Crusaders look like favourites

OPINION: On paper the Crusaders look the best of the bunch. Again.

Sound familiar? Last year when the five Super 14 squads were announced the general consensus was that the Crusaders, even without Dan Carter who was bumping up his bank account at French club Perpignan, had mustered the best to win another title.

Well, they got as far as the semifinals where they were thumped by the Bulls in Pretoria while the Hurricanes and Chiefs squared off in the other playoff.

It was a minor miracle the Crusaders got that far after a shocking start, winning just one of their opening five matches, and suffering injuries to key players including Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn and Leon MacDonald.

The Crusaders again loom as New Zealand's best hope with coach Todd Blackadder slotting first five-eighth Carter into his arsenal, and the signing of wing Zac Guildford, who made his All Blacks debut against Wales last weekend.

Apart from centre, where newcomer Robbie Fruean has been recruited from Wellington to help plug the space left by Cardiff-bound Casey Laulala, the Crusaders look potent across the park with Blackadder naming 21 of last year's squad. Thirteen have represented the All Blacks.

This year the Crusaders' biggest problem was generating sustained attacks through the backline and having the money men to threaten out wide. That should change.

Leon MacDonald's move to Japan leaves a hole at fullback, but Colin Slade, who can back-up Carter if draft player Daniel Bowden does not come up to scratch, will be given the opportunity to promote his All Black chances in the No15 jersey. By attracting Guildford, the Crusaders have signed an excitement machine who should be guaranteed a start each week leaving Sean Maitland, Jared Payne and Kade Poki to scrap for the other wing.

The forward pack should has plenty of bite to it, even against the South Africans, and former All Blacks lock Chris Jack should expect plenty of scrutiny about how he adapts to this competition.

Having feathered his retirement nest with stints in London and Cape Town, he will return to a tournament where the ball is in play more and the action faster. He will also have to force his way past All Blacks Brad Thorn and Isaac Ross.

Potentially, Blackadder has the privilege of selecting a forward pack with six current All Blacks. It would have been seven if the All Blacks coaches had not snubbed Ross. With their wounded piling up and unable to get their attack out of second gear in 2009, the Crusaders were forced to revert to a game plan that relied on tenacious defence and a forward pack that believed a backward step was reserved for the dance floor.

- © Fairfax NZ News