Tough task: The Sharks have a mountain to climb
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The Sharks will have to overcome travel fatigue, weather and an impressive Crusaders' home play-offs record when the two teams clash on Saturday.
In the history of Super Rugby, the Crusaders have never lost a home final or semi-final. They have won 16 of their 21 play-off matches for an amazing winning percentage of 76 per cent, with all five of their defeats at this stage of the season coming away from home.
On the other end of the scale, the three-time Super Rugby runners-up will have to win only their second play-off match away from Durban. Since 1996 the Sharks have played in nine play-offs, winning three.
The South African franchise have faced the Crusaders once before in a semi-final, way back in 1998, and lost 36-32 in Christchurch.
Because of a devastating earthquake that hit the region earlier this year, the Crusaders have had to move all their home games from AMI Stadium in Christchurch to venues across the South Island as well as abroad to Twickenham - the venue where these two teams last met.
The Super Rugby clash in London was the first of its kind to be held outside the Southern Hemisphere, with the Crusaders getting the better of the Sharks in a highly entertaining match that saw the New Zealanders outscore John Plumtree's side five tries to four.
Nelson has brought mixed results for the Crusaders, having beaten the Waratahs (33-18) and Brumbies (52-10) but they lost to the Highlanders - which shows the men in red and black can be beaten in home games, even though it doesn't happen all that often.
Since 2001, the Crusaders have only lost eight times at home. In the history of the competition, they've lost 15 out of 108 home games and drawn four - a stat that will have Sharks fans quaking in their boots.
It hasn't been an easy journey for either teams getting to the 2011 play-offs, but the Crusaders have by far been the most impressive.
From 16 matches the Crusaders lost only four without playing a single match at home, while the Sharks lost five. The hosts scored the most points in the league stage (436) and were second only to the Waratahs in terms of tries scored (46).
Last week the Crusaders won the New Zealand Conference with a 16-9 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington, and the Sharks eliminated the defending champion Bulls 26-23 in Pretoria to make the finals.
Leading into the Round 18 knock-out clash against the Bulls, the talk coming from the Sharks camp was all about the need for accuracy, intensity and commitment. Much of the same will be required against a Crusaders team that are poised for an eighth Super Rugby title.
Changes to the Sharks side that beat the Bulls last week have been kept to a minimum, with just one personnel swap to the starting XV, where Willem Alberts replaces Ryan Kankowski at number eight.
The Crusaders have been strengthened by the return of key backs Sonny Bill Williams and Sean Maitland from injury as well as scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and coach Todd Blackadder warned his side was primed for finals rugby.
"The guys want to do it for the people at home who are really hurting," said Blackadder as the New Zealand government announced thousands of people in quake-crippled Christchurch would lose their damaged houses.
"Every obstacle that seems to get thrown in our way, the guys overcome it, and manage to put good performances together.
"If anything we feel like we're a little bit underdone... the guys are fit and fresh and really determined. If we get everything right we'll be dangerous."
Ones to watch:
For Crusaders: Whilst Sonny Bill Williams has proved himself this year as arguably the most influential player in Super Rugby, Crusaders flank Matt Todd has been the real find of 2011. Filling the void left by the injured Richie McCaw, Todd has exceeded all expectations - so much so, that an All Blacks call-up would not go unwarranted. His effective work on the ground and resilience on defence has made him a thorn in the opposition's backside.
For Sharks: Big Willem Alberts returns to the Sharks' starting line-up after riding pine last weekend against the Bulls. His blockbusting running and physicality on both attack and defence makes him a vital component of the Sharks' attack.
Super head-to-head: The front row. The clash up front sees All Blacks trio Owen Franks, Corey Flynn and Wyatt Crockett locking horns with Springboks Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira. The visitors' pack hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders, while conversely the Crusaders' heavies have been enjoying the form of their lives. However, the Sharks were a different kettle of fish in Pretoria last week, and physically dominated a Springbok-laden Bulls pack. And with the Tri-Nations and a World Cup on the horizon, the Sharks' all-Springbok front row has a point to prove against their much-fancied All Blacks counterparts.
Prediction: Only a complete 80 minute performance from the Sharks is going to be good enough against a side who know how to win knock-out clashes. We're expecting a close tussle, but as the match wears on, so will the Sharks. Crusaders by six!
The teams:
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Ryan Crotty/Brent Ward.
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche (c), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Gerhard Mostert, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Louis Ludik.
Date: Saturday, June 25
Venue: Trafalgar Park , Nelson
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Comments
JayStarr says...
@ tavish (& safehands);
With Woodcock injured for an unknown period of time, thus not getting in a lot of rugby before the tournament starts, plus taking into consideration the dominance of the Crusaders scrum this season, I can not see how the Franks brothers and Crockett won't be in the majority of games during the Tri-nations.
Add to that Thorn and Whitelock as the lock combination, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Dan Carter and SBW. Also, with Sitiveni's inconsistent form this season and weakness in being turned around, I'm sure Zac Guildford would be used regularly, depending on who they're playing.
So that's a good seven or eight players. Even though Dagg is injured, he is also a Crusader and will definitely be in the world cup squa (if he's fit).
I admit saying the Crusaders are basically the All Blacks in red jerseys is exagerating it a bit... but seven to eight (or nine) players is still the majority. And I was comparing it to the Sharks only having 4 players max.
Anyway, the game is about to start now... so let's see what happens!
COME ON SHARKS!!
Posted 08:47 25th June 2011
sandal says...
@ Rugbyphile
rugbyphile says...
preview for the world cup--the New Zealand weather will be out in force for both prelim finals-- no wonder they like playing rugby there and not much else---anything else is too miserable to endure
Your winning combination of ignorance and arrogance suggests you are English, or at least British. (If you're not, I make no apology, but advise you to stop acting so English.)
Please enlighten me, Rugbyphile: what is it that the British get up to in winter that a New Zealand winter prevents Kiwis from doing? One thing I can think of is this: making excuses for the poor quality of the rugby. Since the Crusaders vs Sharks match at Twickenham, blog after blog after blog has been full of British apologists saying it is the poor, um, weather that prevents British teams playing like that.
Posted 05:35 25th June 2011
safehands says...
The Saders have had to travel all season.....pretty desperate making that as an excuse for the Sharks if they lose. Also, please name the starting All Blacks that are the Saders team? This is nowhere near the All Black team for the world cup.
Posted 01:28 25th June 2011
Herbman says...
It will be an absolute miracle if the Sharks win... they gave 110% last week (just like the Bulls did the week before in Cape Town) and you can't play like that two weeks in a row especially if you're travelling halfway across the world.
Then again, the weather will be a leveller. Should be a cracker!
Posted 13:50 24th June 2011
macte says...
@ jmanngod - "Michalak has nightmares about playing NZ teams"
Why should he? We all still remember that World Cup quarter final, don't we?
Posted 12:43 24th June 2011
hayj05 says...
Get off it Phile! It's Winter you douche, that's what happens when your situated near the bottom of the earth. We don't just play Rugby in fact I'm pretty sure more play football & we are a great sporting nation for our size. Where you from Phile? Wouldn't mind poking a few holes in your country.
Posted 10:56 24th June 2011
JayStarr says...
@ jmanngod - well they're not playing France...
@ rugbyphile - they're not playing the Springboks either...
In fact, it's just the front row and JP Pietersen who would make the starting line-up of the Springboks... wheras the Crusaders are basically the All Blacks in red jerseys. Pity the Sharks had to fly half-way around the world - and had travel problems on top of that - because judging by both of these teams' last game, I would've back the Sharks to do it (on an even playing field)...
But alas, they unfortunately now only stand a snowball's chance in hell... No week's break to make it an even contest... and an all-New Zealand refereeing panel! If the Sharks win this one it will go down as one of the greatest wins in Super Rugby history!
Such a pity they (and the Bulls/Highlanders) are out of it now, just because the Australian conference is so poor that the Waratahs actually made 5th position...
Posted 10:53 24th June 2011