Will they or won’t they? Will the Crusaders continue to play their high risk-high reward rugby, or will they bring out the stodgy stuff for the weekend’s Super 14 semi-final against the Bulls?
It’s fast shaping as one of the main talking points of the build-up to the highly anticipated Soweto showdown between two teams who have won the last five Super rugby titles between them.
Matfield reckons come semi-final time bonus points doesn’t count and low risk rugby wins these types of matches.
The messages out of the Kiwi camp continue to pledge persistence with the all-out attack policy of recent weeks.
I think the Crusaders will keep doing what they did in the previous match against the bulls namely quick throw-in to avoid line-outs, driving up in the line-outs to prevent the mauls, spoiling in the scrums with all sort of illegal stepping, turning the scrums and mauls and running from deep with numbers out wide as well as rushing up to the pods.
However I think they are going to mix it up this time round namely play the game in quarters with a slightly different focus in each quarter. For the first 15 minutes they are probably going to kick for territory but will be waiting for poor tactical kicks to counter from deep. In the middle part of the first half they are probably going to smash it up with occational short passes to forwards and backs running at angles on to the ball as well as some blindside probing by Ellis. Last quarter they’ll try something else like lifting the tempo and watch-out for the corner kick by Carter with Thorne out on the wing to gather the ball. Both the Bulls wings (Hougaard and T-shirt) are short so the corner pass-kick to the wing and the up-and -under that drops on the goal line is certainly on.
First 15 minutes of the second half they are going to kick for corners to set-up play close to the bulls goal line and smash it up with the corner kick eventually if they can’t get through.
In the last quarter of the match they are going to try and deprive the bulls of ball; if behind they are going to run everything out wide with some occasional smashing up with angled runners to pull in the drifting defence. If in front they are going to try and keep the ball in hand and slow the game down.
How should the bulls approach the game?
Play to strengths; kick for corners (into the pavilion) forcing line-out close to the Crusaders goal line; ruck and maul from the line-out but throw on 4 and 5 and try and force penalties. Use the pods sparingly and mostly as a decoy or as a block for a Steyn drop kick. Some variations with the pods close to the Crusaders goal line like they did against the chiefs namely having two pods and using an angled runner to steam in occasionally between the two pods. To make the pods work the bulls need to make sure they have the defence on the back foot (retreating) before playing the ball to the pods. So drive the ball up from the line-out before sending it to the pods or get a good right shoulder in the scrum with Spies taking it up before sending it to the pods. The pods can’t stand still and wait for the ball but need to run onto the flat pass so that they have momentum when receiving the ball.
The Bulls know the crusaders are going to run the ball from deep so well placed box kicks which land in the 4 channel with defenders coming up quickly to box the ball catcher in, with the aim to force a mistake, is certainly on. They need to tackle the ball catcher or the first receiver when following up on the box kicks. In essence smother any counters before the ball goes through the second pair of hands as the third receiver will be out wide with numbers in support. The box kick will therefore have to be high and placed with pin point accuracy.
Well that just my thoughts on the matter. I am very keen to see how the respective teams are going to approach this match.
Bulls hopefully sorted their first time tackling and their forwards will have to dominate early on.
When Steyn kicks for touch the ball must go into the stands, hell even talk to the ball boys before hand 😉 but they must try and minimize quick throw-ins.
Settle down on line-outs, keep it slow in that facet of play and smother the Saders with one of their strenghts…
Kicks will have to be well placed and will have a big effect on how the game plays out.
Try to keep ball in hand and play in their territory…
If they can manage this and execute it well, we’ll see you Stormers or Tahs in a weeks time.
O, and a last thing, take all points on offer this weekend !!!
Blouste
Look, I don’t mind if they take a couple for weeks to work that out 😉
Do not be talking to ball boys !! That is something Convicts do – get the ball boys to touch the ball to prevent quick throw ins – & I expect Saffas to be more sporting than Convicts 😡
RP
He he he, just kidding, think I made the point though…
Hmmmmm… Bulls by 15
Your prediction ?
Blouste
Wow ! You really think the Bulls will lose by 15 ? 😯
Come now Princess , your prediction ?
You a bit scared of publicly going against your own team ?
Don’t worry, we will see it as “rugby knowledge” 😆
Blouste
Good to see you have not lost you sen se of humour ! 😆 I have faith the Saders will triumph like the warrior-poets they are cos if anyone can do it they can !! 😀
I took a long-shot and gave the game to the Crusaders by 8 on Superbru…but I feel very uncomfortable with my decision. ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING can happen, and I might’ve felt better if I called a draw.
Even the Stormers/Waratahs game, the only reason I picked the Stormers, is simply because I never bet against the Stormers.
I feel the bulls need to keep the ball in hand for teh first half and not make the game fast but run at them
The crusaders will be dead the last 20-30 min of the game. They will bring everything at us in the first half and try and score as many points as possible and run us off our feet. Keep the ball run at them and score but keep the ball. Second half we take them game away
@ Blouste:werk die goed
Durban Bulle wrote:
Durban Bulle wrote:
1Blouste wrote:
Just maybe it will be a game like the 2007 semi, just a deadly kicker will seal it for the Bulls.
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