Crusaders? loss doesn?t upset Deans

Sydney
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans wasn't pushing the panic button after a lax 14-39 pre-Super 12 rugby trial loss to the Waratahs Saturday night, but there is concern over fullback Scott Hamilton who limped off Aussie Stadium with an ankle injury.
With the season opener against the Brumbies in Canberra just a fortnight away, Hamilton's likely loss and the belated arrival of Leon MacDonald from Japan could see Dan Carter reclaim the No 15 jersey, a position he filled for Canterbury in last year's NPC.
Deans was mulling over his permutations today in the aftermath of a disappointing six tries-to-two defeat to a physically dominant, yet by no means flawless, New South Wales side.
The temporary absence of veteran pivot Andrew Mehrtens is another complicating factor, although he will be available to play against the Brumbies before flying to London the following day to play in the March 5 tsunami fundraiser at Twickenham.
Mehrtens' absence could leave the Crusaders short for the round two clash with the Chiefs if MacDonald has not yet completed his club commitments with Japan Top League side Yamaha.
Yamaha are in the semifinals, meaning the former All Black could be another fortnight away from rejoining the Crusaders.
Hamilton, one of the Crusaders' most impressive players last night, was diagnosed with a badly sprained left ankle after being crunched in a 45th minute tackle, leaving Deans pessimistic about his chances of fronting the Brumbies.
Other than shifting Carter to fullback, Aaron Mauger and Rico Gear will also be considered for the position. A pointer to Deans' thinking will come tomorrow when the team to play the Reds in Brisbane on Friday is named.
Deans will be without hooker Tone Kopelani, who suffered a head knock, and prop Greg Feek, who strained a calf during training last week. Neither injuries are considered serious but training squad hooker Ti'i Paulo was due to join the team in Sydney yesterday.
Injury concerns aside, Deans admitted the Waratahs' game exposed the Crusaders' sluggish build-up as they were consistently outmuscled in an error-prone encounter.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the fifth minute but the Waratahs led 8-7 at the break and pounced with three quick third quarter tries as the Crusaders went to sleep for 15 minutes.
The loss followed a similarly patchy 38-43 defeat by the Highlanders last week and leaves the four-time champions with plenty of work to do before the visit to Canberra.
"They won the physical contest, it was pretty evident the Waratahs are a bit further advanced than we are," Deans admitted, citing the late arrival of the All Blacks as a contributing factor.
"We're not match sharp yet. Our reaction time isn't quite there, our ethic isn't quite there, but it's coming ? believe it or not."
Captain Richie McCaw, who played only the first half as Deans rotated his squad, agreed the team were out of synch, particularly at the breakdown.
"We were a second off putting pressure on them at tackle time whereas they put a lot of heat on us there."
Fijian wing Vilimoni Delasau scored on debut by rounding off an 80m breakout sparked by Casey Laulala on the hour mark to pull the Crusaders back to 14-27 but there was precious little invention or penetration by the backline.
The Crusaders' effort was no surprise to Wallabies midfielder Morgan Turinui who helped kill off the visitors with a brace of tries.
"I don't think we can read too much into it. The Crusaders never show you anything in a trial. They'll have a plan." ? NZPA