Rugby: Crusaders' uncharacteristic stumble

Queensland players celebrate their upset victory over the Crusaders on Friday night. Photo / Getty Images

Outside the multi-decorated rugby region, there will be rising conjecture that the Crusaders cannot win this season's Super 14 title.

That speculation will have gained some momentum after the seven-times champions were sawn off 41-20 by the Reds, who are in most tipsters' books to finish towards the southern end of the competition.

The Crusaders played with little of the accurate sting or resilience that have been their trademark qualities since they first claimed the trophy in 1998. Their opening round win against the Highlanders appeared a mirage as they stumbled around Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

By some statisticians' figures, the Crusaders yielded 24 turnovers, had 17 handling errors and missed 23 tackles.

It was an eyesore when matched against the work of the Bulls, who have claimed maximum points as they look to defend their title.

The Hurricanes and Stormers also remained unbeaten with sturdy work while the Chiefs had their second win after a bizarre tryscoring gala on the high veldt.

But it was the size and manner of the Crusaders' loss that will provoke most analysis. Conjecture, too, about whether captain Richie McCaw's planned comeback in round four will be brought forward a week.

The Crusaders trot out next on Friday when they host a Sharks side who are in worse shape. They fell to the Chiefs in the opening match and then celebrated skipper John Smit's 100th game with another home defeat against the Cheetahs.

Even though they made a swag of errors and coughed up an embarrassing scoreline, the Crusaders were still in with a chance of pinching the game until the Reds scored from a turnover at the start of the final quarter.

New coach Ewen McKenzie and his troops had their first victory, although that triumph was chastened with the medical report that skipper James Horwill's knee damage meant he would not play again until next year.

The Reds hoed into the Crusaders' pack and gave them the sort of scrutiny they did not pass against the Cheetahs, Hurricanes and Bulls last season.

There was too much fluff in the forwards, a lack of second row sting from Sam Whitelock and Isaac Ross while loosies Thomas Waldrom, Kieran Read and George Whitelock all looked uncomfortable.

Champion five-eighths Daniel Carter could not bring much spark to his side and was squeezed out of any major contribution because of his pack's deficiencies.

When Brad Thorn starts he should bring more stability in much the way hooker Corey Flynn will bring a harder edge to the pack. Chris Jack will have to be assessed after his time away but there will be no doubt about McCaw's impact.

His return was scheduled for the Crusaders' fourth round match against the Blues. That plan may now be shunted forward a week, although the Sharks have shown few signs they will cause problems this Friday in Christchurch.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs head into Perth where they will meet the under-resourced Force. Forget for now the quality of their wacky win against the Lions, they have two victories from their trip to South Africa and must surely collect a third this weekend.

Fast starts and the Chiefs have not been regular companions in this competition. Their pattern has been closer to the three defeats they began with last year although they reversed that trend, magnificently, to romp in as second qualifier.

The Chiefs' weekend victim, the Lions, collected a bizarre bonus point and are now heading into a punishing five-match section where they cross the Tasman four times before returning to South Africa.