Crusaders face a tough return to Fiji as they seek to end a losing start to Super Rugby
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Christchurch-based Crusaders have summoned international backup as they attempt to stem an early season losing streak in Super Rugby Pacific before returning to the site of one of their most historic defeats.
The Crusaders have started the season with back-to-back losses for the first time in a decade, going down to the Chiefs in a reversal of last season's final and to the New South Wales Waratahs.
The seven-time defending champions now face the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday. In the equivalent match in the third round last season, the Crusaders lost 25-24 in one of the greatest upsets in their history.
The return match could hardly come at a worse time for the Crusaders, who are wrestling not only with form issues but with a number of serious and long-term injuries.
The All Blacks winger Will Jordan will miss all of the Super Rugby season with a shoulder injury and ex-Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who was one of the Crusaders’ marquee signings this year, will miss most of the season after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury in a pre-season match against Munster.
Those setbacks follow the departure for Japan of Crusaders veterans Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga.
Backline reinforcements may arrive just in time for the Crusaders in the form of former Wales winger Johnny McNicholl. The 33-year-old McNicholl started his career at the Crusaders, where he played for four seasons before joining the Llanelli Scarlets and later playing 10 tests for Wales.
The Crusaders backline has functioned reasonably this season but the tight five remains a work in progress. After strong openings, the Crusaders have struggled to retain control in the late stages of both of their first two matches.
They will face a major test in Lautoka against a Fijian Drua team which also has lost its first two matches and is bidding to improve significantly with the support of a large home crowd. The heat in Lautoka and expected rain on Saturday will help the home team.
“This is the game we need in Fiji,” Crusaders assistant coach Dan Perrin said. “They’re big, physical men and after last weekend you should see a response.
“We’ve played in wet conditions before so it’s not an excuse. We know where the pressure points are going to be.”
Beyond the Drua, the Crusaders will face testing derby matches against the Auckland-based Blues and Wellington-based Hurricanes. A third straight loss on Saturday would mark the worst start for the Crusaders since Super Rugby’s first year in 1996 and would severely jeopardize the team's hopes of winning a title for the eighth straight year.
“It’s never easy in an organization that prides itself on being able to get across the line when challenging times occur,” head coach Rob Penney said. “I’m not questioning the players’ resolve. It’s been a long time since the Crusaders have been in this sort of place.”
In other key matches this weekend, the second-place Hurricanes will play the third-place Blues and the league-leading Chiefs will play the fourth place Queensland Reds.
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