Phenomenal depth key for 'Saders
The Crusaders' famed production line, a conveyor belt that constantly produces world class players, will again play a key role in their drive for an eighth Super Rugby title.
All Black Luke Romano, speaking to rugby365 during the Crusaders' pre-season preparations, explained why the Christchurch-based franchise always finds it so easy to plug gaps when senior players depart.
In the off-season they lost the services of a number of senior players – including Corey Flynn, George and Adam Whitelock, Tyler Bleyendaal and Zac Guildford.
Yet, a quick glance at the team roster suggests the overall quality of the squad is unchanged.
The 28-year-old Romano felt they will be in good shape when their Super Rugby campaign gets underway on February 13.
"Our depth within the Crusaders region is rather phenomenal," the lock said.
He added that they always have players knocking on the door of the first XV selection.
"Sometimes those players [on the fringes] are good enough to be playing Super Rugby, but because they are here ate the Crusaders they kind of get held out," he told rugby365.
He also felt the coaching resources that they have contribute to the smooth transition for the less experienced players when they come into the set-up.
"Guys like Toddy [head coach Todd Blackadder], Azza [back mentor Aaron Mauger] and [forwards coach] Dave Hewett have all played at international level and have a lot of experience to pass on.
"When a young player comes in he really thrives in this environment – he can learn so much and he is able to grow his game.
"When those guys leave there is always someone who has been up-skilled, with the ability to come in and take the place. Those guys that are leaving have been training up their understudies to take over.
"Someone like Flynn has had guys like Codie [Taylor] and Ben Funnell as his understudies for the last few years. He has passed on his wisdom and knowledge."
It goes without saying that one of the Crusaders' main goals will be to win the Super Rugby competition for en eighth time.
However, their ability to focus on the immediate – to use the cobwebby cliché – they will be taking it "one game at a time".
"We set small goals for each game and if you tick those goals off, by the time you get to the end of the season winning Super Rugby takes care of itself.
"You got to have a path of how to get there – have that stepping stone of getting there.
"If we get there and thereabouts we have set ourselves up to have a god crack at winning the title."
Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rugby365com/154664704611046
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