CRUSADERS
Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:17
CRUSADERS 2008
The 2007 Super 14 did not see the Crusaders at their best, with All Blacks Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Leon McDonald and Greg Somerville all out of action during the opening stages of the competition.
This year the six-time Super rugby champions are likely to be at their prodigious best. The Christchurch-based side not only start the season with key players - like skipper McCaw and Carter - in the mix, but they also have plenty of motivation to outdo themselves in 2008.
The competition is to be coach Robbie Deans's swansong, with the former All black assistant coach set to head over to Australia to take up a post as their new national coach.
Add to that long-serving veteran Reuben Thorne's departure, and it's obvious the Crusaders will be highly motivated to win at all costs.
The Crusaders are a team of top class players with the recipe for success - they dominated the Super 12, winning it five times
in 10 years, and then they added the inaugural Super 14 title to that.
It is very hard to argue with six titles in 12 years.
Strengths: Great structures and a game plan that ensures the opposition always pays for mistakes. They have an inspirational captain in Richie McCaw and pivot Dan Carter is likely to be there for most of the competition as well. They will also be highly motivated given Deans's pending departure.
Weakness: There are not many real weaknesses in the Crusaders game, they are solid up front, have one of the best loose forwards in the world and a stellar backline. Deans's extra Wallabies commitments could be a hindrance, but this is unlikely.
Noteworthy signings: Kahn Fotuali, Hamish Gard, Sean Maitland, Nasi Manu, Kade Poki, Brad Thorn (back from Rugby League), George Whitelock, Ali Williams (from Blues)
Noteworthy losses: Rico Gear
(Worcester Warriors), Chris Jack (Saracens), Johnny Leo'o, Aaron Mauger ( Leicester Tigers), Ben May (Chiefs), Peter Nixon, Kevin O'Neill (Chiefs), Tusi Pisi, Johnathan Poff, Isaac Ross, Kevin Senio (Castres Olympique), Rua Tipoki, Brent Ward
Coach: Robbie Deans - a great player and a great coach, a thoughtful man who can get a team to play thrilling rugby. He has the art of combining organisation and freedom of expression.
Captain: Richie McCaw is one of the great players of modern rugby, arguably the best flank in the world. He is brave and a relentless fetcher, and a committed team man who will lead from the front. He is tough, skillful and calmest when the pressure is on, an ideal leader. He is, as he deserves to be, a hero and an inspiration to many around the world.
Player(s) to watch: Ali Williams. The All Black lock transferred from Auckland to Tasman just to play for the Crusaders in this
year's competition. Also one to keep an eye on will be much talked about young wing Kade Poki. The teenager starred in the Air New Zealand Cup and has been billed as a future All black.
2007 Position: 3rd
Best finish: Winners - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
Worst finish: 12th in Super 12 in 1996
Home Venue: Jade Stadium, Christchurch (capacity 36,500)
2008 Prediction: The Crusaders will be back at their best this year. But having lost backline experince, with Rico Gear and Aaron Mauger no longer available to them in 2008, they might not be able to get right back to their usual winning ways. 2nd
Crusaders squad: Tim Bateman (Canterbury), Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Kahn Fotuali'i (Tasman),
Ben Franks (Canterbury), Hamish Gard (Canterbury), Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Michael Paterson (Canterbury), Ti'i Paulo (Canterbury), Kade Poki (Tasman), Caleb Ralph (Tasman), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Mose Tuiali'i (Canterbury), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Ali Williams (Tasman).
Schedule:
15 Feb: v Brumbies, home
22 Feb: v Bulls, away
29 Feb: v Stormer, away
9 March: v Force, away
15 March: v Cheetahs,home
21 March: v Waratahs, home
28 March: v Hurricanes, away
4/5 April: Bye
12 April: v Lions, home
18 April: v Chiefs, away
25 April: v Blues, home
2 May: v Sharks, home
10 May: v Reds, away
17 May: v Highlanders, home
