Chris Rattue: At last, challengers for Crusaders

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie. Photo / Christine Cornege

Something very promising in a longstanding sense is going on at the front-running Chiefs and long may this continue, because New Zealand rugby desperately needs a challenger to the Crusaders-dominated system.

"Oh no, here we go again" was the thought as the Crusaders continued to wind relentlessly through the gears against what has to be said was a mainly timid challenge from the Hurricanes last weekend.

Experience, confidence, tactical superiority and depth mean the Crusaders invariably get stronger through a season, having spent the early rounds clicking everything into place. A scary thing about the Crusaders is that the petrol in the tank includes a certain Richie McCaw and the mighty tighthead Owen Franks, who has been used sparingly and has yet to hit his most imposing form.

I'm among those who have huge admiration for what the Crusaders have achieved over the years, but a centrally controlled contract system is perpetuating their dominance because there are no counter-influences such as a draft or salary cap. Having established themselves as the only powerhouse in New Zealand rugby, the Crusaders are nigh-on untouchable in recruiting because they are easily the most assured stepping stone to the All Blacks.

Without wanting to tempt fate, it looks as though the Chiefs under new coach Dave Rennie may be building a core that will finally give the Crusaders a run for titles and the NZRU's money, but they need to be given further encouragement from above. When it comes to the crunch this season, most money would still be on the Crusaders, but Rennie's Chiefs are building excellent foundations for a reconstructed future.

The Chiefs revolution was on hold while Ian Foster was there. The NZRU used the Chiefs as a holding pen for Foster until Steve Hansen ascended to the All Black job and called Fozzie up as his assistant. Foster had his moments of success, but piles of evidence that he didn't have what it takes to build an outstanding side were ignored by the NZRU in order to satisfy their All Black priorities and succession plan.

The Foster situation is not the only rugby brain teaser. Many of us wonder what role the NZRU or All Black coaches played, for instance, in the Crusaders' recruitment of Israel Dagg. Then again, Dagg didn't need a clandestine phone call to know the Crusaders were his best option.

The time is right for the NZRU to ensure the new building blocks at the Chiefs aren't knocked down, that a powerful northern rival emerges to put life back into the local Super 15 contests. Splitting the Super 15 season - which means the Crusaders will be drained by having so many players on test duty - might be further reason not to put New Zealand's title eggs in one basket, although the effects of the new schedule have yet to be observed.

Rennie, assisted by Wayne Smith, has immediately changed the Chiefs' DNA and provided further evidence that those who hide behind the need for long-term strategies are often excuse makers. In half a season, Rennie has achieved more than the Blues have in a decade. The important thing now is that the NZRU backs up this promise by ensuring some elite talent heads to Hamilton so the momentum grows.

At the top of the NZRU's to-do list should be retaining World Cup-winning assistant coach Smith in New Zealand. His stocks will have risen further, and flash overseas jobs will be for the taking. But it would be a great shame to break up the Rennie-Smith partnership in what could turn out to be the formative years of a rugby revolution in this country.

The Chiefs have plenty of good things to build on. For instance:

* Hitting a sweet spot with the Rennie-Smith partnership;

* Possessing one of the two best football stadiums in the country;

* The chalk and cheese make-up of Waikato and Bay of Plenty players which provides a mix of grunt and flair;

* A location, location, location advantage for cherry-picking rising talent from the major population area in the upper North Island;

* Being on the doorstep of an outstanding talent pool in Auckland.

Some of us believe that the only way to build a healthy future for New Zealand rugby is the proper privatisation of the franchises. But while the current Kremlin-style system exists, then why not use it in a more explosive way? The NZRU has stood back, or even encouraged, a quasi-All Black feeder team to develop in Christchurch, footing the wage bill and allowing the Crusaders to recruit whomever they wish. This has helped build a fine test record and secure the World Cup ... just. But it has also squashed a vibrant domestic rivalry that could also make the All Blacks even stronger.

So stoke the fires of competition and build a second super franchise in Hamilton. Securing Smith would be a starting place, and funnelling a few key, elite young players towards the Chiefs should be the follow-up plan. The next time a player of Dagg's rare class becomes available, the Crusaders must not be a shoo-in for his services.