Source: Radio New Zealand
Blues coach Vern Cotter said despite the Crusaders’ domination, the rivalry is still very much alive. Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
The Blues need no reminding that the Crusaders have had their number in recent times.
The side has lost 10 of their last 12 encounters with the Cantabs, with the rivalry becoming heavily one sided.
So, is there a mental barrier for the Blues?
Coach Vern Cotter admits there might be.
“It’s a question we ask ourselves. We know it’s one of the hardest teams in the world to play against. Since I’ve been here, I think we’ve only won once. So the record speaks for itself, and that’s the challenge that the players have in front of them, but they don’t want to have a negative mindset. They want to be able to play the game, be decisive, and have a bit of fun out there. I think that’s key to making sure that we move forward. I think we will surprise a few.”
Cotter said despite the Crusader’s domination, the rivalry is still very much alive.
“Everybody wants to beat the Blues, and of course the Crusades are the team that have been, over the last eight years, the best performing team. So yeah, of course the rivalry is there.”
If last week’s heated Chiefs and Crusaders encounter was any indication, there is no love lost between the Kiwi franchises.
“There’s ultimately massive respect. I think that’s probably the key thing you have in and around when you play them or other teams in New Zealand. And the first thing you know is it’s against your rival mates and people want to show up and walk away with the win at the end. So that adds a little bit of spice into it obviously.”
However, Cotter is under no illusions about the task that awaits his men.
“They’re just so tough, and last week we saw the championship team that’s in them. What they did to the Chiefs was impressive. So we know it’s going to be tough, they’re a team that just find parts of your game to exploit at any moment. So being focused and fully connected will be important if we want to get the result we want.”
Helping with those connections, Cotter welcomes back the experience of Beauden Barrett for the crucial clash.
“It’s nice to have him back because he has a curious brain and he’s a perfectionist. So having him in and around the team, he asks a lot from his team-mates. And although he is short of a run, I think when he gets out there, he’ll definitely want to put his mark in the game.”
In the wake of the announcement that Dave Rennie will take on the All Blacks coaching job and his comments about having no loyalty to incumbents, Cotter said the approach would help motivate players sitting on the fringe of selection.
“I think it’s probably one of the reasons he was given the job is that he can walk in and have a look objectively at every player and make his assessment on them. He watches a lot of rugby. So when he comes together, you’ll get an indication of how he wants the game to be played when you see his first selection, and that’ll be fascinating to see how that unfolds for each of the teams in New Zealand.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
