Scott Robertson and Richie Mo'unga with the Super Rugby Aotearoa title. Photo / Photosport
Scott Robertson and Richie Mo'unga with the Super Rugby Aotearoa title. Photo / Photosport
Every day this week we will preview a different Kiwi Super Rugby team ahead of the competition kick-off this weekend. Today, the defending champion Crusaders.
The down low:
The target remains firmly imprinted, with every team keen to knock them off their perch, but that never seems to worry theCrusaders. Not since Scott Robertson's unbridled, infectious enthusiasm arrived in 2017, anyway.
Since then, the Crusaders have lost seven of 70 matches - a run that includes four draws for an 84 per cent win record.
The Hurricanes burst the Crusaders' home bubble last year, ending their 36-match unbeaten streak in Christchurch. Otherwise, though, Robertson did it again to guide his men to a fourth straight title.
Whether it's fresh, inspiring themes or tactics, every year Robertson produces the goods. With just five defections from last year's squad only a brave punter would wage against the Crusaders retaining the Super Rugby Aotearoa crown.
Last year's title earned added recognition as Robertson overcame losing 497 test caps, including Kieran Read, Ryan Crotty and Matt Todd, while captain Scott Barrett missed most of the year following foot surgery.
Last year Cullen Grace's concrete shoulders emerged in the loose, the Timaru Boys' product making the All Blacks despite being restricted to two SRA matches due to a broken thumb.
Jason Ryan continues to be an unsung hero of the franchise, too – keeping the Rolls-Royce forward pack that again features All Blacks Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock, Barrett and Quinten Strange humming.
Whetu Douglas of the Crusaders. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
Changes have come in the coaching staff with Mark Jones returning home one year early and former All Blacks and Hurricanes utility Tamati Ellison, an astute rugby mind, recruited as a late defensive mentor.
The Crusaders secured last year's title with one round to spare after sneaking past the Highlanders in Christchurch - their final-round trip to Eden Park was cancelled due to a Covid-19 breakout in Auckland.
This year's format, thankfully, features a final that will significantly inflate tension and opens the door to an on-the-day upset.
Depth in the backline will be tested, particularly in the early stages of the competition while wings George Bridge and Manasa Mataele recover from injuries.
Losing second-string hooker Andrew Makalio is another blow but under Robertson's proven guidance, the Crusaders remain a formidable beast.
Defining factor: Keeping Richie Mo'unga fit
After a slow start to the year, Richie Mo'unga played all but two minutes of the Crusaders' campaign to finish with a competition-leading 99 points. His influence steadily grew and, crucially, came to the fore when needed most – think the quick restart in the comeback victory over the Blues in Christchurch.
Scott Robertson and Richie Mo'unga with the Super Rugby Aotearoa title. Photo / Photosport
In those big moments, Mo'unga wants the ball in his hands. He's at his best challenging the line; backing himself to put others into space. His line and goal kicking were not always up to scratch last year but, on form, he was the premier first five-eighth in New Zealand.
With Beauden Barrett in Japan this season, that should again be the case. The Crusaders lack depth at first-five, however. If Mo'unga went down they face a huge drop in class to Brett Cameron or David Havili, who, to his credit, is capable of filling any backline role.
Losing Mo'unga would be a body blow to title aspirations.
Positional battle: Midfield
Braydon Ennor's absence for the SRA season with a ruptured ACL, suffered in last year's North against South match, leaves the Crusaders with a midfield conundrum.
Leicester Fainga'anuku, Havili, Isaiah Punivai, Dallas McLeod and Chay Fihaki are all options to fill Ennor's void. Rene Ranger is also in the mix, though only for the first month until Bridge and Mataele recover from pectoral injuries.
The interesting question is what impact Ennor's injury has on Jack Goodhue's position. Goodhue, in combination with Ennor, played second-five for the Crusaders last season. His best position, however, is centre where his decision-making and distribution skills are better utilised. Whether the Crusaders strike the right midfield balance without Ennor is an intriguing element to their campaign.
Under-the-radar prospect: Fletcher Newell
Props don't get enough props, so who better to thrown in the spotlight than Fletcher Newell, the tighthead responsible for breaking Blair Prinsep's Crusaders' academy squat record, with a 255kg lift. Noted for his work ethic and strong scrummaging, the 121kg Newell was New Zealand age grade player of the year in 2019 and will compete with established veterans Michael Alaalatoa, Oli Jager and fellow rookie, 140kg prospect Tamaiti Williams, for minutes at No 3.
Ins and outs:
Four promising rookies come into the mix and the Crusaders have two notable season-ending injuries - Ennor and Makalio - to contend with but, otherwise, their tile-winning squad is largely settled.
Out: Braydon Ennor (injured), Billy Harmon (Highlanders), Fetuli Paea (Highlanders), Ethan Roots (released), Andrew Makalio (season-ending neck injury)
Prediction: Champions
Very little separates the Kiwi rivals. The Hurricanes proved that in their Christchurch victory last year; the Highlanders got very close to repeating the dose and the Blues had their chances, too. The Crusaders are far from unbeatable, but they continue to set the bar for clinical execution and, therefore, demand excellence of the highest order every week. With the Blues, their closest rivals last year, losing Barrett to Japan, the Crusaders start a nose in front.
