CRUSADERS ADD ANOTHER SUPER RUGBY TITLE, 2023
Don’t go prematurely calling the Crusaders’ dynasty done at seven titles in as many years.
That was the message from departing head coach Scott Robertson, who pointed out some folk thought they were finished with three consecutive titles when a host of players moved on in 2019.
The Crusaders sure have kept rolling after Wyatt Crockett, the most capped player (203) in competition history, Owen Franks, Matt Todd, and Israel Dagg finished up, snaring the Christchurch-based franchise’s record extending 14th title in Hamilton over the weekend beating the Chiefs.
All Blacks coach elect Robertson believes he’s leaving the Crusaders in a good spot to continue, too, despite pivot Richie Mo’unga, arguably the franchise’s greatest player, lock Sam Whitelock and wing Leicester Fainga’anuku also signing off.
Centre Jack Goodhue is also set to head offshore, and assistant coach Scott Hansen will follow Robertson to the All Blacks.
The Crusaders have got three coaches that have been in a year with them now. Tamati Ellison is a hell of a coach, Matt Todd a Crusaders centurion, and with Rob Penney coming in, plus Dan Perrin, and James Marshall, there will be some good continuity, and they will make it their own now.
Speaking of former Canterbury coach and Crusaders assistant Penney, who gave Robertson his first crack at coaching, he takes over in August as head coach. Penney coached the Waratahs in 2019-2020, and was a player from 1985-1994 for Canterbury. He was an assistant coach at the Crusaders in 2005,and between 2008 and 2011 he coached Canterbury to four consecutive NPC titles, during which time Razor Robertson was his assistant. In 2012 he was the head coach on the NZ under 20’s team at the world championship. He was then appointed head coach at Munster in Ireland for the 2013-2014 season. He then took up a position with the NTT Shipping Arcs in Japan ,followed by the Waratahs stint, then on to Japan’s under 20’s side and will lead them in the under 20’s tournament currently in progress in France, before returning to NZ to concentrate on the Crusaders team for 2024.
Talk about having big shoes to fill, but at least Penney will inherit a squad with a ton of quality.
The loss of Mo’unga, who finished with an 83-10 record in games he played under Robertson, and who Robertson called his quarterback, is most significant, although Faigna’anuku, who scored a competition-leading 13 tries this season, and Whitelock walking will also be dearly felt.
However, four players Robertson has touted as the future – halfback Noah Hotham, outside back Macca Springer, pivot Taha Kemara and hooker George Bell – are tipped to flourish in a group not short of experience.
Skipper Scott Barrett and vice captains David Havili and Codie Taylor are on deck through 2025, fullback Will Jordan is on the books through 2027, while fellow All Blacks Sevu Reece, Joe Moody, Ethan Blackadder, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell and Cullen Grace aren’t going anywhere, to name a bunch. Add Christian Lio-Willie, Fergus Burke, new All Black Dallas McLeod, plus Levi Aumua from the Moana Pasifika squad, and it already looks like an imposing team . There are more but we can wait for that to come.
Having amassed seven titles courtesy of 98 wins from 118 games in charge since 2017, Robertson isn’t quite done just yet. He has a job to do with the All Blacks after this years World Cup, and I congratulate every one at the franchise on a job well done.
That’s everybody ,including office staff, coaches, players, and mostly the fans who supported this wonderful team over many years and will continue to follow in the future. Myself included.
PSS’T. Keep this quiet. As I have some spies in the Crusaders camp let me share this with you.
I have the gossip that the Crusaders may well face URC champions Munster in a pre-season clash in Limerick, Ireland next year in January. Remember new Crusaders coach Rob Penney coached Munster in 2013-2014. Watch this space!!!
Read this too
Comments