The Crusaders have retained coach Rob Penney despite a poor Super Rugby season. The team finished ninth with just four wins from 14 games.
The franchise has completed its review of the season and has decided to retain Penney, who signed a two-year contract after replacing Scott Robertson after the 2023 season. Chief executive Colin Mansbridge stated that Penney has the support of the Crusaders players and organization.
Australian company Gain Line Analytics was contracted to help the Crusaders complete the review and determine the reasons behind the disappointing season.
The review involved players being interviewed, while Penney’s team selections and game preparation processes were examined. The Crusaders are keen to improve on last season’s results but have a broad list of things to work on across the whole system. These will make a difference in 2025, put them back in a finals situation, and hopefully win them a championship.
Mansbridge believed that the results of the 2024 Super Rugby season didn’t necessarily reflect the Crusaders’ performance, especially given the squad’s high injury rate.
The Crusaders were beaten in the closing minutes by the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Waratahs, and Brumbies, and Gain Line Analytics predicted they would be semi-finalists or finalists at the start of the season. However, rather than three or four things, the Crusaders have 50 action items to do now and next season.
The Crusaders don’t have any options to replace Penney next season if the franchise doesn’t see an improvement in results. The Crusaders coach believes that if they do the 50 things identified in the review right, the team’s story will be different.
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