Opinion: Something very special is brewing at the Crusaders

The Crusaders have come a long way in 12 months (Getty)
The Crusaders have come a long way in 12 months (Getty)

OPINION: The question the Crusaders coaching staff are going to be asked more than any other is this - why is this team dominating so much this year?

Why is this team a contender, and why are its results so much better than the teams under Todd Blackadder's tenure?

Everyone of course would love a concise answer - a snackable seven second soundbite - but it's not that simple. 

The Crusaders haven't won a Super Rugby title since the Deans era but now, the enigmatic Scott Robertson and assistants Brad Mooar, Leon MacDonald and Jason Ryan have helped a side to a 12 and 0 start to the season.

They are now firm favourites to go all the way. A variety of factors are in play here. 

In the pre-season, Robertson said he wanted his players to care - to buy into the vision. 

Clearly they have. 

A quirky character who the players seem to really like and admire, Robertson has helped develop a lot of depth with more than 30 players being used this season already.  When one player is out for whatever reason a good replacement is not far away.

Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson has enjoyed a dream year with the Crusaders to date (Getty)

Case in point was the locking situation when captain Sam Whitelock was out suspended, and Scott Barrett got injured against the Hurricanes.  On came Quinton Strange, and the side didn't miss a beat.  

There are many other examples of players fronting up when they got their shot. Remember Mitchell Hunt kicking the winning penalty against the Reds - he was only given the number 10 jersey because of the thumb injury to Richie Mo'unga.

Assistant coach Brad Mooar also says a lot of the younger players like Mo'unga, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond and Jack Goodhue have evolved their games markedly this season. Bryn Hall was also a good get from the Blues.

Key to the Crusaders renaissance of sorts is that two of their biggest names Kieran Read and Israel Dagg have been sidelined for most of the season. 

Strategically the side has fine-tuned on the Blackadder days. There is more directness to their play, the forward pack has been immense against all opposition and they have been devastating on the counter attack.

The team talks about being accountable and being honest with each other. They also talk about knowing their roles well and having a go and backing themselves.

At Crusaders training there appears to be a lot of work going into the small details. Rugby heads call this "clarity". The Hurricanes game was a good example of this when they nullified the threat of the Barretts, even using the cross kick against the side that had made it their speciality.

Seta Tamanivalu
Seta Tamanivalu is chased down by All Black Julian Savea (Photosport)

Winning teams are happy teams of course - and they certainly seem to be happy right now. The Melbourne Rebels this weekend should be win number 13, which will equal the side of 2002 that was unbeaten all season. 

Mention this to any of the coaching staff and you'll be met with the customary "step by step, match by match" line and a general unwillingness to buy into any of the hype circulating around New Zealand.

But make no doubt about it, it feels like something very special is brewing at AMI Stadium and the title-winning drought may soon be over.

David Di Somma is a Newshub sports reporter.