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In a move that has been rumoured and alluded to for some time, the Crusaders are making Melbourne their Australian home base for the '06 season.
Victorians, who have always been know for questionable sporting loyalties and an insatiable hunger for ever other State's sporting events, will have their patriotism tested in their reception of this modern age "Crusade".
From Rugby Heaven:
New Zealand's all-conquering Crusaders are launching a bold move into Australian Rugby Union territory by making rugby-starved Melbourne their second home during this year's Super 14 competition.
The Crusaders will base itself in the southern capital before its Australian games, aiming to fill a niche left open when the ARU awarded Perth the franchise for the newly-expanded rugby competition ahead of Melbourne.
Using the world's most popular sporting club, soccer's Manchester United, as its model, the Crusaders hope snubbed Victorians will embrace the side, which was easily the most successful in the 10-year Super 12 history, winning the title five times including last season.
They plan to use the facilities of Australia's most popular AFL club, Collingwood, for their training and expand the relationship between the two sporting sides.
With their eye on southern hemisphere domination both on and off the field, the titleholders will get a measure of where they stand on both fronts tomorrow night.
They play the newcomers, the Perth-based Western Force at Olympic Park - home ground of the National Rugby League side the Melbourne Storm - in a trial match before the Super 14 kicks off in a fortnight.
"It works for us as a good base to get a decent preparation but also as a business opportunity," Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said today.
"This market is starved of good rugby and without an Australian team to support we hope the locals will turn out and adopt us."
As well as the match the Crusaders are planning an open training session on Sunday afternoon followed by a coaching clinic, run by Deans.
He said the feedback from Melbourne rugby fans, which includes a large contingent of Kiwis, and the Victorian Rugby Union had already been very positive.
"We don't just want to take, we want to give something back."
After narrowly losing their last trial to the Highlanders, the Crusaders, led by skipper Richie McCaw, are planning to field their strongest side tomorrow night against the Force, who are coached by former New Zealand national coach John Mitchell.
Their All Blacks, including International Rugby Board player of the year, five-eighth Daniel Carter, will make their first appearances of the year while centre Aaron Mauger will start on the bench after recovering from a shoulder injury suffered on their European tour late last year.
Deans knows Mitchell's coaching style intimately after acting as his assistant until Mitchell's sacking after the 2003 World Cup.
"It's an important game for Mitch, who is re-entering the fray and he doesn't like to lose, even a trial match," Deans said.
"The Force have been preparing hard for a long time and there is a lot of excitement and a lot at stake, with 20,000 members.
"This game against us is an important benchmark and will give them a real indication of where they are at."
AAP