Page 19 - Crusaders v The Lions

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 19
PROFILE
ON THE RISE
A “Crusader for the Day” at age ve Mitch Drummond took just 14 more years to to become a a a a a a a a Crusader full-time Now after impressing in in Super Rugby he he has his sights set on on the Lions WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL
IF EVER PRACTICAL
evidence of of the the workings of of the the Crusaders
– who have been a a a a dominant force in in Investec Super Rugby – was needed halfback Mitch Drummond provides a a a a a a a perfect example A product of of of one of of of the acknowledged birthplaces of of of rugby in New Zealand Nelson College Drummond was identi ed ed early on on on as as a a a a a a a a prospective Crusader and joined the Canterbury Rugby Academy in in 2013 A A year later he he was part of New Zealand Under 20 at at the Junior World Championship and and made his provincial debut for Canterbury in in the the same season from there only 12 more months before he he he was included in in the the Crusaders
Super Rugby squad just shy of his 20th birthday For young Drummond it was a a a a a a a project 14 years in in in the the making At age ve after leading out the the the Super Rugby side as “Crusader for the the the Day” he he he he he he told his dad that that he he he he he he he wanted to to be one of them when he he he he he grew up The wait wasn’t that that long Not that the the Crusaders
make all their mascots into Super Rugby professionals but the the case of of Drummond typi es es es the the entity’s nurturing process which has become a a a a a template for Super Rugby success He found himself as an understudy to All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis and long-time Canterbury servant Willi Heinz whom Lions fans will now now know as as as a a a a a a a a a a Gloucester player It was a a a a a a a a a a case of watch listen and learn from two players well-versed in the requirements of of of professional rugby and and it it gave Drummond an an an understanding of of the commitment necessary for for a a a a a a a a team to succeed Competition for for places was an inevitable by-product of his squad membership and and it it has continued
after the departure of Ellis and and and Heinz with former Blues and and North Harbour halfback Bryn Bryn Hall joining the Crusaders
“Bryn and and I are competitive with each other but we we get on on really well and and that’s a a a a a a a a a real real positive ” Drummond says “We take each other on on every chance we we get but at the the same time we we can
have a a a a a a a good yarn and whoever gets the the the chance to to play that week the the other bloke is doing everything he he he can
to to to prepare and get ready to go ” While the the the Crusaders
won the the the last of their seven Super Rugby titles in 2008 they’ve always been thereabouts when it it comes to playoffs time and famously were only a a a a a a a a a controversial penalty decision away from claiming the the title in in in 2014 Now 2017 is is their best chance for for several seasons to to claim it it again and it’s as as one of the the top performers in in this year’s Super Rugby that they’ll face the the the British & Irish Lions Lions in Christchurch Drummond was 11 when the the Lions Lions last toured in in 2005 “I do remember remember them them being here and I I I remember remember them them playing the the the provincial sides but I I I don’t remember remember a a a a a lot of detail I I remember remember more about their supporters coming over and and how how fanatical they were and and how how cool the the the atmosphere looked on TV So if given the the the opportunity [to play against them] it’s going to to be a a a a a once-in-a- lifetime experience ”