Coach Todd Blackadder hails Crusaders’ fighting spirit
The Canterbury Crusaders deserve some credit for keeping their quest for an eighth Super Rugby title alive until the final minute of the season, according to coach Todd Blackadder.
The Canterbury Crusaders deserve some credit for keeping their quest for an eighth Super Rugby title alive until the final minute of the season, according to coach Todd Blackadder.
The New Zealanders led the New South Wales Waratahs by two points with the end of the match in sight at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday before Bernard Foley's long-range penalty snatched a 33-32 victory and a first title for the home side.
Blackadder captained the Crusaders to the first three of their seven Super Rugby titles from 1998 to 2000, but his search for his first as a coach is now destined to go into his seventh season in the job.
We’re disappointed but it’s not the end of the world. We gave ourselves a good chance to win ... [and] credit to our guys, they were in control until the last minute
"You certainly prepare to win these things and coming second is not much fun, I can tell you that. This competition is all about winning," he said.
"I think we're disappointed but it's not the end of the world. We had our opportunities, so while we're disappointed that we didn't take them we gave ourselves a good chance to win," he said.
"We knew that if we kept the ball we could break down their defences and ... credit to our guys, they were in control until the last minute."
Despite his clear disappointment, Blackadder was gracious enough to pay lavish compliments to the Waratahs, even if he was not certain they deserved the penalty that won them the game.