Here comes the cavalry
But is it too late to ride to the rescue for the Crusaders?
“There comes a point when big boys just need to pull their pants up and get on with the job, and that’s what we will be looking for this week.’’
Crusaders coach Rob Penney
It would be obscene to expect All Blacks Codie Taylor and Tamaiti Williams to wrench the joystick and reverse the Crusaders out of the dark pit at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table.
Hooker Taylor and prop Williams, who have been named to start against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday evening, shouldn’t be lumbered with the responsibility of shunting the Crusaders out of the precarious position they are in.
But, then again, these are no ordinary times; which, in turn, means Taylor and Williams will immediately be under scrutiny as the Crusaders, with just two wins from 10 games and 10th on the competition table, attempt to secure a victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium to keep their playoff hopes alive.
In previous years, late arrivals to the Crusaders party have been able to reintroduce themselves to pals in the knowledge the side has functioned well in their absence, alleviating pressure to perform beyond expectations.
This scenario is much uglier.
How Taylor, especially, responds after such a long period away from the game – the experienced No 2 hasn’t played since starting for the All Blacks against the Springboks in the World Cup final in Paris on October 28 – could be pivotal.
His maturity and ability to operate under red-hot pressure are likely to be vital, as the Crusaders try to lift their lineout success rate from 79%.
There have been a multitude of reasons for the Crusaders’ dreadful form this year and the lineout, especially, has at times bordered on the dysfunctional.
The Reds prospered from errors in the set-piece during their historic win at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch last weekend, and to repeat them against the Highlanders could add more darkness to an already miserable year.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney said it would be unfair to burden Taylor and Williams with specific orders to show their team-mates what’s required to win games.
Williams has not played since tearing a hamstring in the first-round loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 23.
Penney, instead, turned the acid on those men who have been with them throughout the campaign, challenging them to erase the mistakes that continue to dog the side.
“We have been working on elements of those every week, and the boys’ awareness is right up there.
“There comes a point when big boys just need to pull their pants up and get on with the job, and that’s what we will be looking for this week.
“The elements we have been showing some fragility are the elements they [the Highlanders] are really strong at. So they will be compounding if we don’t address them.’’
There was more good news for the Crusaders, with captain and lock Scott Barrett named to start after recovering from the back injury that forced him to retire early in the first half of the game against the Reds. “Everything is looking good for his participation at the weekend,’’ Penney said.
Former Welsh test*player Leigh Halfpenny picked up a calf strain last weekend. Johnny McNicholl starts at fullback, with Chay Fihaki on the right wing. David Havili, as requested by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, remains at first five-eighth.
The Highlanders have won just one of their last 10 competition games against the Crusaders. Penney needed no reminding of what was at stake.
A victory would be treasured. “It would be a great step forward for us,’’ he said. “We have not had the team song sung too often in the changing rooms this year. It’s a great song. We would love to have it sung again on Saturday night.’’