Rugby: Superstars of Super rugby all just part of the team

Young Crusaders such as Sam Whitelock gain invaluable experience from playing alongside superstars like Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

Even for those who recoil at nebulous terms such as "culture" being used to describe sports teams, it is hard to deny the Crusaders have something in their dressing room DNA that separates them from the rest.

In 14 years of Super rugby they've made the final nine times, winning seven. It's a staggering picture of consistency made more vivid when you think that the next two most successful teams - the Blues and Brumbies - have nine finals and five titles between them.

They're $3.50 favourites to win the 15th edition of Super rugby and with Dan Carter returning you would be a brave person to bet against them.

"There's no better role model for our players," coach Todd Blackadder says of his champion first five-eighth.

"Having him training next to Colin Slade, for example, is so valuable. It's great to have these players but they're part of a team. When you get into a habit of relying on one or two players others tend to sit back."

It comes down to that "culture" thingamajig. While Carter and Richie McCaw may be the men, it's the fact that they never act like it that defines them within the squad.

"The culture is really quite unique in that it has never really changed too much. If anything, the culture is something that is re-invested into year on year," Blackadder says. "When people talk about the culture it constantly astounds me because to me it is the guys like the Zac Guildfords who come into this culture and immediately buy into it that makes it what it is.

"I mean, we have standards and we have codes, but all teams have them," he continues. "With the Crusaders everyone is very down to earth, they're hard-working, they're humble, they never take the little things for granted - even the so-called superstars.

"And it's okay to call them that because they are some of the world's best, but that's not how they conduct themselves. That's not how they think of themselves or portray themselves.

"You wouldn't get, for example, more down-to-earth people than Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

"When they [new players] meet these guys and find out they're just like themselves, it makes it easy for the young guys to come in and contribute. There's an equality in the squad."

It's noble and no doubt true, but as George Orwell would no doubt point out, some are more equal than others.

Carter and McCaw, when he returns from his three-week layoff, should provide the catalyst for a tilt at the title.

Throw in the enthusiasm and pace of Zac Guildford, the grunt of Brad Thorn and the guile of returning lock Chris Jack and you can see why they're favourites. Blackadder and his assistant Daryl Gibson are Super 14 coaching neophytes, though Mark Hammett has been around since 2005.

A year older, a year wiser?

"I learned a lot about coaching," Blackadder says. "It was going a little bit into the unknown. Altogether we're doing these a lot better this year but it is all off the back of what we learned last year. We've had time to reflect on what we did, look at best practices and we've made significant steps forward as a coaching team in a short period of time.

"In saying that, too, I'm really proud of what we did last year. It was really challenging, but a little bit of adversity ... makes you better coaches."

PLAYER TO WATCH: SAM WHITELOCK

Big Sam stands third in the four-man Whitelock Brothers Band.

The younger brother of George and Adam, and tormentor of Luke the younger, Sam has managed the considerable feat of keeping All Black Brad Thorn on the bench for tomorrow's opener against the Highlanders.

The 21-year-old, 2.02m lock has done so off the back off some strong pre-season form and a sometimes spectacular campaign for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup.

A rangy sort of player, in the mould of Isaac Ross though slightly taller, Whitelock has shown a set-piece nous beyond his years, while maintaining the sort of youthful vigour that sees him pop up occasionally at the end of the chain in try-scoring position.

It might be slightly premature, but those wearing red-and-black eyepatches are already starting to whisper All Black-in-waiting when his name crops up in conversation.

No pressure then, Sam.