WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — After dominating Super Rugby for more than two decades, the Christchurch-based Crusaders have fallen into a funk this season from which they seem unable to extract themselves.
The Crusaders are in last place after nine rounds of the current Super Rugby Pacific season with only one win. They face the fourth-place Melbourne Rebels in the 10th round on Saturday.
The Crusaders’ sudden fall from grace has come with the usual baggage: fan anger and resentment, bitter recriminations from former players and calls for current head coach Rob Penney to go.
The Crusaders’ management have pushed back strongly against critics and pointed out with justification that Penney can’t be expected to carry the can. There are many issues contributing to the Crusaders’ decline and sacking the coach likely won’t turn things around.
Portugal marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution army coup that brought democracy
Carbon budget management system to be set up at provincial, prefecture levels
China's Qin leads field into men's 50m breaststroke final at Aquatics Worlds
Highlights of Chinese government work report
UN report says 282 million people faced acute hunger in 2023, with the worst famine in Gaza
Assange faces further wait for appeal against extradition to US
Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department becomes Spotify's most
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's 3 sons killed in Israeli raid