Rugby: Pressure just part of fun for Blackadder

Todd Blackadder. Photo / Geoff Sloan

The Crusaders coach is delighted to have a must-win clash against the Brumbies

Ramp up the heat, stir up the pressure, stoke up the tension. It's all part of the deal for Crusaders' coach Todd Blackadder and he wouldn't have it any other way.

The 38-year-old is nearing the end of his second Super 14 campaign as coach, though he hopes his squad will have at least one more week in this year's tournament.

The Crusaders have made the playoffs every year since 2002 and Blackadder, the only captain to lift the trophy three times, is intent on maintaining that qualifying pedigree.

This week has all been a bit fraught since the team arrived home from their South African itinerary about midnight on Sunday. Some of the players still felt a bit strange at trainings trying to readjust to the local time zones though Blackadder reckoned he was in strong shape after a huge sleep on night one.

"I love it, the more responsibility the better," the former All Black captain said. "Coaching, I love it good or bad. When things go pear-shaped it is a bit tougher but it's all part of the deal."

Blackadder began coaching in Scotland in 2003 and via work with Tasman came to head up the Crusaders' group last year with his old contemporaries, Mark Hammett and Daryl Gibson.

You won't find Blackadder (too often) bemoaning the fates or the troubles in such an exacting tournament. Nor does he admit to any personal rise in nerves or agitated moments as tonight's sudden-death meeting with the Brumbies arrives.

"Mate it's exciting. Here we are playing a side where the winner has all to gain. Both teams, depending on the weather, will have an attacking mindset and we will want to build on what I thought was a pretty good performance last week against the Bulls."

Blackadder admitted he had been wondering where that kind of performance had been in latter parts of the competition. The Crusaders had been poor against the Force and then well beaten by the Stormers although he thought they had given that team a decent physical inquest.

"I thought we got even stronger against the Bulls. I was proud of it, we have no injuries, we are in great shape and we have got to back it up this week or we will not be in the playoffs."

When their season ends the Crusaders will lose Thomas Waldrom, Ti'i Paulo, Daniel Bowden and Tim Bateman to overseas contracts.

"It is a shame because they have all been great and we'd rather have them," Blackadder said. "But that's the way it is and there have been a number of guys who have really impressed.

Leading New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence will control tonight's game with Blackadder only asking he operate consistently. The Crusaders have had some issues with officials in the last few weeks in what had been an unwanted distraction.

"We have not had Bryce this season but he is usually very consistent. If we control our performance then it makes it easier for the officials."

The coach said his greatest education this season had been sifting through his strategies.

"It is all about working out what it takes to get a performance from this team, the style of play that suits us and mixing that with the things we do well."

CRUSADERS V BRUMBIES
Christchurch: Friday, 7.35pm, SS1