One more hurdle for Crusaders in crazy season

RICHARD KNOWLER

Todd Blackadder's head looked as if it would explode.

The veins in his neck were bulging and his jawline was cranking up and down as he vented his fury.

The setting was Eden Park's changing sheds and Blackadder was firing verbal shells at his men after they blew a big lead to lose to the Blues 24-22 in their opening-round Super Rugby match at Eden Park.

The date was February 19 and the Crusaders coach's major concern that evening was the way his men had let the four competition points slip and how he could reboot them into winning mode against the Hurricanes the following weekend.

Three days later, everything changed.

After the quake struck on February 22, playing the 'Canes in Wellington was the last thing the players wanted to do.

Rugby could wait.

The competition points were shared with the Hurricanes and the following week the Crusaders got back to business at a temporary training ground at Lincoln University while the aftershocks continued.

It quickly became apparent their season was going to be a more immense challenge than usual.

Damage to AMI Stadium meant there would be no home games and the Crusaders crew embarked on a crazy ride that took them out of Christchurch every weekend to locations such as London, Nelson, Napier, Timaru and Wellington to host their fixtures.

While the Crusaders' finances were taking a disastrous hit the team was still doing remarkable things on the field.

Their 33-18 win over the Waratahs in Nelson on March 4, sparked a six-match winning streak that eventually conked out when they were upset by the Highlanders on April 23.

Blackadder was without skipper Richie McCaw, who missed eight of the opening 10 matches because of an injured foot and concussion.

Playmaker Dan Carter also missed five matches midway through the season because of a torn hamstring, halfback Andy Ellis broke his thumb, and fullback Israel Dagg's season ended in early May because of a torn hip muscle. When locks Sam Whitelock and Brad Thorn suffered ankle and calf injuries, Reuben Thorne was hauled out of club duties with High School Old Boys and was asked to tour Perth and South Africa.

Then the volcanic ash cloud threatened to ground the team, so McCaw asked a mate to fly them north in an old DC3. The Crusaders beat the 'Canes the next day.

Amid all this drama, Sonny Bill Williams won a boxing fight in Auckland and donated $100,000 to the Christchurch earthquake appeal.

Somehow, Blackadder still managed to keep his team members' minds fixed on the finals.

Just one more hurdle to go. Who would dare bet against them beating the Queensland Reds in Brisbane tonight?

It would be a fitting end to a crazy season.

Key match-ups in Super Rugby final:

DAN CARTER v QUADE COOPER

ATTACK:

CARTER Rating: 7

Brave at running the ball when options outside him are limited, Carter will often carry possession into contact to soften-up the defensive line. A master at reading the game, the rugby computer between Carter's ears works nano-seconds ahead of his opponents and his accurate long and short passing game can ignite his backline.

COOPER Rating: 8

A wonderfully balanced side-stepper, the Tokoroa-born playmaker can shift into top gear off both feet and seemingly change the point of attack on a space the size of a doormat. Unafraid to counter-attack, Cooper's instinct is to run.

DEFENCE:

CARTER: 8.5

The Crusaders No10 is as brave as a lion in this department. Strategies to run down his channel often result in him ploughing his 91kg frame into opponents' legs. Technically flawless, he rarely leaves any margin for error.

COOPER Rating: 5.5

Coach Ewen McKenzie's decision to hide him in the deep from set pieces says it all. Big enough to handle himself, Cooper can still be vulnerable in one-on-one situations – hence McKenzie's decision to switch him to fullback at defensive scrums and lineouts.

KICKING:

CARTER 8

His goal-kicking statistics, which are about the mid-70 per cent mark, are among the best in the business and, although he can still have the odd misfire, the Crusaders five-eighth has ice in his veins when it matters in the big occasions: as seen in Cape Town last week, when he banged over seven of nine attempts. In general play, his punting is without peer.

COOPER 6

Hot and cold when taking shots at goal. Last week he missed four of seven in the semifinal against the Blues, but the week before he was flawless.

MARKETING:

CARTER 9

After nine years at the top, his off-field value remains at a premium. Squeaky clean on the field, Carter is a decent bloke off it, too.

COOPER 8.5

This fellow has the potential to be dynamite for his manager, Khoder Nasser. Scrapes with the law a few years ago meant he was close to being a wasted talent. But he cleaned up his act, got rid of some drongo mates, shaved off the dreadful rat's tail and hyena haircut, and stopped dressing like a dealer from the 'hood. If he performs well at the World Cup, he could have merchandising deals flung at him from all over Aussie.

COREY FLYNN v SAIA FAINGAA

This has been a memorable season for rake Flynn, who was one of the Crusaders' best in last weekend's semifinal win. A powerful scrummager, he has helped boost the set piece into one of the best in the competition. Faingaa is like a loose forward with his hunger to defend and cart the ball up, but his lineout throwing can be suspect if his jumpers are under pressure.

RICHIE McCAW v BEAU ROBINSON

Waratahs outcast Robinson has thrived under coach McKenzie this season, with his work on the ground being one of the highlights of the Reds' surge into the final. The No7 held his own when he competed against Crusaders skipper McCaw the last time the two sides met in late May, with the latter giving away the penalty that handed the Reds the win. Enough has been said about McCaw to fill a bible, but it could be his leadership that means the most tonight.

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS v BEN TAPUAI

Big SBW failed to fire when the Crusaders last travelled to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, so this is his chance for redemption. His offload created Robbie Fruean's try in Cape Town last weekend, and Tapuai and his mates will be amped to chop down his big tentacles before they create misery tonight.

- © Fairfax NZ News