Rugby: Crusaders cause ripples in London

Dan Carter. Photo / Getty Images

The Crusaders have adopted "keep calm and carry on" as their season mantra. Like those who lived by the phrase during World War II, the Crusaders have used the message to guide them through the aftermath of the February 22 earthquake which wrecked Christchurch and pushed them into a rejigged Super 15 series.

Now they are on a multi-purpose mission in the London birthplace of the war-time slogan.

They play the Sharks on Monday in a match designed to address the balance sheet which has been affected badly by the closure of AMI Stadium. The Crusaders also hope to be rugby evangelists with the Sharks, delivering a message about alternate ways of playing the game.

"It will be interesting to see what the reaction is after the game, to see what sort of perspective people take from the match," Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said.

"There will be lots there who will want to see what our competition looks like and, from a rugby purist point of view, I'm sure there would be the same interest in a Heineken Cup game in Auckland or Wellington at some stage."

The game had claimed some serious coverage in the English broadsheets and there were extensive requests for interviews with Daniel Carter and Sonny Bill Williams.

The Crusaders were based in central London, a 20-minute stroll from their practice ground. They had trained well with an emphasis on adapting quickly to sleeping patterns in the Northern Hemisphere.

They fielded many questions about the earthquake which lowered Christchurch. "It got us all reliving those times but that was a natural curiosity from people up here," Blackadder said.

"Then the talk turned to the game. It seems like we might get a full house and that would be great."

The Crusaders left in batches from Christchurch, some travelling through Los Angeles while others went via Sydney, Bangkok and Dubai. It had been disjointed but they were united about claiming victory at Twickenham.

They were staying near Covent Garden, Oxford St and the West End theatres but their focus was on a performance in West London. "We have a job to do, the guys are really focused on that job and not distracted by other events," Blackadder said.

"We are right in the heart of London but this trip is all about the game."

Blackadder never played for the All Blacks at Twickenham though he did play there for the Barbarians when he remembers pulling a hamstring early in the match.

"It was all those fast-twitch fibres I had," he chortled.

"It will be great taking these boys back to that ground, it is a great arena. It still feels like home," he said.

He will get in trim for the game by watching Harlequins host Gloucester at the adjacent Stoop ground tomorrow.

Then it will be back to the hotel, checking last details before the Crusaders look to unveil a new sporting crop when they play at the Old Cabbage Patch.

Crusaders v Sharks
Twickenham, 4am Monday