Melbourne Rebels fullback Andrew Kellaway is preparing for 'the hardest task' in Rugby as the side heads to Christchurch on guard for a fired-up Crusaders side.
The defending champions find themselves in the rare position of anchoring the bottom of the ladder, winning just one of their eight games in 2024.
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Their demise has got to the stage where NZ PM (and avid Crusaders fan) Christopher Luxon has weighed in on their season, backing them to bounce back.
"Keep the faith, it's not over until it's over," Luxon told reporters in Wellington.
"Yes, it's been a disappointing run so far, but we're just warming up. Trust us, we'll get there to the playoffs. We win nice or we win ugly, but we win because it's the story of the Crusaders and that will continue I'm sure. Don't you worry, they're going to get there."
Kellaway felt the same way as the Rebels head to Christchurch in search of their third-ever win over the Crusaders.
“I’ve never seen it, it’s rare than hen’s teeth I suppose,” Kellaway remarked on seeing the Crusaders at the bottom.
“On one end, I’m happy it’s not an Australian team that’s down there and on the other hand, I think we all know what the Crusaders can bring, they carry the reputation they do for a reason.
“Going to Christchurch is the hardest task in our game irrespective of where they sit on the table and I think you’ll see that this weekend.
“I think they’re going to be right up and about for it and they’re a team that deserves every bit of respect they get. I think anyone who underestimates that does so at their peril.”
The Rebels are sitting in the top four after three straight wins before their bye.
Having gone through some tough moments with the club, Kellaway believes they are now starting to reap the rewards.
“I think we’ve had enough tough experiences so you’re bound to learn from those things," he believes.
“I think it probably took us a little longer than we would’ve liked but now we’re reaping the rewards of those tough and bad losses. I’m a firm believer you learn more from your failings than you do your successes so I think that’s put us in a good position.
“Also, I believe some of the IP we’ve had around the group, particularly players like Matt Proctor, Filipo Daugunu, Jack Maunder and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been a huge difference.
"We’ve had some great wins this year and wins that we’re really proud of (but) we weren’t proud of the performance against the Hurricanes and certainly these two weeks against the Crusaders and Blues are big weeks for us
“It’s about rectifying the performance we had against the Crusaders, which we’re bitterly disappointed with and the other part of it saying okay, we’ve ticked a couple of boxes, we’re in a great spot, now can we really put ourselves at the top of the competition.
