Crusaders get no sympathy from Shaun Stevenson ahead of derby

It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Crusaders after another loss in round five to the Blues, with the team now preparing to host a Chiefs outfit eager to further the reigning champions’ record run of losses.

The two played each other in the opening game of the season, a rematch of last year’s final – although one of the two wasn’t considering that the case. The Crusaders acknowledged the significant changes to their personnel both on and off the field and considered themselves a different enough team for that match not to qualify as a finals rematch.

The Chiefs on the other hand were hungry to enact revenge, regardless. That game resulted in a tight win for the Chiefs but the narrative has evolved considerably since then.

The Crusaders not only lost that contest in round one, but every contest since.

“Hopefully we can make that five into a six this week,” Chiefs star fullback Shaun Stevenson told Newshub, referring to the Crusaders’ losing streak.

“Obviously we’ve been through our fair share of losses before, and I guess they [the Crusaders] are always up the top, so it’s good to see them down the bottom.”

Team Form

Last 5 Games

10 - 43

25 - 22

24 - 31

14 - 31

29 - 45

56 - 22

46 - 10

21 - 14

27 - 15

35 - 50

4

Wins

4

4

Streak

2

23

Tries Scored

26

44

Points Difference

90

3/5

First Try

3/5

3/5

First Points

3/5

4/5

Race To 10 Points

4/5

It’s safe to say Stevenson’s thoughts are shared by many fans after watching the Crusaders win seven titles in as many years.

Regardless of the Christchurch team’s losing streak, opponents remain adamant there’s no room for complacency or anything short of an 80-minute performance against the men in red and black.

“The last few weeks we have been pretty good for the first 50 or 60 minutes, or either just one half that’s good, so we got plenty to work on,” Stevenson added, before elaborating on potential causes for those incomplete performances.

“Probably just a bit of complacency – we started well and then I guess the boys that are coming onto the field, it’s about getting down the right end, especially in bad conditions, not throwing silly offloads away.

“Just be accurate and go out there and execute.”

Last week, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan told Newshub “Complacency is not something that will creep into our environment.” ahead of what would end up being another tight finish against the Highlanders.

The Chiefs had earned a commanding 28-0 scoreline an hour into that game but conceded three unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes and were forced to defend after the full-time hooter to preserve save lead. In the round one fixture, it was a similar story as the Chiefs ran out to a strong early lead, only for the Crusaders to fight back in the second period.

Stevenson is under no illusions, his side can’t afford to continue leaking points like that late.

“They’ve been in the games most of the last five or six weeks, they’re always a tough opponent and we know that, so I think the focus needs to be on ourselves.

“When we do get a lead, good teams put them away.”