Crusaders during their 14-10 loss to the Hurricanes. Photo: Kai Schwoerer
Analysis - It was somewhat fitting that the Crusaders' season officially ended in Lautoka. Never mind that it was in a game that they weren't even playing in, but back in round three in the stifling humidity of Churchill Park they really began to fall apart.
It marked three defeats in a row to start the season, a slump they never recovered from, which meant that a sombre Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge faced the press while his counterparts at the Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs and Highlanders all started making plans for this weekend's play-offs.
He refused to say whether coach Rob Penney would be retained and that the season would go through a review process with an external company. While that's clearly the correct business procedure, it does feel a little redundant given that ninth place, four wins and 10 losses after seven straight title-winning seasons really does say everything you need to know.
But this is what the review probably will reveal - along with a ton of internal feedback that will likely never be uttered outside the walls of the Crusaders' facility at Rugby Park in St Albans:
Turnover
Two very influential players and a coach leaving, that's been the usual line as to why the Crusaders have fallen on hard times. Except the exact same thing happened to the Hurricanes, who arguably had a steeper mountain to climb given the reigning World Player of the Year skipped this season and their new coach had never had a full time XV's gig before. End result for them: top of the table at the end of the regular season.
Injuries
Scott Barrett (Captain) of the Crusaders. Chiefs v Crusaders, DHL Super Rugby Pacific, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand on the Saturday 23 February 2024. Copyright Photo: Jeremy Ward / www.photosport.nz Photo: Jeremy Ward
Yes, Scott Barrett was a big loss but there is enough talent there in the second row to get by and besides, everyone gets injuries. The Blues lost their first choice first five for most of the season and the guy who replaced him is now in the All Black conversation.
Flights of fancy
The Munster team celebrate with the Clash Of Champions Cup. Photo: Ben Brady/Photosport
What was the point of the preseason trip to play Munster and Bristol? The Crusaders barely bothered to promote the games and they weren't shown on TV, so it was a long way to go simply to lose one of their new signings for pretty much the whole season.
Selections
Noah Hotham of the Crusaders grabs the ball from William Havili of Moana Pasifika to score. Photo: Photosport
One of the bright spots for the Crusaders has been Noah Hotham, who is clearly set for the big future many had already predicted for him. Which makes it really hard to understand why he was sitting and watching Mitch Drummond and Willi Heinz play halfback for most of the first part of the season. Then there was the persistence with Riley Hohepa at 10, last year's All Black Dallas McLeod being almost completely ignored and no direction at all in the lineout in Barrett's absence.
Forgetting their identity
Crusaders player Tahlor Cahill during the Blues v Crusaders match at Eden Park. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
The Crusaders scored one lineout drive try in their first 13 matches, then three in the last one. Why did it take Penney so long to figure this out?
Horrible goal kicking
Somehow Hohepa, Leigh Halfpenny and Fergus Burke all lined up shots at goal in the opening minutes of games, from in front of the posts and managed to spray them wide - a stark representation of the team's struggles.
Positives
Noah Hotham celebrates his try with Codie Taylor, Sevu Reece and Dallas McLeod of the Crusaders during the Super Rugby Pacific match, Crusaders Vs Blues, at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch. Photo: Photosport
Sevu Reece managed to score 12 tries despite getting barely any ball, Christian Lio-Willie can't be accused of not giving it everything in every game and Johnny McNicholl added plenty when he surprisingly returned from Wales. Besides, there's only one more season of having to play in the pile of scaffolding they've been using as a home ground.
Media relations
Crusaders coach Rob Penney. Photo: TVNZ
Penney's outburst at TVNZ reporter Thomas Mead after the loss to the Brumbies was both tragic and hilarious at the same time. It showed a coach who had hit the wall after being questioned over and over again about losses, while also having no clue that microphones and cameras very much stay switched on until someone packs them up and puts them in the car. It unfortunately said a lot that a subsequent apology was issued by Mansbridge, not Penney.
Fallout
This was supposed to be an organisation that would have made Burke into an All Black first five, instead he's leaving to play at Saracens. Given Burke is only 25, that would be actually quite an unfathomable turn of events at any Super Rugby side, let alone the one that had fashioned itself into centre of excellence on and off the field. Is that reputation shot to bits now? Not quite, but one more season like this and it'll be plummeting to the earth in a flaming wreck.