but boy did I ever respect them for their determination and efforts that year. I saw first hand not sor much the devastation but the personal cost as I have a close friend whose family lost their home in that tragedy. It affected me ... I cannot begin to understand how it much it must of affected Cantabs ... Good luck in the rebuild.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
PeterK, in fact to appease the catchment areas, the Crusaders also have conceded some 'home games' on the West Coast. Nelson certainly gained prominence following the 2011 disaster but there was really nowhere that the Crusaders could call home, Addington where they are based now (temporarily) wasn't ready so Nelson, a great little town much closer to Wellington than Christchurch was 'designated their home ground (again temporarily). The Crusaders had to fly their to play their home games in 2011. I suppose in some ways similar to when the Blues had to play all their early round home games away at Albany (where they have an average record) from their 'spiritual home' Eden Park because of the World Cricket Cup but these moves have been dictated by circumstances.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Your last paragraph summed it up... usually when there is a rush defence out wide, it normally leaves some room behind the defence wall, but there was very little with the cover defence behind the D line mopping up any attempted little chips through.. As mentioned, I enjoyed the game though had higher expectations. The tahs counter attack was great to watch... I actually thought the scoreline flattered the Crusaders (watch the retorts!), they always, at least to me looked the more dangerous and the 'team most likely'... yet with 12 mins so thereabouts to play, it was anyone's game. Major disappointments for each side for me were both backs. Beale and or the time he was on, Slade (though to be fair did not realise he started with an injury) did not live up to their reputations nor I am sure, their coaches expectations.
Sylvester
Guest
Ralph, I'm sure the Crusaders wouldn't want to use the quakes as an excuse for performing poorly if that's what you're suggesting.
Sylvester
Guest
Wellington is closer to Nelson than Christchurch is, so defintely a Canes home game...
Rebel
Guest
YOU bought it up in your crusade against all things kiwi. You werent replying to any one, you just came out and had a dig. No one has ever denied that Nelson is not in the Crusaders catchment, only that the team was severely disrupted. Only a f00l would argue against it. Your continuous bigoted posts are getting extremely tiring which is disappointing as you obviously have been involved in the game a long time to be able to contribute positively. I stand by my statement that it was a churlish dig making light of a tradgedy to score points. Grow up.
Pommie John
Guest
I am a fan of both players and without them going to the rwc - I can say with my hand on my heart that I will be disappointing. Even thou my team will hopefully come up against the Ab's I want them to face these legends of the game, win or lose. These are the guys the fans want to see.
PeterK
Roar Guru
not at all, just that Nelson is a home game for them and in 2011 it was their home ground. These are facts. Sure they preferred CH and it was not planned for. Still does not make it a neutral or away ground for them in 2011. Fact it was a home ground being the only other option available despite all the claims they did not play at home at all, they did not play at CH which is a different matter. As I noted above I agreed it was a great effort for them to make the final in 2011.
Vic
Guest
He'd better go quickly then, probably only two rhinos left. Extinct by the end of the week. Few Boers left, but I suggest steer clear unless he approaches with Castles and a pack of kudu wors ;)
Rebel
Guest
What a churlish comment. The difference is this time they have a choice and months to prepare. But way to go in making light of such a tradgedy you tr0ll.
hasbeen flanker
Guest
whatever happens with the citing, skelton will be watched more closely now. only natural, so up to him to correct himself and progress. OJ is correct, we might all reflect on what a very special effort it has been by the crusaders for such a sustained period. they are a bench mark in provincial rugby as far as I am concerned and despite what might be a low patch and rebuild phase, will rise again. the system, culture and strive for excellence in rugby that they display is great for our game and I hope it can be emulated.