Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights’ crushing 38-14 defeat of the Chiefs in the inaugural Cross Border Rugby series in Japan last weekend might not seem like a big deal.
But it could be.
If the game in Japan is seeking that pivotal moment, the time that the Japanese overcame a sense of inferiority in their on-field relations with the heavyweights of the southern hemisphere, this could be it. It has happened in a similar context before.
The irony is that the same figure was involved.
Wild Knights coach Robbie Deans remembers the moment well. Coolum of all places, in a seemingly meaningless pre-season trial.
Deans was Crusaders manager at the time, part of an off-field team headed by Wayne Smith.
The opponents were the Auckland Blues; winners of the first two Super Rugby titles, representing a city that had so dominated the Christchurch-based Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic competition that the red and blacks hadn’t prevailed in a single contest for over a decade.
The one-sided nature of the relationship had spilled over to the Super Rugby arena as well.
The Blues game was part of a pre-season Southern Cross series in 1998, where the Queensland Reds and the NSW Waratahs put the finishing touches on their own Super Rugby preparations in a round-robin against the two New Zealand teams.
So chilled was the environment, the players even travelled to the ground from their accommodation on bicycles!
And yet, what was supposedly an inconsequential runaround, had a tumultuous far-reaching effect on not just New Zealand, but Super Rugby as a whole.
By beating the Blues for the first time, the Crusaders not only gained a fillip before their third season, but they crashed through a psychological barrier of intimidation that the Aucklanders had erected and defended for so long.
It was, Deans told me when we put together his biography ‘Red, Black and Gold’, a major turning point; the first step in the creation of a Crusaders dynasty that has dominated Southern Hemisphere club rugby for most of the time since.
In giving the players an experience of victory over their major rival, it gave them a new sense of belief, a confidence that they could go up against an opponent which – at the time could field an entire All Black starting XV plus a few more on the bench – and win.
This is why for Japanese players – who have run the All Blacks amongst others, close in recent years without being able to break the psychological barrier – the Wild Knights’ success could be so important.
Even more so when it is considered that a good portion of Deans’ squad, who bossed their New Zealand opponents physically, are also members of the Brave Blossoms, and so will be accessible for Eddie Jones.
The Crusaders didn’t beat the Blues during the round robin clash later in 1998 but having broken through the mental barrier in the pre-season and tip-toed their way into the decider, they never doubted that they could win when the teams met again.
History records that the Crusaders won an epic final, scoring in the last minute to inflict a first ever defeat on the home side at Eden Park after three seasons of Blues’ supremacy.
Marika Koroibete celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s third try against the Chiefs. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
Twenty-five years on, the Blues have tasted title success in the full competition just once since Coolum, whereas the Crusaders – who finished last in the competition’s maiden season – have won Super Rugby an incredible 14 times, 10 of which were achieved when the competition was at its height, encompassing South African, and briefly, representation from Argentina and Japan.
And it all traces back to that seminal moment on a mild late summer Queensland evening.
History could judge the Wild Knights’ victory on Sunday so important, non-competition game or not.
The Blues probably shrugged off their defeat at the time as unimportant because the Southern Cross series was a mere pre-season trial.
Look what’s happened to them!
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
We hear for years the European Champions would be lucky to make a SR semi so we were expecting alot more. #14 best european team has 20 players out injuried plus players away with Ireland seniors and u20 and yet managed to win. Its not like Saders were short of players and if they don't want to lose then play a game or to in the off season. At least they beat the 30th best European team so not all lost.
Hughi
Roar Rookie
So taking that idea and transposing it to the Wallabies has Eddie instilled a belief in them that they have the potential to be able to lose every game they play?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
What a hater. I dont get it. What on earth has a pre season game got to do with anything? Are you now expecting NZR TV rights to be halved? Will no one want to watch the ABs because a Chiefs second or third string side lost to a Japan side? You do like a good hate story around everything NZ dont you. Thats ok we are still a far better team than every UK test side inspite of the Chiefs losing that pre season trial. Crusaders just thrashed Bristol and the Chiefs just won their latest game so that must now mean everything is all good again.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Or he just isnt interested. He did say he wasnt interested. I know its hard for you but I believed him.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Henry won a WC. Deans won a J1 comp. No comparison.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I dont want to coach Australia doesnt sound right? Seems intellegent to me. Schmidt is the one with all the BS now heaped on him.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He clearly stated he was not interested in the Wallabies job.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
How are the ABs punishing him for being the Wallabies coach? He has not applied for any position with NZR since then. He got beaten to the job by Henry in 2007 for the 2008 season and beyond. No punishment whatsoever except in your head.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Money doesnt buy prestigue. Deans is looked apon as a very good career coach but doesnt have the accolaides of a successful coach of a test side.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Brendan fans arnt dumb. They know when its pre season and when its games. I certainly do. Ive never once watched a UK pre season game or bothered with those results. If people dont know thats great because it means a total novice is now watching rugby and if a total novice watched that game and went on to become a Japanese rugby fan then awesome.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Most are backup players. They will love the experience but it will be a very different team come week one of the SR season.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Who replaces any player from any test side that retires? The NZ sides have no more of an issue or less of an issue replacing the stars than any other country does. This is someting every team deals with.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
It's commercial figures that I am not priviy to just like the overseas figures for international numbers are not publicly available outside of maybe the WC.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
And now I know. But that also raises the point why very little should be read into the games.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Please share the numbers. My understanding is that they're far too small to make any sort of difference, limited to a very restricted audience.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I know. I addressed that in my second paragraph.
Geoff
Roar Rookie
Perhaps conflating two trial games into some sort of loss of face and reputation for two of the best clubs on the planet, is stretching a bit. Your continuial denigrating of sh rugby and elevation of NH rugby is boring, Perhaps get some better facts and try again.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I just don't think his reason is 'you never go back'. It's probably that he's given up on international ambitions and has waited too long since 2013, so has resigned himself.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
And Graham Henry. Graham Henry was close to the same level but not quite. It seems as if he gave up on international coaching after the Wallabies or maybe was hoping the All Blacks would forgive his coaching a serious rival and appoint him.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Munster having issues at the scrum is not surprising. This might be why It will be Quinn’s first start for Munster after becoming the province’s youngest player in the professional era at the age of 18 last season. Hooker Eoghan Clarke also makes his first start for the province and Jack O’Sullivan starts for the first time this season at no.8.. Like I said their 8 was their 5, he still scored two tries but throw in RG and Klyne and move Coombs to 8 alongside POM at 7 and Byrne at 6 and you suddenly have a much bigger pack and the frontrowers more experienced to use that bulk. Not sure any pack playing their 8 at lock and a kid at hooker will ever go well.