Hapless Lions face daunting ordeal in Crusaders

This could get ugly.

Having bounced between Johannesburg, Wellington, Canberra, Sydney and Christchurch over the past month, the Lions will tonight visit another bone yard on their macabre Super 14 itinerary when they face a Crusaders side eager to score a bonus-point victory at AMI Stadium.

Surely even a cold-blooded toad would feel some sympathy for these hapless Lions, who opened their season with losses to the Stormers and Chiefs (a crazy 72-65 result at altitude) before stumbling to defeats against the Hurricanes, Brumbies and Waratahs during the difficult trip Down Under. It really has been that bad.

Although they only conceded 57 points in their first two tour matches, the Lions came a spectacular cropper when they were clobbered 73-12 by the Waratahs last weekend. Although their attack can be entertaining, whoever has been in charge of their defence should be quarantined from the squad before he can do any more damage.

Not surprisingly, back in South Africa the missiles have already been launched at head coach Dick Muir and the Lions president even promised to fly out to front the team, but sent a sports shrink instead.

In another interesting sidebar to this horror story, flanker Wikus van Heerden has been granted an early release by his London club Saracens to join the Lions with immediate effect, but he will not arrive in time for tonight's fixture.

Even with Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder rotating his squad and adding five new players to the starting side – the changes include Dan Carter being relegated to the bench and replaced by Colin Slade at first five-eighth – the team should be far too powerful.

This week, backs coach Daryl Gibson spoke about the team wanting to be "professional" about their performance, no doubt referring to the expectation his side will belt the tourists and there is a danger of drifting away from the game plan because they expect an easy result.

"We are certainly not taking the Lions easily," Slade maintained.

"Everyone is saying we should win it. And they are right – we should win – but any team that puts 55 points on the Chiefs is a worthy opponent. The message has been that there should be no complacency."

An impressive performance by Slade would put another tick from the All Blacks coaches beside his name, with his ability to also play at wing and fullback adding value to his chances of stepping on to the international stage, and he has never lacked courage in defence.

For others, such as centre Adam Whitelock and flanker Jonathan Poff, it's a rare starting chance and not one they will wish to botch.

Even with All Blacks Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Wyatt Crockett, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, George Whitelock, Chris Jack and Carter not in the starting 15, the Crusaders still have five internationals in their run-on side – unlike the Lions, who have no Springboks, although No8 Todd Clever has represented the United States. He has rarely been caught short at this level and Lions fullback Earl Rose can be an unpredictable runner on attack.

Now, for the sake of their own credibility, and that of the competition, the Lions cannot afford to repeat the Sydney nightmare tonight in Christchurch.

- © Fairfax NZ News