The National Times - Coach Penney unsure of return to Super Rugby champions Crusaders

The Crusaders went from missing the playoffs in 2024 under Penney to claiming the silverware with a grinding 16-12 win over Waikato Chiefs in Christchurch.

A 15th Super Rugby title for the competition's most successful team was a personal triumph for the veteran coach.

Penney oversaw 10 defeats from 14 games in his first year in charge as the Crusaders failed to reach the knockout stages for the first time in nine seasons.

The 61-year-old was retained for the second and final year of his contract despite widespread calls for him to be axed.

After Saturday's triumph, Penney was reluctant to commit to another campaign with the Christchurch-based side, telling reporters: "I'm not sure yet".

Pushed further, he would only say: "I'll just take time to see, you know, what falls out of the review."

A former head coach at the New South Wales Waratahs and with Irish club Munster, Penney said he was thankful that the Crusaders' management had handed him a lifeline.

"It would have been easy for them to tip me out and they didn't, so in some way, I've repaid a little bit of that faith," he said.

"It's now such a pleasure to be standing here representing this group.

"They're young men that just love this place and their commitment is total."

Penney succeeded Scott Robertson, who oversaw seven straight titles at the Crusaders before being appointed to coach New Zealand's All Blacks.

Penney's first season was marred by injuries to a number of the All Blacks in his squad, along with a run of close losses.

"This year we've been on the other side of the ledger, we've had some calls that have gone for us and we've had players available," he said.

"It's a lot of small margins but I knew if we got to the business end of the season, the right people would know how to do the right things and that was evident."

S.M.Riley--TNT