Canterbury Crusaders 2012 Season Preview
2011 will forever be remembered by Cantabrians for the devastation, loss and suffering as a result of the series of earthquakes to rock the area. For Canterbury rugby fans (who are arguably New Zealand's most passionate, one-eyed rugby supporters), 2011 will also be remembered for the manner in which their valant rugby team represented them. Despite the lack of a home ground (AMI Stadium is in a state of dis-repair) and essentially clocking up almost twice as many travel kilometres as any other team, not withstanding their significant mental state, the Canterbury Crusaders overcame all these odds to finish runners up in the 2011 Super Rugby championship, losing out to the Queensland Reds.
With a resurrected home ground ($20m has been invested into Rugby League Park in Addington), and with the distraction of not only the earthquakes but also the Rugby World Cup, Todd Blackadder should feel fairly confident of his squads chances in 2012.
The Canterbury Crusaders are a finely balanced side across the park. In the forwards, the Franks brothers provide the stable platform from which Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and co can operate off. For opposition teams and coaches, the fear doesn't end there. Names like Dan Carter, Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford, Andy Ellis and Robbie Fruean would be enough to unsettle any side, be it at test or provincial level.
It is however the Canterbury Crusaders' mental edge that has seen them become New Zealand's most successful Super rugby side. Scary prosepect, eh! For Canterbury's sake, we wish them all the best for the 2012 season - can they live up to their 5:3 odds?
For all the Canterbury Crusaders 2012 rugby games, please refer to the event listings below. Please note that these are the match details for the Canterbury Crusaders New Zealand-based fixtures for 2012.
Wellington Hurricanes 2012 Season Preview
Waikato Chiefs 2012 Season Preview
Otago Highlanders 2012 Season Preview
Auckland Blues 2012 Season Preview
Canterbury Crusaders 2012 Season Preview
Blues vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
24 Feb 2012
Blues vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
The 2012 Super 15 kicks of for New Zealand fans with the Auckland Blues taking on the Canterbury Crusaders at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Featuring a whole host of All Black players, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Jerome Kaino and Kevin Mealamu, expect a torrid match from two of New Zealand’s best performing rugby teams.
Highlanders vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
03 Mar 2012
Highlanders vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
The 2012 Super 15 kicks of for New Zealand fans with the Otago Highlanders taking on the Canterbury Crusaders at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium (Otago Stadium).
With the Super 15 Rugby featuring a whole host of All Black players, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Jerome Kaino and Kevin Mealamu, expect a torrid match from some of New Zealand...
Hurricanes vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
21 Apr 2012
Hurricanes vs Crusaders, Super 15 Rugby 2012
The 2012 Super 15 kicks of for New Zealand fans with the Wellington Hurricanes taking on the Canterbury Crusaders at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
With the Super 15 Rugby featuring a whole host of All Black players, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Jerome Kaino and Kevin Mealamu, expect a torrid match from some of New Zealand’s best perform...