KEY POINTS:
The Crusaders can expect to be bashing the stuffing out of their tackle bags this week.
Coach Robbie Deans today pin-pointed missed tackles as one of the factors in their first up 24-35 loss to the Blues on the weekend.
The defending champions' next match is against the Reds at Jade Stadium on Saturday and Deans expects the Queenslanders to be buoyant after beating the Hurricanes 25-16.
"Last year's game in Brisbane was a real dog fight, and while we got away with it comfortably in the end, Queensland pressured us for much of that game and actually had their noses in front at halftime," Deans said on his team's website.
With 32 defensive errors recorded against the Blues, that was one aspect that would be addressed this week.
" In Auckland, we missed too many first up one on one tackles, and were made to pay heavily for that.
"Too often against the Blues, we were guilty of going too high and being pushed off, which resulted in the disturbingly high collective missed tackle count."
Their start to the season could have been better but with the Crusaders missing seven World Cup contenders, including superstars Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter, Deans said there were promising signs.
"While we tied the Blues on the try-count, we also created a number of other potential scoring opportunities which could have been taken with more patience on the ball and greater accuracy.
"That's encouraging -- I'd be more concerned if we had failed to create chances.
"The fact that we could get as close on the scoreboard to a side with the firepower the Blues have, and match them in the try count, operating on about a 40 per cent share of possession, was a tribute to how the guys hung in," said Deans who has guided the Crusaders to seven Super rugby titles.
Deans dismissed the pressure of defending the Crusaders' unbeaten record at Jade since the start of 2004.
"While it is a record that we, as a franchise, are proud of, realistically it has no relevance on the team, heading into our next match."
This week, he would be examining why his team were unable to cement their pattern of play against the Blues.
While satisfied with the Crusaders' work at set pieces, he said they were beaten at the breakdowns and they would address that crucial area.
- NZPA
