CRUSADERS Coach: Scott Robertson Captain: Scott Barrett Home grounds: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch; Trafalgar Park, Nelson Website: www.crusaders.co.nz Tickets: www.crusaders.co.nz/ tickets/game-tickets Contact: PO Box 755, Christchurch. Phone 03 379 8300 Email: hello@crusaders.co.nz Crusaders TAB odds: $2.75
FAVOURITES YET AGAIN
The Crusaders juggernaut keeps on rolling forward to Super Rugby success. With a settled squad full of stars, they will take some stopping in 2022. LAST YEAR: SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA: FIRST SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN: THIRD That red-hot form continued through the TransTasman competition but the Crusaders were denied a place in the final by the slightest points margin. LUCK OF THE DRAW: The Crusaders begin with a home clash at Orangetheory Stadium against the Hurricanes, before away games against the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika. The Chiefs and Blues then visit Christchurch, which may well be crucial in determining the early pace-setters. CAMPAIGN PREVIEW: It is hard to go past the Crusaders for the Super Rugby Pacific title. Their record is unmatched over the last decade and head coach Scott Robertson has again assembled a top-class squad.
CAPTAIN: Scott Barrett will lead the Crusaders in 2022.
The nucleus of the playing group from last year returns, including five players who have more than 100 Super Rugby caps and 12 current All Blacks, plus nine new players to add a fresh perspective to the group. Finlay Brewis, Shilo Klein, Zach Gallagher, Dominic Gardiner and Corey Kellow have been promoted from the Crusaders Academy.
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There will be international interest in how well former Argentina captain Pablo Matera settles in. The 28-year-old is a world-class flanker who will complement the already talent-laden mix of loose forwards. Matera captained the Jaguares to the 2019 Super Rugby final against the Crusaders and led Argentina to their first win over the All Blacks in Sydney in 2020. Robertson is excited to be able to work with him in the months ahead. “What I really loved when Pablo mentioned one of the reasons he was coming over was that he wanted to learn to be a better player. Obviously to win championships as well, but to learn and help his own game and he believed he could help us in our group.” The Crusaders are again captained by Scott Barrett, with Codie Taylor and David Havili his vice-captains. Sam Whitelock, Joe Moody, Quinten Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace are other top-class performers up front. Halfback depth was already strong with the impressive duo of Mitch Drummond and Bryn Hall but is strengthened with the recruitment of former All Black Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi from the Chiefs. Robertson worked with him in the New Zealand Under-20s and expects plenty from the dynamic halfback.
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