Forget SBW, watch TKB
All the hype is about Sonny Bill Williams. However, the Chiefs have a far more potent weapon.
The New Zealand conference champions, the Chiefs, who hope to reach the Super Rugby Final for a second time, host the seven-time champion Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday.
And most of the build-up this week has been dominated by high-profile code-hopper Williams – who may well play in his last game on New Zealand soil before heading off to Japan next year and then returning to Rugby League in 2014.
However, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder feels that the real key to the Chiefs' success this year has been scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow – a 21-year-old who represented his country at age-group level a couple of years ago.
While often this year senior internationals like flyhalf Aaron Cruden and centre Sonny Bill Williams hogged the spotlight, Blackadder said many pundits have overlooked the role of Kerr-Barlow in the Chiefs' march to the top of the NZ conference standings.
"I think their No.9 [Tawera Kerr-Barlow] is the key to their game," Blackadder said, when asked if they are going to pay special attention to the players in the No.10 and No.12 jerseys.
"He [Kerr-Barlow] has had an outstanding season. Obviously Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill [Williams] give them all their go-forward."
The Crusaders mentor warned against paying too much attention to certain players.
"I think if you focus one area you can often take your eye off the ball," Blackadder said, adding: "They are a complete side; they play smart rugby."
The Crusaders mentor said that while the two teams – who have already met twice this year, with one win apiece – know each other very well, he still expects "something new" from the opposition.
"I think, given what they tried last time didn't come off [a 28-21 win to the Crusaders in Hamilton], they might try and play quick ball, try and really have a go at us in the rucks.
"However, I can't worry too much about what they do, it is more about what we do to get ready."
Blackadder also felt his team learned some "valuable lessons" from the 25-13 win over Bulls in their preliminary play-off match in Christchurch last week.
"We learned a lot about ourselves, the decisions that we made and didn't make," the Crusaders stalwart said.
"We are in a big game [against the Chiefs], it is highly pressured and there are no second chances.
"We came through [the encounter with the Bulls], so we are better off for the experience."
He felt that having outmuscled the Bulls last week, his side should have no problems in dealing with the equally physical Chiefs.
"The guys will know that physically we were in great shape at the weekend," Blackadder said, adding: "It is all about attitude and they brought a great attitude [into the game against the Bulls].
"Our guys are physically in good nick, so if the mind is right the body will follow."
By Jan de Koning
