Wynne Gray: Surprise stumble raises doubts

Anyone suggesting the Crusaders' dominance was under threat a few weeks ago risked a visit from a tailor to measure them for a white uniform.

At the very least it would have provoked severe scrutiny of their rugby credentials.

Instead, it is the Crusaders who are facing that examination after yesterday's Super 14 stumble against the Stormers in Cape Town followed their lame draw with the cellar-dwelling Force.

When Robbie Deans settled into the coaches' box at Newlands he rolled up his sleeves. He was ready for battle but his players were not there for the same ride.

Defeat ended a 17-match unbeaten streak for the Crusaders since their loss last season against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Who do the Crusaders play next on a road trip where victories have vanished? The Bulls in Pretoria, where captain Richie McCaw was knocked senseless last year.

McCaw was rested yesterday and it would be shallow to blame his absence, entirely, for the defeat. First five-eighths Daniel Carter and fullback Leon MacDonald were also bypassed until hauled from the bench halfway through the game. Too late, the damage was irreparable.

McCaw is not a one-man band, although he can resemble that and has the presence which makes a massive difference to any side.

The Crusaders have had the early lead in only four of their 11 games this season but generally pulled clear in the second half. That pattern spluttered last week in Perth and collapsed in Cape Town.

Any aura about the five-time champions was punctured by the forward ferocity of the Stormers. To suggest it signals the death knell for their title defence is taking that theme a little far.

But it will be at risk if they fail to qualify top and lose the home advantage in Christchurch. If they slip up again this week even a home semifinal will be in jeopardy from the chasing Waratahs, Hurricanes and Brumbies.

Deans though is such a canny customer, he will have balanced the chances of a loss or two against freshening his stars like McCaw.

His mind will, in part, be on the best way to approach the semifinals in three weeks.

But the Waratahs are looming as a massive challenge, a side of great physical depth who can blend attack with defence and succeed in all types of weather. If they qualify top, that will be another edge.

Then there are the Hurricanes who on their day can blow any side out of the water and the Brumbies who are bringing their game to the boil.

Without McCaw's indefatigable example, the Crusaders lack some crunch. That was exposed yesterday by the Stormers' low body positions and driving counter-rucking.

After the Crusaders' draw in Perth, Deans lamented that his side had not been excited enough about the game. Was it a Super 14 wake-up call, he was asked.

"It depends on how you react to it," said Deans.

The response was muted. The Crusaders were rattled, they lost their poise and the battle on the advantage line. Cue McCaw.

The run home
* 1st: Waratahs (42 points) Saturday: v Chiefs, Hamilton; May 13: v Hurricanes, Sydney

* 2nd: Crusaders (42) Saturday: v Bulls, Pretoria; May 12: v Brumbies, Christchurch

* 3rd: Hurricanes (39) Friday: v Reds, Wellington; May 13: v Waratahs, Sydney

* 4th: Brumbies (37) Saturday: v Highlanders, Canberra; May 12: v Crusaders, Christchurch

* 5th: Bulls (33) Saturday: v Crusaders, Pretoria; May 14: v Stormers, Cape Town

* Semifinals: May 19-20

* Final: May 27