'It's costing us': David Havili on where the Crusaders are struggling at the moment
Crusaders captain David Havili had a simple message for his side after the ventured into unfamiliar territory with an 0-5 start to the Super Rugby Pacific season.
He wants the team to stay positive and keep moving forward after falling 26-6 to the Blues at Eden Park.
On what went wrong in the loss to their strongest rivals, Havili was open about the handling that has plagued the Crusaders as the set-piece fell apart again.
"Just too many knock-ons, couldn't really build any pressure, and a settled Blues team make you pay for it," Havili told Sky Sport NZ.
The Crusaders ended with 40 per cent possession and just 39 per cent territory as the Blues camped deep inside the Crusaders' half for the second stanza.
A disastrous line out won just 47 per cent of their own throws as the Crusaders couldn't get their attack launches going.
In the end the had to make a whopping 202 tackles compared to the 82 made by the Blues, while they missed a staggering 44 tackles as the weight took its toll.
Havili has frank about the fifth straight loss being a reality check for the Crusaders as they fight for their season.
"Yeah for sure, we are having those tough convos, it's making sure we apply that out on the field. We are not doing that at the moment," Havili said.
"The efforts there, it's just those big moments we can't really execute at the moment. It's costing us."
The importance of having the right energy would help the side turn around the results.
"Just stay positive. It's a great group of boys, they really turn up for each other," Havili said.
"Work hard and that's what we've got to do next week.
"It doesn't get any easier for us with a tough Chiefs side coming up.
"We've just got to keep looking forward and keep moving forward."
They host the Chiefs up next as they look to climb off the bottom of the ladder. After the Western Force beat the Reds, the Crusaders will officially be the last side to register a win in 2024.
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The match experience still sucks at SR games, irrespective of the game being a little quicker. Rugby has to compete with so much in the modern world, if you’re going to get people to leave their houses and pay to watch a game in winter then the experience has to be worthwhile.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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