{"id":373626,"date":"2024-03-07T01:20:40","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T02:20:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=373626"},"modified":"2024-03-07T05:04:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T05:04:59","slug":"step-up-players-called-out-as-dynasty-crumbles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=373626","title":{"rendered":"'Step up': Players called out as dynasty crumbles"},"content":{"rendered":"

With two losses to start the Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> season, it's crunch time for the Crusaders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The most successful team in the competition's history lost all-conquering coach Scott Robertson ahead of the 2024 season and a slew of players either overseas or to injury.<\/p>\n

Now led by head coach Rob Penney, they face the tough task of heading to Lautoka to play the Fijian Drua.<\/p>\n

Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, with<\/strong><\/em> every match ad-free, live and and on demand on Stan Sport<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

It's an important match for the Christchuch-based team who have looked rudderless at times against the Chiefs and Waratahs.<\/p>\n

\"Taha<\/p>\n

The absence of Richie Mo'unga, who moved to Japan's Rugby League One competition to play for the Brave Lupus, has been noticeable in the 160 minutes to date.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fergus Blake was next in line to wear the No.10 jersey but a busted Achilles will keep him sidelined for the first two months of Super Rugby.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Beautiful detail as Aussie Olympic kit unveiled<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Fresh vision to be used in NRL's case against Leniu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Clarkson 'doesn't get the message' as penalty looms<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Third cab off the rank is 20-year-old Taha Kemara, who is in his second season of Super Rugby having only played his first season of National Provincial Championship rugby for Waikato in 2022. In Blake's absence, Kemara has become the first pick for Penney.<\/p>\n

Mo'unga wasn't only a star fly-half but a leader for the Crusaders. Now, according to Stan Sport commentator Mils Muliaina, it's important for other big-name players to step up and lead.<\/p>\n

"They've created this dynasty there, but it's a new age," said Muliaina on Stan Sport show The Call Up<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Ryan<\/p>\n

"They've had the likes of Kemara waiting in the wings. You've also got to remember, they've still got (Scott) Barrett, they've still got (Fletcher) Newell, George Bower, George Bell \u2013 really, a lot of experience there and a lot of All Blacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"I think the key thing is because they've got young halves, it's the other guys around them that need to step up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"This game, I don't think for the Crusaders is necessarily about the Drua, it's about themselves and who takes over and who's going to be the leading man, the guy that's going to take on that responsibility, a guy like Mounga has done for years and years and years and he's been very good at it."<\/p>\n

\"Angus<\/p>\n

The last time the Crusaders played the Fijian Drua away from home they were 25-24 losers.<\/p>\n

In the midday heat, it's expected another bumper crowd will fill into Churchill Park where they'll hope history repeats.<\/p>\n

Manasa Mataele and Willi Heinz have been brought into the Crusaders starting line-up in the No.11 and No.9 jerseys respectively at the expense of Macca Springer and Noah Hotham.<\/p>\n

The Fijian Drua have made five changes to their squad, bringing in Haereiti Hetet, Jone Koroiduadua, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Vilive Miramira, and Ilaisa Droasese.<\/p>\n

NEW PODCAST! Morgan Turinui, Joe Wheeler, and Sean Maloney recap all the action from Super Round in Melbourne\ufeff<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/between-two-posts-1\/tahs-heroics-sizzling-red-heads\/embed?in_playlist=podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

"Midday over there at 100 percent humidity \u2013 we always know they get a massive crowd out there in 40, 50-odd degrees," said Muliaina.<\/p>\n

"That's going to be the tough task for the Crusaders. They have struggled over there before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"The start that the Drua have had, they've had a really tough start. Obviously the Blues away and then last week just losing to Moana Pasifika.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"The Crusaders are a little bit different, still youngsters in the halves. They're yet to find that groove given the cattle that they have got, particularly in the outside backs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"(Will) Heinz comes back, so he brings a lot of experience. (Manasa) Mataele comes back into the fold as well, so he'll give you an out I suppose if you need go-forward ball, but they still haven't found their groove.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"This is not an uncommon thing for the Crusaders, they've tended to start fairly slow. They're up for a big task up against the Drua."<\/p>\n

FIJIAN DRUA vs CRUSADERS in Lautoka, Saturday 12.05pm kickoff AEDT<\/strong><\/p>\n

DRUA (15-1):<\/strong> Ilaisa Droasese, Selestino Ravutaumada, Iosefo Masi, Apisalome Vota, Epeli Momo, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Frank Lomani, Meli Derenalagi (c), Vilive Miramira, Etonia Waqa, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Mesake Vocevoce, Jone Koroiduadua, Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hetet<\/p>\n

Reserves:<\/strong> Mesulame Dolokoto, Livai Natave, Mesake Doge, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Kemu Valetini, Junior Ratuva<\/p>\n

CRUSADERS (15-1):<\/strong> Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua, David Havili, Manasa Mataele, Taha Kemara, Willi Heinz, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Dominic Gardiner, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (c), Fletcher Newell, George Bell, George Bower<\/p>\n

Reserves:<\/strong> Ioane Moananu, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Tahlor Cahill, Mitchell Drummond, Jone Rova, Riley Hohepa<\/p>\n

Referee:<\/strong> Nic Berry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With two losses to start the Super Rugby Pacific season, it's crunch time for the Crusaders. The most successful team in the competition's history lost […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":373630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=373626"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373633,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373626\/revisions\/373633"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/373630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=373626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=373626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=373626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}