Preview: Super 14 semi-finals
After several weeks of suspense and anxiety, the 2008 Super 14 semi-finals have finally arrived with two enthralling contests in store on what will be a very special Super Saturday.
After several weeks of suspense and anxiety, the 2008 Super 14 semi-finals have finally arrived with two enthralling contests in store on what will be a very special Super Saturday.
The first semi-final features six-time Super Rugby champions the Crusaders up against the Hurricanes in Christchurch and the second semi sees the Waratahs host the Sharks in Sydney.
The final three qualifiers were confirmed last weekend with the Waratahs and Sharks getting vital wins over the Reds and Chiefs respectively and the Hurricanes sneaking home after losing to the Blues but benefiting from the fact that the Stormers could not secure a bonus point against the bottom-of-the-table Lions.
The Crusaders, who confirmed their semi-final place well in advance, are no strangers to the knock-out stages of the competition. Since the inception of the Super Rugby concept they have featured in the semi-finals on no less than nine occasions, losing only once – to the Bulls in 2007 – a win percentage of almost 90 per cent!
The Hurricanes have played in three previous Super Rugby semi-finals, losing twice to the Crusaders in 2003 and 2005 and winning against the Waratahs in 2006. Their success ratio is just under 35 per cent.
Whilst the Sharks have a more impressive semi-finals pedigree, the Waratahs have dominated Super Rugby meetings between them, winning seven of the last 10. The Sharks have also lost on five of their last six visits to Sydney, the only victory coming in 2000 when they won 26-19.
The Sharks have made five previous semi-final appearances – 1996, 1997 and 1998 as well as 2001 and 2007, winning three times for a success ratio of 60 per cent.
The Waratahs meanwhile, have made the play-offs just three times – 2002, 2005 and 2006 – with their 23-13 victory over the Bulls their only success. However, their title aspirations were halted by the Crusaders a week later, who beat the Sydneysiders 35-25 in an enthralling final.
Crusaders v Hurricanes
AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 19:35 (08:35 GMT)
Don't be surprised if a sense of déjà vu grips you during Saturday's first Super 14 line-up between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch.
The match is the most regular fixture in Super Rugby history, will be controlled by the competition's busiest referee and is at a ground that has seen more play-off encounters than any other.
It will be the 17th match between the two New Zealand powerhouse franchises, surpassing any other combination of teams.
Sitting on 16 are matches between the Crusaders and Highlanders, Crusaders and Brumbies, and Blues and Sharks.
It will be a record fourth play-off match between the Crusaders and Hurricanes and their tenth meeting in Christchurch, also a new mark for one venue.
Australian referee Stu Dickinson will hold the whistle for a record 68th Super Rugby match. He is eleven games clear of South African Jonathan Kaplan.
Thanks to the Crusaders' continued success, Christchurch has already hosted ten semi-finals or finals, clear of the eight in Auckland and six in Canberra.
The Christchurch and Wellington-based teams have a history as lop-sided as it is long, with the Crusaders having won 12 of their 16 matches and drawn another.
At home, it is even more dominant: seven wins, one loss, one draw record for the Crusaders, with the Hurricanes' sole success coming seven years ago.
Since then the Crusaders' average winning margin has been 18 points, although that average has come down in recent seasons against a more robust Hurricanes outfit.
Two years ago the Crusaders and Hurricanes squared off in the Big Fog Final before the red mist descended over Tana Umaga, Chris Masoe and a handbag at the Jolly Poacher in Christchurch.
Any forecast about the outcome of Saturday's play-off is equally dodgy because both sides come to the opening Super 14 semi-final after weekend defeats.
The Hurricanes were edged out in a tense away battle against the Blues, while the Crusaders were beaten emphatically on their home ground by the lowly Highlanders – only their second home defeat in 33 matches at the AMI Stadium.
That result did not affect the Crusaders' lead after round-round play but it emphasised their faltering presence this month. They made hard work of beating the Sharks and the Reds before stumbling badly against the Highlanders.
Having already qualified for the home semi, they performed as if they did not want to damage their bodies before the big night on stage.
They were outplayed at the breakdowns, lacked cohesion in defence and struggled to make the sort of line breaks that often have opponents chasing red and black jerseys with hysterical looks on their faces.
Kick-off recipients also proved a problem, the outside backs were vulnerable when singled out by the Highlanders' kicking game and the scrum was put under plenty of heat.
All Blacks Dan Carter and Richie McCaw failed to shine, the former unable to generate the trademark breaks that can split defences and a wonky cross-kick gifted Paul Williams a try, while the latter topped off a forgettable night when he was yellow-carded after referee Keith Brown alleged he played the ball on the ground.
The tenacity and street cunning that was prevalent in their narrow wins this year was missing and they almost surrendered without launching a few shells in return.
Defence, discipline and set-piece composure which have underpinned their campaigns under coach Robbie Deans, have eroded in recent games and deteriorated last week.
There were those in Christchurch who believed the prolonged civic farewells for Deans were a distraction and a pointer to the Crusaders' fate this Saturday.
But it is highly unlikely Deans will be hunting for a rugby witch doctor to get their heads right before this weekend's clash, instead he must now trust the coaching instincts that have seen him snare a record four Super Rugby titles.
However, it should not be Deans' task to cocoon his squad away from the distractions – his moving to Australia, the swansong season for veterans Reuben Thorne, Caleb Ralph and possibly Greg Somerville, Mose Tuiali'i and Dan Carter – that threaten to destroy his fairytale finish to his Crusaders career.
The coach can only convey the messages. It is up to his players to deliver against the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes would have been left mentally frayed as they had to wait 24 hours last weekend to discover whether they had been overhauled by their South African pursuers for a place in the last four.
They were saved by their better points differential and the Stormers' inability to score one more try.
Coach Colin Cooper, who helped coach the Crusaders in their unbeaten title run in 2002, would have picked up some tips from the Highlanders and turn his attention to the Hurricanes' set piece to deliver an historic play-off win.
The difference between the two Hurricane sides of 2006