The Crusaders and the Sharks go head to head, both smarting and coming off embarrassing losses last week. Both teams will be looking to make amends and putting their 2010 Super 14 season back on track.
The game will be played at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, home of the Crusaders.
The Crusaders had a good week in week 1 of the Super 14, coming from behind to beat a very game Highlanders side but last weekend the wheels came off in spectacular fashion against the Reds, who look a totally rejuvenated team this year.
Having lost in such a manner makes one wonder about the Cusader chances for 2010, yet Richie McCaw will be back, playing from the bench and they still possess a potent combination of players.
The Sharks on the other hand have been nothing short of diabolical in the first 2 weeks of the Super 14, losing both matches against the Chiefs and the Cheetahs at home. This will be their first match of 5 away from home in Australasia and the teams they face are some of the toughest possible in the tournament.
The Sharks have been specially impotent in their backline so far, exibiting very average centre play and an inability to put together their own fundamental phases of attack.
Both these 2 teams are better than what they have exhibited so far and they will concentrate on controlled structure to set them back on track, which probably means that we’ll see a hard and uncompromising match with a low overall scoreline.
I predict a home win for the Crusaders…. Saders by 8.
Previous Super 14 results:
2009: Crusaders won 13-10 (Durban)
2008: Crusaders won 18-10 (Christchurch)
2007: Sharks won 27-26 (Durban)
2006: Crusaders won 22-20 (Timaru)
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read (captain), 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Colin Slade.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Adrian Jacobs, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Andrew Goode, 22 Riaan Swanepoel.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
TMO: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
dankie GBS, nou vir die spanningsvolle wag. Hoop en bid alles is normaal en alles loop goed af. Superkoei gaan jou nog moer, sy is juis nou hospitaal toe. Ek sit maar hier.
Help…. Will the Canes beat the Lions by more than 20?
Must do all my picks tonight…as we are off to Wales tomorrow!
YYiipppeeeee 😆
31@ SuperBul – Hehehehehe
Sorg jy net dat jy van drank afbly, kannie ‘n dronk oupa by die hospitaal weesie!
SuperBul…Good luck to your daughter and the little one waiting to ‘burst forth’!!
Okay going to get ready to watch Boots.
Cheers all.
32 – Carol, Good evening. Do those picks quick. The first game is on at 8.30am tomorrow morning.
I got bru to change my pick to what I had selected in the first place. Thank goodness it was changed before the game started.
Cheers Carol.
Chat again tomorrow. Going to get read to watch Boots.
Super once again all the best for your new grandchild on the way. That must be the best present for this weekend.
Catch up tomorrow.
34
the other day someone asked her when she is going to pop. She did not appreciate that. My wife thought it was funny and asked her too, needles to say my wife got a big growl, grin whatever you call it.
not a nice thing to say, i presume.
Who would have thought! The great Sashin not the first to reach 200 in limited overs. Only the first man…
Belinda Clarke, Australian player, captain and chief executive scored 229 not out against Denmark in the Women’s World Cup 13 years ago!!!
Yes, she is only a woman. Yes, it was against Denmark. Yes, it means nothing. Yes, women should be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Yes, I’m interrupting this to fetch “hubby” a beer.
Fact is, in International Cricket, Belinda was the first, not the Little Master.
Puma…You did not answer my query, the you run off…..!! 😉
superBul @ 38, watch it…you are on dangerous ground!!
I do not fetch beers or pop babies!! 😐
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