Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge has backed head coach Rob Penney despite a poor performance in the ongoing Super Rugby Pacific season.
Penney replaced the club's most successful head coach Scott Robertson at the start of the 2024 season with the latter taking in charge of the All Blacks succeeding Ian Foster.
Nevertheless, Crusaders, who have won 12 Super Rugby titles along with two Super Rugby Aotearoa triumphs have endured a tough campaign as they have lost seven out of the eight matches and are languishing at the bottom of the table.
“When you think logically about it, what are your options? That’s not a very clever option, no matter how bad things get,” he told Newstalk ZB reacting to the reaction on replacing Penney.
“But from commentators, I think it’s childish, frankly.
“When you see those things happen overseas, you don’t see improvements in results, that’s the fact,” he added.
“There’ll be an exception that proves the rule, but generally it makes no difference, and in fact, probably things get worse.”
Crusaders will be facing Rebels in the next round with the fixture scheduled to be played at Apollo Projects Stadium on 26th April.