Rugby: Injury-cursed Crusaders stagger on

Trainer Peter Moody poses with Black Caviar. Photo / Getty Images

Talk about a battle of attrition. The Crusaders team named by Todd Blackadder yesterday contains just seven of the starting XV that played the Chiefs a little more than a month ago.

There is no better illustration of the Crusaders' injury curse than the following list: Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland, Sonny-Bill Williams, Matt Berquist, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matt Todd, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks.

They're the eight players who started against the Chiefs in Mt Maunganui who won't be in Napier tomorrow. While Thorn, Berquist and Franks are available off the bench it shows how turbulent the month has been for the Crusaders.

The Chiefs are a picture of stability by contrast. Mike Delany, Tanerau Latimer, Isaac Ross and Toby Smith are the only names missing from the team that lost 16-34 in April, and three of them were available.

"The way I look at it is that it gives eight guys an opportunity that didn't have one last time," said Blackadder. "When you select squads from the start you always select for depth."

There's depth, though, and then there's having to draft Brent Ward and Reuben Thorne into your squad, just to make sure you can name a match-day 22. "I never thought we'd have to do that but I'm pleased that I could. They're two quality individuals but if we have any more injuries I'm not sure what we'd do."

It is the Blackadder way, the Crusader way, to put a positive spin on the myriad challenges they are facing and so it is with their daunting travel schedule. The time they spent in Cape Town before and after the Stormers match was the longest they had assembled in any one place since the start of the season. Under normal circumstances the Crusaders would now be enjoying some time back in the bosom of their families after an overseas tour. Instead, they hop on a plane for a "home" match in Napier. Once again, few complaints.

"As far as we're concerned Napier is our home ground on Saturday and we're looking forward to it. This is our new normal," Blackadder said.

On the surface of things they're beginning to buckle at the knees, with a test-match-like victory over the Stormers followed by a disappointing loss to the Cheetahs at altitude.

Like the very best heavyweights, however, their test will be how efficiently they get off the ropes against the improving Chiefs.

Halfback Brendon Leonard, whose form of late has become a bellwether for the Chiefs, said it was hard to pinpoint the precise reasons for his side's recent upswing.

"A lot of it is just combinations coming together," Leonard said.

The other is that intangible - confidence. The Chiefs head to Napier with plenty of it after battling back from 3-20 down to beat the Stormers last weekend.

"We can take a lot of confidence out of that," he said.

McLean Park, Napier, tomorrow, 7.35pm

CRUSADERS
Tom Marshall
Brent Ward
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Zac Guildford
Dan Carter
Willi Heinz
Kieran Read
Richie McCaw (c)
George Whitelock
Chris Jack
Luke Romano
Ben Franks
Corey Flynn
Wyatt Crockett

CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c)
Masaga/Williams
Richard Kahui
Dwayne Sweeney
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Fritz Lee
Sam Cane
Liam Messam
Romana Graham
Craig Clarke
Ben Afeaki
Hika Elliot

Sona Taumalolo

Crusaders: Quentin MacDonald, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Joe Wheeler, Steve Alfeld, Matt Berquist, Tu Umaga-Marshall.

Chiefs: Aled de Malmanche, Toby Smith, Culum Retallick, Taiasina Tuifua, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tim Nanai-Williams/Mike Delany, Jackson Willison.