Deans: Crusaders’ win would be ‘best yet’
Robbie Deans – the last coach to lead the Crusaders to a Super Rugby title – says a win in Johannesburg would be their finest triumph.
Deans, now coaching in Japan, believes the Crusaders are the only Super Rugby team capable of beating the Lions in Johannesburg, although he acknowledged it would be a formidable task.
‘‘If the Crusaders do win this final at Ellis Park, they will genuinely deserve the title.’’
The Crusaders have won seven Super Rugby crowns - five (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008) with Deans at the helm.
Asked if a win over the Lions on the high veldt at Ellis Park after a long journey to South Africa would constitute the Crusaders’ greatest achievement, Deans said: ‘‘The current win is always the best, but, yeah, absolutely.
‘‘It’s got unique challenges [playing in South Africa], but these boys are well versed with that. And, it’s finite. They know the end is nigh.
‘‘There’s good belief in this group and enough experience in these young blokes now.
‘‘They know their lungs are going to burn but I don’t think there’s anything that they will be afraid of.’’
Deans watches every Crusaders game from his Japanese base where his Panasonic Wild Knights squad are in pre-season.
He has been impressed with the enthusiasm the Crusaders have exhibited since the Super Rugby competition resumed after the British and Irish Lions tour break.
‘‘Their last two performances have been very focused, very calm. The signs are good. ‘‘They’re good to go [on Sunday].’’ He said the Crusaders had had three games before the playoffs (against the British and Irish Lions, the Highlanders in a friendly, and the Hurricanes) and that had helped to hit the ground running for their knockout phase victories over the Highlanders and the Chiefs.
Deans agreed the Crusaders’ victory over the Chiefs last weekend had elements of his own team’s grinding win over the Brumbies in the 2000 final in Canberra.
On both occasions the Crusaders had very little ball, but took their chances and held out their opponents with stifling defence.
‘‘It’s an indication of the bond that exist between the players, and I guess it reflects the depth of belief as well.’’
After nine years away, Deans still feels ‘‘very connected’’ to the Crusaders, particularly with two of his former players, Scott Robertson and Leon MacDonald heading the coaching team.
‘‘I was lucky enough to be asked to present the jerseys to the team for the Highlanders game in Dunedin. It was good to be in the Crusaders shed again for a short while.’’
He believes his old club have ‘‘a canny coaching group’’ and said the Crusaders could ‘‘ironically have an advantage’’ going into the title decider, ‘‘in the fact [the Lions] haven’t been tested a lot this year’’.
‘‘They obviously responded well to their first half circumstances [in the semifinal against the Hurricanes] last week, but they haven’t had many tests. They haven’t had their systems tested to the same extent the Crusaders have.
‘‘You need a bit of adversity along the way to ensure that you can cope.’’
While Deans acknowledged the Lions had firepower, he said the Crusaders did too and they also had the ability ‘‘to stifle and stymie’’, which could frustrate the home side and ‘‘compound the pressure’’.
He said the way the Crusaders’ All Blacks had performed since returning from Lions duty showed ‘‘how much they enjoy their rugby in that [Super Rugby] environment’’.
‘‘Sam [Whitelock] has done a great job as captain, his demeanour really suits the group and he’s got some good lieutenants around him.’’
Deans has big wraps on the Crusaders’ midfielders, saying Ryan Crotty was ‘‘a great decision maker’’ while centre Jack Goodhue was also a defensive force. ‘‘No-one gets past him on the outside.’’
Their reliability could force the Lions backs to ‘‘opt to go the short route’’ or resort to a kicking game.
Deans has enjoyed watching the Crusaders’ younger backs come of age this year, noting David Havili had ‘‘made the 15 jersey his own even with Israel [Dagg] back in the mix’’.
Asked if he had any advice to Robertson and MacDonald as they approached the biggest coaching challenge of their fledgling careers, Deans said: ‘‘Just enjoy it.
‘‘They will do that. They have been there before and they know what they are going into.
‘‘They’ve been on both sides of it. They are well placed to manage the mindset. I’ve got no doubt at all they will enjoy it.’’