Rugby: Canes and Chiefs take spotlight but don't forget the Crusaders

The Crusaders currently lead the New Zealand conference. Photo / Photosport

This Friday's New Zealand conference blockbuster between the Hurricanes and Chiefs in Wellington, easily Super Rugby's match of the round, will further take the spotlight off a Crusaders team who are quietly going about their business and pretty happy with their lot.

Scott Robertson's defending champions lead the New Zealand conference and are second overall, but they will be overtaken by either the Hurricanes or the Chiefs (or both should the Chiefs win and the home side get a losing bonus point) due to their bye this weekend.

The Crusaders' two losses have come at the hands of the Highlanders and Hurricanes (both away), and so they would have been quite happy to head offshore to play the Lions and Jaguares in Johannesburg and Buenos Aires, respectively, and they are delighted with the result; two wins, and nine points from a possible 10.

Their 40-14 win over the Jaguares at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani was tougher than it looked. The Crusaders had to make 120 tackles against a fired-up home side with a game plan far less elaborate than the Crusaders' players' facial hair; a turbo-charged crash and bash on a sticky pitch in muggy conditions.

That the Crusaders stuck at it and pulled away to win handsomely with a bonus point, despite their recently busy casualty ward and travel from Johannesburg, was a credit to their determination and two in-form strike weapons George Bridge and Manasa Mataele.

Bridge scored his eighth try of the season when dotting down for the second time (Hurricane Ben Lam has also scored eight) and the lightning quick Mataele, a 21-year-old Fijian, also scored a double.

Robertson's men are well-placed to finish the second half of the competition strongly and will be quite happy to let others dominate the headlines; the Hurricanes in particular appear to be the Crusaders' biggest impediment to another title, but have to play the Chiefs twice and Crusaders and Highlanders away.

All Blacks Owen Franks (Achilles) and Israel Dagg (knee) have club rugby outings behind them as they prepare to return, and both are possibilities to appear after the bye when the Crusaders host the Sunwolves.

Unfortunately for Franks' front row teammate Joe Moody, a finger injury suffered while playing for his Lincoln club at the weekend means he faces another six weeks out, and he is in a race to get fit for the All Blacks' first test against France in Auckland on June 9.

First-five Richie Mo'unga is due back from a broken jaw at the end of the month. While Mitch Hunt has performed well in Mo'unga's absence, the return of the 23-year-old No10, who is firmly on the All Blacks' radar, will be a welcome one.

The first assignment for the weary players and management team on their return to Christchurch will be a deserved rest before they start the middle phase of their title defence.

Assistant coach Brad Mooar said the team's trip had brought his players closer but a mini-break was coming at just the right time.

"A bye at the end of a tour is superb if you tour properly and we've done that and now everyone gets to deserve a few days off," Mooar said.

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