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Crusaders semi-final team near identical to side that bested Hurricanes at the same stage in 2018

Crusaders celebrate their 2018 title win. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson says continuity is the cornerstone of their Super Rugby empire, pointing to how little has changed in the space of 12 months.

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The Crusaders starting team to face the Hurricanes in Saturday’s semi-final in Christchurch features only two additions from that which bulldozed the same opposition in the equivalent game last year.

The bench is nearly identical too, with one of the two differences being the presence of 99-game flanker Jordan Taufua, who started last year but has been surpassed this season by Whetukamokamo Douglas.

In contrast, there are just 10 Hurricanes back from the 23 outclassed 30-12.

Stability is no fluke at the nine-time champion Crusaders, who are out to keep their perfect title record under third-year coach Robertson.

Ongoing success has made it harder for players to leave, while roster depth means their raft of All Blacks personnel can be managed through a season with the aim of peaking at playoff time.

Robertson takes comfort from the bonds forged by his players.

“People know each other over a long period of time and have the relationship to deal with pressure moments. It’s really critical,” he said.

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Seta Tamanivalu’s right wing berth was the only notable vacancy heading into 2019 and the Crusaders filled it with electric competition leading try-scorer, Sevu Reece.

It will be more of a challenge next year after senior All Blacks Kieran Read, Ryan Crotty, Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks have left to play offshore, along with Taufua.

Robertson’s focus this week is on combating a Hurricanes team who he notes boast their usual quote of X-factor players through the likes of Ardie Savea and brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett.

However, the visitors have also shown more grit this season, Robertson believes, with their 35-28 quarter-final win over the Bulls their ninth this season by 10 or less points.

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“The Hurricanes have found a way,” he said.

“We know how good they can be on their day and the strength of individual players to open the game up and create a lot.

“They’ve won a lot of tight games this year and that experience counts.”

Robertson is anxious that the Crusaders be more precise at the breakdown than in last week’s 38-14 quarter-final defeat of the Highlanders.

A dominant scrum to swung momentum their way in the southern derby and that facet of the game, fuelled by an all-All Blacks tight five, is expected to be pivotal against the youthful Hurricanes pack.

– AAP

Watch Crusaders coach Scott Roberston discuss his side’s upcoming semi-final:

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Eliza Galloway 1 hour ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

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JW 1 hour ago
James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Lol you need to shoot your editor for that headline, even I near skipped the article.


France simply need to go to a league format for the Brennus, that will shave two weekends of pointless knockout rugby from their season and raise the competitions standards and mystique no end.


The under age loophole is also a easy door to shut, just remove the lower age limit. WR simply never envisioned a day were teams would target people under the age of 17 or whatever it is now, but much like with Rassie and his use of subs bench, that day was obviously always going to come. I can’t remember how football does it, I think it’s the other way around with them, you can’t sign anyone younger than that but unions can’t stop 17 or 18 yo’s from leaving for a pro club if they want to. There is a transaction that takes place of a few hundred thousand for a normal average player. I’d prefer rugby to be stricter and just keep the union bodies signoff being required.


What really was their problem with Kite and co leaving though? Do we really need a game dominated by Internationals? I even think WR’s proposed calendar might be a bit too much, with at minimum 12 top tier games being played in the World Championship. I think 10 to 12, maybe any one player playing 10 of those 12 is the best way to think of it, for every international team is max, so that they can allow their domestic comps to shine if they want, and other nations like Japan and Fiji can, even some of the home nations maybe, and fill out their calendar with extra tours if they like them as a way to make money. As it is RA don’t have as good a pathway system, so they could simply buy back those players if they turn good. Are they worried they’ll be less likely to? We wait for baited breath for the new season to be laid out in front of us by WR.

It could impose sanctions on the Fédération Française de Rugby, but the body which runs the Top 14 and the ProD2, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, is entirely independent.

It’s not independent at all. The LNR is a body under, and commissioned by, the FFR (and Government control) to mediate the clubs. FFR can simply install a new club competition if they don’t listen, then you’d see whether the players want to stay at any club who doesn’t tow the line and move to the new competition, as they obviously wouldn’t fall under the auspice of world rugby. They would be rebels, which is fine in and upon itself, but they would isolate themselves from the rest of the game and would need to be OK with that. I have no doubt whatsoever that clubs would have to and want to fall in line to remain part of the EPCR and French rugby. Probably even the last thing they would want is to compete with another French domestic competition that has all the advantages they don’t.


All those players would do good for a few seasons in France, especially the fringe ones, with thankfully zero risk of them being poached if they turn good. New Zealand had a turn at keeping all of it’s talent, and while it upticked the competitiveness of the Super Rugby teams into a total dominance of Australian and South African counterparts (who were suffering more heavily than most the other way at that stage), it didn’t have as positive an effect on the next step up as ensuring young talents development is not hindered does. Essentially NZR flooded the locate market with players but inevitably it didn’t think the local economy could sustain any more pro teams itself, so now we are seeing a normal amount of exodus for the availability of places again. Are Australia in exactly the same footing? I think so, finances where dicey for a while perhaps but I doubt they are putting money constraints on their contracting now. It’s purely about who leaves to open up opportunity.

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