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New Zealand's Prime Minister weighs in on Crusaders' poor start
By Ned Lester
The Crusaders were expected to take a bit of a backwards step in 2024 after losing some major components of their recent dynastic run, but an 0-4 start wasn't quite what fans had bargained for.
The team's apparent downfall has reshaped the competitive landscape of Super Rugby Pacific and even New Zealand's Prime Minister Christoper Luxon has had his say on the turn of results.
Luxon was born in Christchurch but now resides in Auckland and represents his local electorate, Botany, there. He remains a Crusaders fan and after seven titles in as many years, is feeling confident his side will come right by the season's end.
"Don't worry, they'll come back," Luxon told the AM Show.
"I think four games into it or whatever we are, second bottom on the ladder, but we've got plenty to play for, lots more to go and the Crusaders they win ugly, or they win nice, but they win so that's what's important."
This weekend sees a battle between the PM's hometown team and his new home team, the Blues, in a fixture that has continued to be one of the competition's most impassioned rivalries despite the Crusaders winning 17 of the last 18 contests.
Luxon says he has never entertained switching allegiance despite now residing in the City of Sails.
"I always support the Crusaders and even when I talk to the Blues players, they respect the fact that I have stuck with the team I have supported since I was a little boy," Luxon explained.
"It probably costs me two or three thousand votes out of Botany each election but the bottom line is you've got to stand up for your values at all times and I stand up for the Crusaders."
The sentiment was clear, but one of the interviewers couldn't help but query one of Luxon's claims after the interview had finished.
"When were the Crusaders formed?" Lloyd Burr asked. "Because he said when he was a little boy and I'm sure the Crusaders weren't... anyway moving on."
Indeed the Crusaders being founded in 1996 when the 52-year-old would have been 25 doesn't quite fit the age bracket the Prime Minister had referenced, but Crusaders fans may opt to forgive the faux pas as merely a figure of speech.
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I really like what the boks have done with bringing Vermeulen into their coaching setup. Perhaps they would have gone to france anyway, but Lawes and Farrell could at least have been offered assistant coaching roles. Lawes could probably aptly fill the brief (breakdown, contact skills, and handling) just given to Strawbridge; and Farrell could be a pretty good like for like replacement for Sinfield when he leaves. I probably wouldn’t want them in the national team set up just yet, but it would be good to see strings pulled to either get May, Youngs, Cole, & Care player-coaching roles in the premiership, or to move them into the under 20s coaching staff.
Go to commentsSo spiteful that the Springboks won again, they just had to change the laws so that they would stand a chance.
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