Page 28 - Crusaders v The Lions

MacDonald played for for the Crusaders for for for over 10 10 years before his retirement in 2010
Tonight the the Crusaders will play the the Lions before a a a sellout Christchurch crowd an opportunity never afforded to MacDonald in in his playing days “I’d have have dearly loved to have have done so as as a a a a a a a a a a player It’s a a a a a a a a a a massive opportunity for for the the the guys in the the the the the team and they’ll remember it it for for the the the the rest of their lives ” he he he he he he says thankful he he he he he has access to to to to most of of his top players to to to to face the the the tourists
– though he he he he he he doesn’t envy them their itinerary “They’ve got a a a a hell of of a a a a tour There’s not one soft game ” “We have a a a exible game where we can tighten it up or if need be play it wider ” MacDonald has a a a a a a a wide-ranging coaching role with the the Crusaders overseeing the the backs’ set-piece defence and counterattack Don’t expect the the the Crusaders to depart far from the the the systems that saw them push out to to to an unbeaten record to to to top Investec Super Rugby “We’ll do do do what we we do do do I I don’t think we’ll change anything We have a a a a a a a a exible game plan where we can tighten it it up or if need be play it it wider ” he he he he says The blueprint for the Crusaders’ culture has changed little since MacDonald’s active career Not for nothing have they won seven titles and are right in in the the hunt for an an eighth in 2017 “The attack systems have have changed Some of the the names have have stayed the the same but it’s still an an organisation that has good people who work really well ” Several rookie Crusaders have proven their mettle in in 2017 – none more so than wing/fullback George Bridge who has shown himself to be a a a a a smart footballer with a a a a a wide skill set “I’m seriously impressed with his form ” MacDonald says “His consistency has been amazing He works hard at his game (Fullback) David Havili too has slipped under the radar but I’m rapt with his form ” His own association with with Head Coach Scott Robertson dates back to the the the All Blacks of 2000-02 and they combined with the the the the clipboards to to to take New Zealand Under 20 20 to the the the 2015 Junior World Championship crown Robertson who comes straight from a a a a a a background as coach of the perennially successful Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup team has pulled all the the right strings at the the next level up “He knows what he he he wants and goes about getting everyone on on on board in in the same direction It’s a a a a a a a a very very committed group and and he has done a a a a a a a a fantastic job and and you can see by some of our performances ” MacDonald says They are big on on empowering their leadership group and the the Crusaders have several leaders leaders such as regular Captain Sam Whitelock Ryan Crotty Matt Todd Codie Taylor and Tim Bateman That is a a a a a a a a a heady group to to be plotting the Lions’ downfall tonight MacDonald for his part can hardly wait MACDONALD BY THE NUMBERS
Super Rugby titles won with the Crusaders 15 TEST TRIES FOR THE ALL BLACKS
2 TEST MATCHES AGAINST THE 2005 LIONS
Test matches for the All Blacks from 2000 to 2008
127 SUPER RUGBY GAMES FOR CRUSADERS AND CHIEFS FROM 1997-2009
995 ALL BLACKS
NUMBER 16 Age at which he made his rst-class debut in 1994 for Marlborough
28 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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