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When you walk into the Crusaders players’ gym at Rugby Park, championship banners along the back wall stare down at you. They have enough to cover half the length of the gym – a constant reminder to current players of the past success that the team is built on.
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The 2017 banner will be the first past halfway on that wall – proud work of the current squad and symbolic of the beginning of a new Crusaders era. It’s been a long time between drinks for Super Rugby’s most successful franchise – at least in terms of what they were used to – the Crusaders 8th championship season in 2017 has been 9 years in the making.
In between, the perennial finalists lost two grand finals to Australian sides, watched the Chiefs win twice after losing back-to-back semi-finals to them and suffered their worst season result since 2001 losing seven times missing the playoffs in 2015.
2017 was the return of Crusaders rugby but this could be the dawn of a new dynasty with 2018 shaping up as another championship season.
The roster is primed with experience, with arguably the best tight five in the competition. The depth in the front row is outstanding – Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Mike Alaalatoa to name a few. When All Black prop Wyatt Crockett is coming off the bench, you know your front row stocks are strong.
With Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano and Scott Barrett they have a formidable second row, and experienced loosies Kieran Read, Jordan Taufua and Matt Todd round out a world-class pack.
Before last year’s championship season, there were concerns over their age – these were proven to be overblown. The experience and toughness of this pack are invaluable assets that led the team to 14 straight victories last season.
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The Crusaders have youth in all the right places, uncovering gems in centre Jack Goodhue and wings George Bridge and Manasa Mataele last year while fullback David Havili earned an All Blacks call-up.
With the addition of New Zealand u20 star fullback Will Jordan and wing Braydon Ennor, expect more young stars to emerge this season.
The value the Crusaders put on experience is obvious, bringing in 35-year-old first five Mike Delaney after an age-defying season with Bay of Plenty and the calm presence of 30-year-old centre Tim Bateman.
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Desperate to crack the playoffs’ Blues
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Hurricanes title window still open
Highlanders to bring same staunch attitude
The franchise seems to find advantages by exploring every possible option. They experimented with ex-Wallaby Digby Ioane last season, as well as bringing in Chiefs centre Seta Tamanivalu, turning him into a solid contributor on the wing. Don’t bet against this year’s signings paying off.
The Crusaders best-kept secret is no more, with the emergence of first-five eighth Richie Mo’unga as a genuine threat to Beauden Barrett’s place as New Zealand’s best 10.
History shows since 2010 every Super Rugby winning team had a 10 aged between 23-26. Even All Black legend Dan Carter – who played for the Crusaders until 33 – won his last title at age 26.
The 23-year-old Mo’unga became the latest name on that list and is only just entering the sweet spot for Super Rugby first-fives. This is a big reason to back the Crusaders this year, Mo’unga is going to get better heading into his third season.
The team weren’t widely expected to win the title in 2017. That title was a bonus in Scott Robertson’s first year at the helm and the team will be hungry for more success.
The Crusader’s toughest competition in the New Zealand conference will be the Hurricanes – the only Super team to beat them last year – and they will know it. The Canes might be the only side between the Crusaders and back-to-back titles.
2018 Predictions
New Zealand Conference Placing: 1st
Player of the Year: Richie Mo’unga
Rookie of the Year: Will Jordan
Best Signing: Mike Delaney
Breakout Player: Pete Samu
Super Rugby Placing: Champions
Franchise History
Best finish: Champions in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2017
Worst finish: Twelfth in 1996
Squad Movements
In: Ethan Blackadder (Tasman), Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty), Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), Billy Harmon (Canterbury), Will Jordan (Tasman), Tom Sanders (Chiefs), Jack Stratton (Canterbury).
Out: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Manawatu), Jed Brown (Canterbury), Whetu Douglas (Treviso), Sione Fifita (Counties Manukau), Vernon Fredericks (Tasman), Leon Fukofuka (Auckland), Digby Ioane (Wild Knights), Marty McKenzie (Chiefs), Sean Wainui (Taranaki).
Squad: Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor, Mike Alaalatoa, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Sam Whitelock, Ethan Blackadder, Billy Harmon, Kieran Read, Tom Sanders, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Mitchell Drummond, Bryn Hall, Jack Stratton, Mike Delany, Mitchell Hunt, Richie Mo’unga, Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge, Israel Dagg, David Havili, Will Jordan, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele, Seta Tamanivalu.
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments