Crusaders face tough draw for 2005 season | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

The Crusaders have the "draw from hell" in the 2005 Super 12, says coach Rob Deans.

"It's a matter of making it work," said the man who in five seasons in charge has steered Super 12's most successful franchise to four finals and two victories.

The critics are convinced he will ? all the rugby tipsters and experts have the Crusaders to finish first or second this season, and the TAB predicts a repeat of 2004 with the Brumbies and Crusaders first and second respectively.

That has Deans cringing.

"I love the way guys sit there and pick so effortlessly!" he said.

"The reality is, it's a huge challenge and campaign. But they're looking forward to it ? we've got a chance. That's all we seek!"

The draw certainly poses some hurdles for the Crusaders.

Only four of their 11 matches are in Christchurch, and they have only one match at Jade in the first seven rounds. They are also away in the first six rounds to the Brumbies, Blues, Waratahs, and Bulls, four top contenders for the last four.

The 2005 championship, in danger of being overshadowed before it kicks off by the Lions tour and the advent of Super 14 next year, presents other special challenges for the Crusaders.

Deans, with a squad which includes 19 All Blacks, has expectations on him from Graham Henry and rugby fans nationwide to handle players like Norm Maxwell, Dan Carter, and Richie McCaw so that they peak against the Lions.

While Crusaders fans may ponder the liabilities of this season's draw, supporters of other sides are bemoaning the fact the Crusaders are stronger than ever on paper.

The major loss, Brad Thorn, gives 22-year-old Kevin O'Neill ? identical weight to the Bronco and with a few extra inches in the lineout -- an opportunity after a solid NPC.

The return of Leon MacDonald and a game-breaking wing in Rico Gear enhance the back department, and Fiji sevens and test star Vilimoni Delasu also add punch out wide.

New skipper McCaw is snorting fire after his injury tribulations last year.

And the depth the Crusaders have in departments like the loose forwards and the inside backs is stunning.

The Crusaders are traditionally slow starters with Deans having the knack of igniting them at the business end of the season, but they showed an intensity usually missing at this stage of the year to crush the Reds 48-19 in Brisbane after low key losses to the Highlanders and Waratahs.

They looked underprepared last year and some other years at the start, but Deans said the extra fixture helped this time ? and that its benefits should be evident again in the competition proper.

"Our build-up was obviously disjointed so far as only a third or half of the players were training prior to February," he said. "We made the most of the opportunities we had."

Deans is conscious of supporters' preoccupation with the Crusaders' traditional fragile starts.

"We are determined every year," he said. "We get accused every year. It's ironic because we were unbeaten one year (2002). We seek to prevail every time ? not to come second."

The Brumbies in Canberra for an opener pitches the Crusaders into the cauldron immediately. Win that one, and the Crusaders will be on course for another season to remember.