Crusaders can’t explain capital punishment
Scott Barrett doesn’t have the answer to the Crusaders’ struggles in Wellington.
The lock said so himself when asked what makes the Hurricanes such a tricky customer in the capital, where they have not lost to the Crusaders since 2012. They have won 25 of their last 26 home fixtures.
Put it this way, half of Crusaders coach Scott Robertson’s four Super Rugby defeats since taking over the red and blacks in 2017 went down at Westpac Stadium. His overall record is 38-1-4 leading into tonight’s clash.
The five-match losing streak in Wellington dates back to about the halfway stage of the Todd Blackadder coaching era, while the two matches there under Robertson were 29-19 (2018) and 31-22 (2017) defeats.
‘‘The Canes-Crusaders rivalry is what Super Rugby needs, and NZ Rugby needs,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘There is always anticipation around it from the players and the public, they are pretty brutal and results have gone both ways.
‘‘It’s a great date on the calendar Scott Robertson, Crusaders coach
and something we look forward to. Westpac Stadium has been great to them over the last few years.’’
Including No 8 Kieran Read, eight members of this year’s squad were members of the Crusaders in 2012 when they rolled the Hurricanes 42-14 in Wellington.
Ryan Crotty, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, Luke Romano, Israel Dagg, Owen Franks and Ben Funnell were also still around when pivot Tom Taylor kicked 17 points in the rout.
The Crusaders have named a near full-strength side for their second clash with the Hurricanes this year. All Blacks props Joe Moody (ankle) and Owen Franks (shoulder) are the notable absentees.
Franks, who was scratched on the eve of last week’s 20-12 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney after tweaking a shoulder during a lineout drill, was initially listed to play this week.
However, shortly before the team was made public on Wednesday afternoon, the Crusaders alerted media he had again been ruled out.
The loss of Franks might well have increased the anxiety levels among Crusaders fans, who were last weekend subjected to comfortably the worst performance by the reigning champions since Robertson took over.
Smarting after their 20-match unbeaten run was buried, don’t expect the Crusaders to go into their shells.
‘‘The Canes-Crusaders rivalry is what Super Rugby needs, and NZ Rugby needs.’’