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Rob Penney: Most recent loss 'probably as bad as we've had'
By Ned Lester
The championship DNA of the Crusaders is becoming even further obscured under the team’s evergrowing list of losses in 2024, a reality their coach isn’t denying.
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The reigning champions are currently the only team in the competition that boast fewer points on the Super Rugby Pacific table than games played, having claimed just seven points in 2024, 30 behind the unbeaten Hurricanes.
That’s not great news for Crusaders fans and even worse for their playoff hopes, with the weekend’s result dropping them from 11th to last place with six rounds remaining.
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The resilient optimism from Canterbury fans and cautious scepticism from everyone else over the poor record and quarter-final ambitions may now finally be wavering. Under pressure coach Rob Penney conceded the team are not tracking in the right direction.
“The performance was probably as bad as we’ve had,” he told media in Perth.
“The discipline and the errors are two things that we should be able to control. The staff are working really, really well.
“There’s a lot of good stuff happening in behind the scenes, and I know it doesn’t always appear that way when we’ve had such a topsy-turvy sort of performance and outcome.
“But there’s probably three of those games on reflection and possibly four that we could easily have won.
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“Yes, we’re one and seven. But it could have been slightly different. It’s not. It’s the reality.”
Young players have been forced to step up due to the offseason departures and early injuries suffered by the perennial champs, with captain Scott Barrett among the multiple leaders in the team not currently available for selection.
The question was posed to Penney over how he feels his young team are faring under the pressure.
“The suggestion you’re making around the pressure and confidence and all that, it obviously is affecting, I would suggest, some of our players in a negative way, which isn’t good.
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“The boys are trying. Yes, potentially, those sorts of external elements create pressure moments inside young mens’ heads and I suspect there’s a bit of that.”
The returns of Barrett as well as All Black midfielder David Havili are nearing, and while hooker Codie Taylor’s sabbatical was initially slated to end in time for the playoffs, it’s yet to be confirmed when or if Taylor will make his return this season. First five-eighth Fergus Burke is also expected to return in the coming weeks.
The absence of those stars hasn’t left the team completely devoid of star power, with winger Sevu Reece returning from his ACL injury in superb form.
However, even with the game-breaking talent within the team, the Crusaders are too often falling short of profiting on the scoreboard.
“We weren’t good enough,” Penney added. “We would put ourselves in positions to be threatening and either give a penalty away or make an error.
“Just far too many of those controllables that we weren’t able to control and we just keep releasing pressure.”
Where has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
Hard to rank losses when you’ve had that many, huh Rob!
Poor selections all season.
Why have we got a journeyman from Counties at 1st 5 when Alex Harford a born and bred Cantabrian is not wanted. Kemara brought in 2 years ago, had an average game against Tahs but some would say that was David Havilli fault. He Surely offers more than Hoepa
The buck stops with head coach, but questions need to be asked of his Assistants who correct me if I am wrong are the same guys from last year except for Scott Hansen.
Levi Amure just starting to play ok the last 2 weeks and he is taken off.
All is very hard to understand
The lack of mongrel and poor set piece is a worry. Penny needs to go..