Blackadder: 'We can't give up hope'
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Crusaders' coach Todd Blackadder wont raise the white flag and still has faith for an outside chance of a play-off spot.
The Crusaders require a mathematical miracle to make the Super Rugby playoffs after losing 22-32 to the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, but coach Blackadder refuses to accept his team are done for the season.
The reality, however, is brutal; the Crusaders sit seven points short of a wildcard spot and must win their final three matches against the Hurricanes, Blues and Brumbies – and hope a raft of other results swing their way – to have a chance of qualifying.
Blackadder says the Crusaders will keep fighting but he knows how grim this situation is.
"I still think there is a very, very outside chance," Blackadder told stuff.co.nz. 
"We have just got to try and finish our season with some respectability, that is probably the key. We can't give up hope."
The Crusaders haven't missed the playoffs since 2001 and their fans, irritated at the prospect of not having a team to support after the regular season, are likely to vent their frustrations at the coach.
Since being appointed coach in 2009 Blackadder has always guided the side into the play-offs, and into the 2011 and 2014 grand finals, but been unable to snare a title.
Contracted for next season, Blackadder said he is going nowhere and wants to rebuild a side that will be without a number of key players.
"There will be a silver lining out of all this," explained Blackadder.
"There is still a slim chance we can make the play-offs and it will almost be like a fresh start [following the exit of senior players Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Colin Slade, Tom Taylor and Willi Heinz] for the Crusaders next year.
"It could possibly be a good thing, but there is a long way to go yet."
Winning just six of their 13 matches has cost the Crusaders dearly and that inconsistency reappeared in Sydney. An early try to left wing Nemani Nadolo and a Dan Carter penalty in the first half created some early optimism, but the Waratahs heaped on 25 unanswered points.
The most controversial moment took place in the 18th minute when Silatolu Latu and Will Skelton tip-tackled Sam Whitelock. Latu was yellow carded but after the match the citing commissioner deemed the incident met the red card threshold for foul play.
"I don't think there was any doubt that was a tip tackle and for it to managed the way it was, and that the guy [Latu] also threw a punch [at Wyatt Crockett] it just seemed inconsistent from what we have seen in the past," Blackadder said.
Source: stuff.co.nz
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