By Wynne Gray
DUNEDIN - Where do the Canterbury Crusaders stand in Super 12 rugby history?
Equal in the history books with the Auckland Blues in taking two titles, and by the look of yesterday's 24-19 win against the Otago Highlanders with more to come.
As every side point out, the level of
the competition has increased in each of the four seasons.
That issue was not lost on former All Black Grant Fox as he assessed the series.
"The Blues were clearly the best in the first two years when the standards of all the teams was not as consistently high. Now more of the teams play to a high quality," he said.
"You could argue this was the hardest year of all because every side was a difficult challenge.
"This Cruasders' win was very meritorious. They play the game intelligently, they are a smart team with good defence and a very useful bench.
"They work on solid game plans but have also introduced flexibility to their planning. They are good mates, they have a good culture and are well led."
Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder believed much of the groundwork for the repeat title win was done in the two months work before the series started.
Then the defiant character of the side told when they knew they could not drop any of their last six matches.
Fox also complimented the Highlanders, who he felt may have suffered after the rigours of travelling to Cape Town for their semifinal.
"But they are going to be a very strong side for the next few years, too.
"They have taken a while to build this side and the results are now showing."
Ironically their defeat yesterday at Carisbrook broke a pattern which had the province who won the previous year's NPC returning as the franchise which took out the Super 12 title the next season.
The All Black selectors were among the 41,500 throng at Carisbrook anxiously watching the game to check some match-ups and any injury fallout.
There appeared to be little medical misadventure for the Highlanders, but several Crusaders needed attention.
Midfield back Daryl Gibson hurt his right knee, Norm Maxwell his thigh, Andrew Mehrtens his tender left foot, while Norm Berryman was also struggling.
Those injuries and the state of any others will be assessed further this week when the All Black squad gather for their international programme, which starts with a trial game against New Zealand A in Christchurch on June 11.
Twenty-one players involved in yesterday's final have been named in those two squads.
By Wynne Gray
DUNEDIN - Where do the Canterbury Crusaders stand in Super 12 rugby history?
Equal in the history books with the Auckland Blues in taking two titles, and by the look of yesterday's 24-19 win against the Otago Highlanders with more to come.
As every side point out, the level of
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