Codie Taylor leads out the Crusaders. Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains descriptions of the Crusaders' 2024 season that may be distressing for some readers.
READ: Moana Pasifika season preview
Overview
Crusaders coach Rob Penney. Photo: TVNZ
Sheesh, who saw last year's results coming - by the time the perennial champs had limped to their ninth loss of the season the rest of the country found themselves in the unbelievable position of feeling sorry for the Scott Robertson-less Crusaders, who couldn't seem to get anything right on and off the field.
But shock losses and journalist abuse aside, the common consensus is that it was very much a blip and that the Crusaders will be back to their winning ways before long.
The good
Former Wallabies back James O'Connor will play Super Rugby for the Crusaders in 2025. Photo: Crusaders
They main positive is that the Crusaders can't possibly get any worse, surely. Literally everything went wrong last year, so the Crusaders are due a bit of good luck and have made an interesting acquisition in James O'Connor. The Wallaby veteran should hopefully provide some much-needed stability at first five, while outside him David Havili takes over as skipper. The main thing though is that the experience of Codie Taylor and an injury-free Scott Barrett can be counted on after they both missed large chunks of last season.
The bad
Photo: AFP
Teams will be wary, but no one will be particularly scared after almost everyone took turns beating the Crusaders last season. It will take a decent amount of effort just to re-acquire their aura, something that needs to be done through constant innovation week by week. It's something that was seriously lacking in Rob Penney's first season in charge, if results don't go their way early his employment status will once again turn into the unwanted sideshow that dominated the back end of last season.
Big boots to fill
Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams. © Mandatory credit: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Another man who missed a lot of last year is Tamaiti Williams. The sole consistent part of the Crusaders' game last year (aside from losing) was their scrum, now with Williams back and coming off a massive season for the All Blacks they can get be assured of that base of possession to win penalties and launch front foot ball. The 24-year-old is essentially filling the gap that he left last year after getting hurt in the first game, his off the ball hustle will be very useful if the Crusaders can get back to winning ways.
What they're saying
"Every environment, when you come into it, there's processes and structures established. Because of the success of the organisation in its recent history…an assumption was made that everything would roll on. There were some internal pieces that needed adjusting. The off season has been an evolution, not a revolution around the high performance area. Outcomes on gameday is where everyone will dictate whether its been a success or not." - Rob Penney on Newstalk ZB.
Fan critique
Crusaders fans. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
How the tables have turned. Once the most insufferable people in the country, Crusaders supporters have been sufficiently neutered after last year's disaster and are far less prone to being the absolute online punish-merchants we've gotten used to. It has been a good lesson in humility for a group of people that certainly needed it, however we only have one season left before they'll be able to brag about having the country's newest and therefore best stadium. Till then Crusaders fans will be sitting in their accursed pile of scaffolding in Addington, no doubt praying that their team can return to form and Penney can make it through gaffe-free.
Big games
By round five we should know how much this year will be an improvement on last, and the big test will be that weekend against the Blues at Eden Park. Things are actually pretty manageable after that, with a nice run home of three games against the Waratahs, Highlanders and Brumbies.
Crusaders 2025 squad
Forwards: Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Codie Taylor, Ioane Moananu, George Bell, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Tahlor Cahill, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Cory Kellow, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Xavier Saifoloi
Backs: Mitch Drummond, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Macca Springer, Will Jordan, Johnny McNicoll, Kyle Preston, Aki Tuivailala
Tomorrow we look at perennial battlers, the Highlanders.
