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The Crusaders of yesteryear would have strolled through their latest task, especially on their home ground.
Ahead 23-9 as they headed for the final quarter, those who fashioned the dynasty which compiled seven titles and several runners-up honours would have clomped relentlessly to victory.
Instead the class of 2009 fell
to bits against a modest Force invasion in a messy final quarter which may have removed most of the Crusaders' self-belief about making the playoffs.
Their benevolent concession of two converted tries was more reminiscent of their 1996 debut year in Super rugby than the consistent venom they have shown in subsequent seasons. They had a late chance to sneak victory but Stephen Brett tugged his fifth kick wide of the poles.
Both sides looked dazed by the 23-23 deadlock, the Force probably bemused they had claimed the points and the Crusaders shellshocked by this collapse which followed their inability to score a solitary point last weekend.
The exit of eight All Blacks from last year's squad and five more, including skipper Richie McCaw, on injury watch from the bleachers, has scoured away the Crusaders' experienced core and left them vulnerable.
Just one All Black, Leon MacDonald, was left in the inexperienced backline where rookie five-eighths Colin Slade was pressed into service on the wing. As fate would decree, Slade had a chance to claim the game at the end of the third quarter but his search for the tryline was slapped into touch by a superb Drew Mitchell tackle.
A bonus point try then would have pushed the Crusaders to victory to slap alongside their opening round win against the Chiefs. Just over 20 minutes later they trudged off to ruminate over a shoddy list of what ifs and late lost chances.
They included:
- Hanging off the mercurial Matt Giteau who engineered both late Force converted tries.
- Creating an overlap before Ryan Crotty's sloppy pass missed any of his teamates.
- Brett's crosskick failing to sit up for a run to the line.
- MacDonald sinbinned for taking a defender out in the air.
- Brett's close penalty miss.
This was the 26th stalemate in Super rugby history and the fifth time the Crusaders have been involved. When they review their season, the points they squandered in this game may hurt the most.
Observations from coach Todd Blackadder after the game, suggested as much.
"I'm pleased with the way we played. It was some of the best rugby of the season but I'm disappointed that we let it slip and let them back into it," he said.
"At critical times we didn't put them away."
The Blues achieved that mission when they dealt to the Cheetahs and moved into fourth place on the points table ahead of the Hurricanes who had a bye.
Victory was the only option for the Blues against a side which has been unable to win many games away from their Bloemfontein headquarters. Coach Pat Lam offered his side more freedom on attack this week but the weather and inaccurate skills hijacked some of those intentions.
There was little enterprise in Invercargill until Lelia Masaga broke the game open in favour of the Chiefs to set up the prospect of a tasty local derby against the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday.
The surprise of the round came in Brisbane where the Sharks lost their unbeaten record as they dithered in the face of an inspired Reds onslaught. That result allowed the Bulls and the Waratahs to stay ahead of the Sharks who head for the final match on their road trip, against the Force in Perth.
