KEY POINTS:
With the Super 14 kicking off this week some of the teams will have a new look about them. Same colours - but new faces.
The Crusaders will have a newer look than most. Seven of our players have been stood down for the first seven rounds of the competition for the All Blacks venture of winning the World Cup. If that is what it takes to bring the Cup home it will be a small price to pay.
Heading into the Super 14 Crusaders fans can lament that we are starting off on the back foot, such are the losses of our experienced players like Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and Rueben Thorne. Thorne is such a methodical thinker. He cleans up all the rubbish around the edges and just gets the job done. McCaw and Carter are a dream to watch and possess talent galore. Watching them you look for the angles they run, the loose ball they pick up and the vital tackles they make. Their ability to adapt and think is exceptional.
Our opposition will be looking at the Crusaders as a weakened unit. One can almost see the gleam in their eyes.
But the Crusaders have one or two tricks up their sleeves. Robbie Deans is once again at the helm and is a very shrewd judge of players and the game. So anyone out there who thinks we are a pushover, think again. We may show a few weaknesses but be wary - the Crusaders have a good mix of players led by a very shrewd captain in Corey Flynn. He has been around the block and is a hard man to put one across.
The backs look quite exciting. Halfback Andy Ellis is an up and coming player. He is very robust but can be a little over anxious at times. However, once this minor flaw is ironed out he will more than excel in his rugby career.
First-five Steve Brett is another exciting prospect and will benefit from the experience gained in this year's Super 14. He has beautiful natural skills in reading the game and has shown early in his career he can turn a game to his side's advantage.
After being plagued by injuries during his short career fullback Paul Williams has returned and is destined to be a fine player. I saw him do things that only quality fullbacks do and was impressed.
The Crusaders also have a history of getting good value from the draft system and in Brent Ward and Rua Tipoki we have gained two quality players. Ward has great attacking skills and is a handy goal kicker, while Tipoki is a player who has had a colourful career but his knowledge, steel and straight aggressiveness is a value to any side.
In the Forwards the positions have once again been covered. With players such as Wyatt Crocket, Campbell Johnstone and Kevin O'Neill there is a very strong foundation in the tight five while number eight Mose Tuiali'i has a huge work rate on defence and attack.
I believe Deans has all bases covered and the development of our players holding the fort will handle the job with flying colours.
When the final whistle blows at the end of the run - the Crusaders will prove, even without their All Blacks, they are the force to reckon with.
