Semi-final Preview - Bulls v Crusaders
Sportal.co.nz - (21/05/2009)
Home advantage is crucial for the Bulls and they are now favoured to beat the Crusaders and win the Rebel Sport Super 14 competition.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 16 – Northern Transvaal/Bulls 5, Crusaders 11.
LAST TIME: April 3, 2009 (Christchurch) – Crusaders 16-13 Bulls (round 8).
WALKING WOUNDED: The Bulls could have lost both centres during the week – Wynand Olivier, who has enjoyed a fine season, had injury worries but has passed fit and JP Nel is definitely gone to suspension. Bakkies Botha had also been cited but he got off what was, at best, a soft charge. On the Crusaders side Brad Thorn is still under a cloud with his hamstring problem and, in an unforseen worry, Andy Ellis damaged a hip at training which prompted him to get treatment immediately and Tyson Keats to be summoned from New Zealand as cover. Both Thorn and Ellis were named in the starting team but both are bracketed until later in the week.
FORM: While both teams were under threat from many sources last weekend, both managed to ignore the things they could not control and take care of the things they could. The Bulls were never really likely to miss the playoffs but a loss to the Sharks would have seen them on the road and at times that outcome appeared possible. Some timely tries and well-taken dropped goals had the Pretoria crew leading by eight points as time ran out, so Ryan Kankowski's try was only ever going to earn the Sharks a consolation point as their season ended. The Bulls were the only team to win 10 matches this season and they did run the table at home, so it is hard to argue with their top placing. The Crusaders made the four with smoke and mirrors allied to a hefty dollop of guts and determination. No team has ever defended its way into the playoffs before and never has the side that ranks 13th in attack and tries scored, as well as 14th in goal-kicking percentage, made it. One thing the Crusaders did well was tackle and their watertight defence conceded only 198 points, one of the few occasions a team has made it through the league section without giving up at least 200. They also had an uncanny ability to protect halftime leads as eight of the ten they established held up and one match was drawn, even though 11 of their 13 matches were decided by seven points or less. If their reputation spooked teams in the league section, their playoff record must make the other three sides nervous now.
WHO'S HOT: Fourie du Preez as a standout at Durban and his control meant much to the Bulls. Morne Steyn also showed a cool head at critical times and his two dropped goals were crucial. The Bulls pack must be regarded as a unit rather than individuals but, as ever, the two big men in the middle row, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, provide power and security. Leon MacDonald got the kudos at Eden Park for his match-winning dropped goal but his general play and kicking off the tee were also of a high standard. The loose trio were in fine form, as they have been most of the season, and the front row also gave a strong 80-minute effort. Despite the good work of Michael Paterson and Isaac Ross last week, the Crusaders will be very keen to get Brad Thorn on the field for what promises to be a titanic forward clash.
WE THINK: Home advantage was crucial for the Bulls and they now must be favoured to win the whole thing. As well as the travel and altitude, New Zealand teams have to cope with the Bulls fans (who are worth a seven-point start in these games) and the table-topping home side. We think the Bulls will be too strong – they won't care how the game is played – and the final will also be in Pretoria in a week's time.
TEAMS:
Bulls: 1 – Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 – Derrick Kuun, 3 – Werner Kruger, 4 – Bakkies Botha, 5 – Victor Matfield (captain), 6 – Deon Stegmann, 7 – Dewaldt Potgieter, 8 – Pierre Spies, 9 – Fourie du Preez, 10 – Morne Steyn, 11 – Bryan Habana, 12 – Wynand Olivier, 13 – Jaco Pretorius, 14 – Akona Ndungane, 15 – Zane Kirchner.
Reserves: 16 – Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 – Rayno Gerber, 18 – Danie Rossouw, 19 – Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 – Heini Adams, 21 – Burton Francis, 22 – Gerhard van der Heever.
Crusaders: 1 – Wyatt Crockett, 2 – Jason Macdonald, 3 – Owen Franks, 4 – Brad Thorn or Michael Paterson, 5 – Isaac Ross, 6 – Kieran Read, 7 – Richie McCaw (captain), 8 – Thomas Waldrom, 9 – Andy Ellis or Kahn Fotuali'i, 10 – Stephen Brett, 11 – Adam Whitelock, 12 – Ryan Crotty, 13 – Tim Bateman, 14 – Jared Payne, 15 – Leon MacDonald.
Reserves: 16 – Daniel Perrin, 17 – Ben Franks, 18 – Paterson or Ross Filipo, 19 – George Whitelock, 20 –Fotuali'i or Tyson Keats, 21 – Colin Slade, 22 – Hamish Gard.
REFEREE: Bryce Lawrence
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