At the end of a wretched 80 minutes for Brad Weber and his Chiefs team at the hands of the Crusaders and to a lesser extent the match officials in Christchurch last weekend, the little halfback likely spoke for many neutrals when he described the home team's tactics ofscrummaging for penalties as, and I paraphrase a little here: "pretty boring but pretty effective."
Weber was dead right and other than being congratulated for his restraint in refusing to criticise a blunder which saw him yellow carded for a professional foul despite the clear knock-on by Richie Mo'unga that immediately preceded it (which was missed by television match official Paul Williams and his colleagues), Weber should also be given credit for his honesty in describing the way the Crusaders can kill games almost at will these days.
Any backline or set of fans would love to play behind or support a pack as destructive as the Crusaders', but their dominance is turning Super Rugby Aotearoa into a procession. If it was a modern America's Cup yacht race, the red and blacks would be up on the foils and the Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes part of the spectator fleet – interested onlookers but without the resources or expertise to get involved in the race proper.
So it's fortunate the Blues are the Crusaders' next opponents – at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon – because they are the only team in the competition capable of matching the Crusaders up front and the fixture between the two old rivals may be provide the wind shift this competition desperately needs.
There is a sense that the top Kiwi players are pacing themselves a little, that last season's inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa competition was so demanding mentally and physically that they have all decided to keep some energy in reserve. In fact, it may not be a conscious decision; more an act of self-preservation. Crusaders midfielder Jack Goodhue, for example, has had a very quiet start to 2021.
Richie Mo'unga of the Crusaders is tackled by Patrick Tuipulotu of the Blues in last year's Super Rugby Aotearoa clash. Photo / Photosport
But the impending challenge the similarly unbeaten Blues present the Crusaders, along with the likelihood that there will be only two rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa (rather than three) due to the news there may be a Covid "bubble" between New Zealand and Australia in May which will allow the transtasman competition to be played, may serve to shake things up in terms of intensity.
In fact, given the embarrassment of riches among the Blues' front row, which includes four giant All Blacks in Ofa Tuungafasi, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Alex Hodgman and Nepo Laulala, Leon MacDonald's men will be confident they can achieve parity at scrum time against a team which could afford to leave loosehead prop Joe Moody on the reserves bench last weekend.
The Crusaders will be forced to be more inventive in their attack which may in turn bring out the best in Mo'unga, who has been spectacular at times but perhaps not as consistent as he would like, and Goodhue, who has been solid overall but a relatively benign attacking threat. That will be good for the neutral fan, at least.
There is probably more pressure on the Blues, though, because they've set their stall on playing to the strengths of their big, quality, front rowers and others up front, including skipper Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Tom Robinson. They have an array of attacking weapons in the form of Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Mark Telea but under head coach Leon MacDonald are playing with far more control and deliberation. It suits them.
But show any signs of weakness up front and the Crusaders will likely put themselves in position for a home final in Christchurch on May 8, around about the time the temperatures begin to plummet in the south.
Win, and the Blues give themselves a good chance to host the final at Eden Park in front of what will likely be a very big and expectant home crowd.
Fortunately for the competition, the stakes really are that high.
