Rugby
Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.au 6y

Super Rugby final: Why a second Crusaders' dynasty is underway

Rugby, Super Rugby

About 20 minutes after fulltime it came. After the Crusaders had thanked their fans and belted out a rendition of the team song, which nowadays borrows from Macklemore's Glorious, Scott Robertson did his thing.

To the chant of "Ooh ahh, Razor Ray; Ooh ahh, Razor Ray," Robertson busted out his now customary breakdancing moves, saved especially for title-winning teams. The Crusaders had their ninth, and it's unlikely to be the last under Robertson's reign.

Saturday night's 37-18 victory over the Lions secured back-to-back titles for the Crusaders, the AMI Stadium triumph their first at home since 2008 and first at the venue after the devastating 2011 earthquake forced a relocation from Jade Stadium.

It also put the icing on a 15-game winning streak. Since their Round 5 loss to the Highlanders, only the Lions and the Waratahs came within seven points of the Crusaders, before they sunk the South Africans by 19 in the title game.

That record speaks for itself. On the field, the Crusaders have been peerless for the last two seasons in Super Rugby. But it's off the field where the now nine-time champions also have the edge. That environment has been driven by Robertson.

"I guess Razor [Robertson], he's just able to create an environment where you can be yourself; it's easy to say something like that but it really means a lot," Man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga told Sky Sport.

"You've got boys that come from different backgrounds, different parts of the world; so to be able to gel as one, to be able to have one vision to buy into, really means a lot. And you see it out on the field, the boys really love each other and we were able to do something special this year."

Having won the title in his first year in charge, the challenge for Robertson in 2018 was to work out how to again challenge the Crusaders squad. The former All Blacks back-rower recognised the need for fresh voices and thus recruited former Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara; that partnership formed as a result of O'Gara's work with Crusaders and All Blacks great Dan Carter at French club Racing 92.

For O'Gara, the opportunity to work with the Crusaders was something he was never going to spurn. And it's already left a lasting impression; perhaps not in the way you might think, though.

"How much they care for each other; there's so much strategy in rugby; probably so much emphasis on tactics; it's an easy thing to say, but if you care about the fella next to you it really means [something]," O'Gara told Sky Sport when asked what one thing he would pinpoint about his first season in Christchurch.

"You can't measure getting up off the ground quicker, you can't measure scrambling back in defence, you can't measure just work-rate and encouragement. I think bodies or minds that are encouraged bring out the best in each other, and we've a very positive environment. So it's been a fantastic experience."

The Lions closed to within 12 points shortly after Ryan Crotty was sin-binned for cynical play late in the final quarter, the visitors given a sniff at pulling off an unlikely victory. But that hope soon evaporated when Scott Barrett scored the Crusaders' fourth try two minutes later.

A lesser side may have slipped into a state of panic. But this is the Crusaders, a franchise whose strengths lie in self-belief and the confidence to execute under pressure, particularly when the critical moment arrives.

As the clock wound past the final siren, referee Angus Gardner awarded the Lions a penalty and the opportunity to push for a consolation try via their driving maul. It hadn't worked all game, and the Crusaders weren't about to let it happen then either.

"I'm massive on mindset, and getting our mindset [right]; what does it look like and what does it feel like," Robertson told Sky Sport before rushing off to be part of his side's sword ceremony.

"And the boys were so calm under pressure. We defended for, I don't know how long; how many phases, right into the depths there. I'm just as proud of not giving a try away in the 82nd minute...you know your team's tight when they do that."

The Crusaders are tight alright, and with only a few players moving on - albeit some household names like Wyatt Crockett and powerhouse winger Seta Tamanivalu - a dynasty, although tough to build in modern professional sport, cannot be ruled out.

They've got the ability; they've got the environment and they certainly have a coach who knows what it takes to get the best out of his players.

Robertson's time with the All Blacks will come but you get the feeling there is a bit of break-dancing to be done with the Crusaders yet.

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