Rugby: Crusaders welcome heavyweight scrutiny

The Crusaders have had a slow start to the season. Photo / Getty Images

After another slow start to the season, the Crusaders believe they are close to putting together a complete performance.

And, as they prepare to play the Cheetahs in Christchurch tomorrow, there is some heavyweight scrutiny on what is happening at Crusaders HQ from men such as Robbie Deans, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen. In addition, other members of Hansen's All Blacks management group - trainer Nic Gill and physio Pete Gallacher, plus skills coach Mick Byrne - have had their input this week.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is welcoming the sudden attention. Former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Deans is in town for a Ranfurly Shield reunion and Smith, now on All Black duty after his time at the Chiefs, is looking at the Crusaders' defence as part of his New Zealand franchise rotation.

"It's good to have two former Crusaders coaches in the environment," Blackadder said of Deans and Smith, two men who have been heavily involved in Crusaders and Canterbury rugby. "They're going to give us some feedback later which will be fantastic."

Blackadder said he had a phone conversation with Hansen on Wednesday and asked for his input into a season which is appearing to come right after two poor defeats to the Rebels and Chiefs. They lacked fluency in the 34-6 victory over the Lions, but the pack demolished their opposites and the score could easily have hit 50 had the backs held a couple more passes.

The topics for Blackadder and Hansen included: "What do you think about this? What are you seeing in our game? Come and listen where the players are at and sit in on some meetings." Blackadder added: "They are here to help us. I don't feel threatened at all having them in our environment.

"We have the autonomy to make our own decisions. Sometimes they come up with some bloody good ideas, things we haven't thought of."

One notable selection for the Cheetahs match is the absence of Richie McCaw, who wore his favourite No7 jersey in the Lions win, however Blackadder said that wasn't at the behest of All Black coaches.

"It's purely rotation, and that's part of the plan for both Richie and Matt [Todd]. We have the luxury of having two really good players. Matt led the team and played all the pre-season games and I could just tell last week he needed a break through his body language. He was sore, he had made a lot of tackles, he was picking up a lot of niggles and Richie was probably in the same boat. It's just about freshening those two up."

On the plus side is the return of Israel Dagg from a thigh injury. Dagg said yesterday he took the problem into the 26-20 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin, a match which he played well in before having to leave the field just before halftime.

Dagg's return is timely given Johnny McNicholl's knee injury, which will rule him out until the middle of the year.

Blackadder said of Dagg: "I'd like to think he can start where he left off and if he can do that he will put us on the front foot. We just need some spark."