If the Crusaders players can persuade their jumbled body clocks to forgive them the tortuous regime of the last few weeks, the New Zealanders have a famous victory within their grasp in Soweto this weekend.
It won’t be easy. In fact it will be decidedly tricky. But if anybody can, the Crusaders can – as their stellar record at this stage of the season amply testifies.
The Bulls are a formidable side, not to mention a well rested one. Since these two teams last squared off on May 5 in Pretoria, the Crusaders will have travelled to and from New Zealand and got themselves up for an elimination final round-robin clash against the Brumbies in Christchurch last Friday night.
By contrast the frontline Bulls players were given the final round off, with a second-string side selected to head down the coast and complete what was, for them, a meaningless final fixture against the Stormers.
But was it? It just may be that the Bulls have made a tactical blunder ahead of this third semifinal meeting between these two sides over the last four years. Only time will tell, but despite the foreboding presence of the travel factor five key things tell me Todd Blackadder’s Crusaders can cause an upset in the first of the semifinals at Orlando Stadium when they take on the top qualifiers and defending champions at 3am on Sunday, NZ time.
Here they are:
1. Momentum.
Believe it or not it’s actually on the side of the Crusaders despite their patchy finish to the season. They were the best team on the paddock a fortnight ago when they wound down their unsuccessful tour with a 35-40 defeat notable as much for the outrageous refereeing performance of Marius Jonker as it was for anything spectacular the Bulls did.
The ‘Saders took plenty out of that Loftus match where they played most of the rugby, established the tempo and very much dictated terms for a clash which swung on two or three contentious decisions by Jonker. Then they turned round, off the long trip home, and pretty clinically dealt to a Brumbies side that had the sniff of the semis in their nostrils.
There were signs at the weekend that the Crusaders game had finally gone to the level that Blackadder has been seeking for a while now. Their work, particularly off turnover, was as sharp as it’s been all year and when New Zealand’s best team has its link play and counter game going, they are always tough to beat.
On the other side of the coin the Bulls forsook momentum in favour of resting their top lineup ahead of the semifinals – a tactic fraught with danger. It hasn’t worked in the past – particularly for the Waratahs in 2002 – and it will be interesting to see how the Bulls come out on the back of what was essentially a bye week for their leading players.
2. The Soweto factor.
The Bulls have an awesome record at Loftus Versfeld where they haven’t been beaten in over two years and where they’ve never lost in the Super rugby post-season.
But unfortunately for them, this semi ain’t at their Pretoria fortress, it’s in a soccer stadium in Soweto, because of the looming Fifa World Cup. That changes the playing field significantly.
Any mental blocks the Crusaders may have had over playing at a stadium where they’ve twice been rolled by the Bulls at semifinal time now go out the window.
Instead it’s been notable that the Crusaders team have been embracing the Soweto factor ahead of the match, expressing their excitement at the chance to play in the famous Johannesburg township at a quality venue just a stone’s throw from the brand new Soccer City stadium that will host the World Cup final in a few short weeks.
Loftus may not have held any fears for the ‘Saders, but it certainly presented some bad memories. There will still be a full house of Bulls fans at Orlando Stadium, but that won’t worry the Kiwis a bit as they look to make the most of their scheduling break.
3. They’re due.
Simple as that. The Crusaders have a superb post-season record with this their ninth straight semifinal appearance and their 12th in 13 seasons. Until 2007 they’d never lost a semi, and they responded to that departure (at the hands of the Bulls) by bouncing back to claim title No 7 the following year.
What do you know they lost at the semifinal stage to the Bulls again last year, so if the cycle holds true they should go all the way again in 2010.
But more than just sequencing suggests this could be the Crusaders year. They’re an outfit that have played more playoffs football than anybody in the competition, and they know what’s required at this stage. Plus they tend to learn their lessons. Those two semifinal defeats by the Bulls will be painful reminders of just what it takes to win against this tough side. A fortnight ago showed they’ve got a plan that works. Now they just need to execute it a smidgeon better and get a fairer deal from the man with the whistle.
4. They’ve got a better backline.
Sure, everyone knows rugby wins are forged up front, but both these packs are full of quality individuals and really should cancel each other out. Lineout edge to Bulls, scrum one to Crusaders, the breakdown and loose forward battle should be a beaut.
But the Crusaders’ attack game has found its feet in the nick of time, with Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland, Colin Slade, Dan Carter and, to a lesser degree, Robbie Fruean running into some serious form. The decision to go with Dan Bowden as a second five-eighth also seems to have worked, especially in terms of the distribution and kicking game.
The Bulls, on the other hand, are without their best finisher (van den Heever) to suspension and, let’s face it, have never been renowned for their willingness to shift it through the hands. If the Crusaders can again make this a free-flowing encounter, they will hold the trump cards.
5. Dan Carter.
He’s spent all year making uncharacteristic mistakes and struggling to find his A game. But the last two weeks there have been signs that the world’s best No 10 is coming back to the form that we’ve come to expect from him.
The battle between two fabulous pivots could well decide this clash. Morne Steyn has punished the Crusaders heavily in their recent meetings and Blackadder will stress the need to minimise the chances for this great points-taker to have either shots or pots at goal.
But Steyn does not have the decision-making prowess, nor the running game, of Carter at his best. All season the All Black great has played a strangely off-key tune, but wouldn’t it be typical – and timely – for him to take command now when the stakes are highest.
Steyn is a fine player. But he’s not Carter. Big advantage to the Crusaders.
So there you have it. Five reasons why the Crusaders could win what should be a gripping semifinal. Of course they have to make them count against a side that has fashioned a formidable record of its own of late.
It should be one heck of a semi.
By MARC HINTON – Stuff
All fair points, but it does’nt necesarily converts into points on the scoreboard…
The Bulls are a class act themselves and only need their senior players to rise to the occasion and they might well be through to the finals again !!!
GO BUUUUUUUUUUULLS !!!!!!
Faark we need Quintes van Rooyen now to write us back into this game. JJ Harmse better try since the former is resting in his grave.
More Blouste
ek is lui vanmore , het die werkers aan die gang gesit in die tuin so ek observeer maar eers.
Het jy die laaste post(32) op die Bakkies thread gesien, ek het lekker gelag daarvoor en hom toe gecopy en paste.
The Crusaders have lost twice to the Bulls in semifinals in South Africa, going down 36-23 last year and 27-12 in 2007. Both times the Bulls went on to claim the title.
It is clear witch gate we must past.
Gooooo Bulllle
More superBul
Selfs sleg vanoggend.
Die mis hier by ons lyk vandag soos daai waaroor ons gister gepraat het 😀
Gaan gou daai post kyk…
How many times have the Crusaders played the Bulls in a semi ?
Is it save to say once we make the semi, we’ve got their number? 😉
We will see a battle of words this week thats for sure.
Bulls better play their A plus game , Crusaders grasp for all sorts of word games to unsettle us.
What we will hear for sure is endless speculation on the
Rest vs Match hardened scenarios
3rd Time lucky
No Jonker as ref
on and
on…..
6
must be that 2 mentioned above , this is the 3rd time
Tascha se oor die game in Soweto
Ja nee my pa hierdie funny sms gekry dit gaan die bul kaartjies is gratis op voorwaarde jy vat jou eie motor en daar sal busdienste wees om terug te kom, heheh
Dink baie jokes gaan nog hieroor gemaak word.
Hoop dit bly grappig.
The Doooooooooooos who originally wrote this crap Article (not SuperBul) is clearly a freegin New Zealander, a more biased or wishful thinking Article you wont find!
I can give you 10 better reasons why the Bulls will win…. and we’ve had the wood over the Saders in recent times…. 2 semi’s in the space of 3 years PLUS we won 2 weeks back!
Go read Gavin Rich on News 24, thats why i think FL was wrong by resting ALL. The whole week they will hammer the Bulls about rustiness. Hope da Bulls knock them so hard you will see the rust fly.
There just might be one reason why the Bulls MIGHT win.
Too much talk.
Best for The Bulls will be to ban them all from any press man, no interviews, just quiet. But this question will be asked to every single Bulls player. Dont you feel rusty?
12 Dweeper jy is dalk reg , Gaan Habs dit regkry om julle stil te hou?
Bulls won’t be rusty, fark they rested for 1 measly weekend, not 3 or 6 weeks…
Do you think they sat at home being idle? Neverrrrrrrrr
Don’t you think the Bulls have studied the Last Encounter’s play with a microscope to cut down the Saders space out wide this time round?
I will start stressing only much later in the week…. hehe
GBS
That is bollocks & you know it 😆
16@ R_P – Your team are chokers, they choked no less than one and a half weeks ago….
Bollocks, my arse!…… well just below my arse….. hehehe
How much senseless repettative argument and dubious speculation are we going to hear about the resting of players and the game 10 days ago??
Get your asses over here for a good old drubbing!
gbs @ 18
hmmm, a bit sensitive this morning, i see!! 😯
I think this and I think that…. pfffrrrrtttttttt
Mere speculation….
Work with facts…. the game will be tough, the team who controls their chances better, will win…… end of story.
Who of you speculants know exactly how well the Bulls have bought into this concept of rest or how needed it was for those battered bodies to be rested?
Who of us know how bruised the Saders are now or how travel weary they will be…. stop speculating about that shit!
Worry about who plays right wing, what game plans and defensive structures will be implimented….. that’s the shit to speculate or rather ponder about…..
(PS! Can one see that I never slept well in the night?)
19@ Asbak – You just worry about the Tahs….. that should keep you sensitive too…. hehehe
Morning everyone. Now off to read this thread.
I think there are some valid points in this article but still think the Bulls will be favourites.. Do they think coming to Soweto is a walk in the park,but I have no doubt the Bulls will have better tactics this time around. Who will play 14 for the Bulls this week?
Hi folks,
Now that I’ve had the chance to read the Stormers/Bulls live thread I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Super, Blouste and bdb for the excellent Monday morning (mourning?)entertainment.
Dankie ouens. I know it could not have been easy, but we live by our decisions, hey? 😉
fender its a pleasure, you guys will have to watch, where is that yo-yo team of yours now , not on top , you were at the top on Saturday. You tell me.
Has there been any moaning by the Tahs about them not hosting a Semi Final?
Morning Rugby Princess, Orlando is a huge boost for the Bulls. Actually I feel it is going to be a major plus for them. I see many wearing the Bulls shirts up in Joburg from Friday last week. Soccer suppoters. So that tells me everyone in Soweto have embrassed the Bulls and going to come out in the numbers to support them. Probably wont get seats to the game, but they will be around the outside of the stadium. The support of the Bulls have increased 10 fold now playing at Orlando.
Agree about the rest, maybe should have had 7 of the top players on the bench. BUT good news is NO injuries. Though remember we rested our top Boks for the 2nd half of the Tri-Nations for wc 2007 and it paid off. So we have to see.
What is against the Saders is the monster travel they have just had to do two weeks in a row. They never showed any signs of being tired last week, actually they were looking brilliant with the rugby they played. This is now different. Another huge travel straight back to (Rugby mad South Africa) this time have to play a better team and AT ALTITUDE!! sweet pie. That is not easy. Your Saders lovely lady, will play out their skins and come up short the last 25 min. I think they will come out to try and put as much past the Bulls in the first 30min, so the last 25min don’t count so Bulls will have to catch up. I think the Bulls will be aware of that and will keep them out from the start, knowing very well the travel back and too from Christchurch will have tired them. Altitude this time round going to cut them short of oxygen in the last 25 min. Travel, Altitude and a better team this week will see the end of the S14 journey for your great team. Sorry RP. 😉
Bulls by 5. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BULLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSS
26 – Winston, There had been but think they have let it go now. They must all be in Cape Town by now.
23 – Winston, I asked Blouste last night. I wonder too. Maybe JLP? Not too sure but think he has the class to play there.
27
they better test them for drugs. Or we must get other scientists to tell us why we travel so bad. This could be a real blow for our tired brigade scientists.
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