THE match of the weekend and what a way to start a Saturday, jam packed with five Super Rugby games. The Crusaders are at home against the top New Zealand team the Blues, and the winner of this match takes the New Zealand conference.
The Blues beat the Crusaders by two points in their first match, but one gets the feeling that the Crusaders are on the up as opposed to the Blues who have now lost three on the trot.
The Crusaders are without their captain Richie McCaw, but seem to be able to cope without him at the helm, with youngster Matt Todd stepping up to the plate. This should be a cracking game, so expect fireworks.
Kick off is at 09h40 and I predict a handsome victory for the Crusaders.
Crusaders :1. Ben Franks , 2. Corey Flynn , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Brad Thorn , 5. Sam Whitelock , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd , 8. Kieran Read (c) , 9. Andy Ellis , 10. Dan Carter , 11. Zac Guildford , 12. Sonny Bill Williams , 13. Robbie Fruean , 14. Brent Ward , 15. Tom Marshall
16. Quentin MacDonald , 17. Wyatt Crockett , 18. Luke Romano , 19. Jonathan Poff , 20. Willi Heinz , 21. Matt Berquist , 22. Ryan Crotty
Blues: Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley, Luke McAlister, Rene Ranger, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu (capt), John Afoa.
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, Chris Lowery, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Lachie Munro, Sherwin Stowers.
Match Officials
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro, Kane McBride
Television match official: Keith Brown
Crusaders lose? Sharks to win then we 4th?
lets go blues!
Richard how can you say the winner of this game takes the NZ conference? There is after all one round left after this one. I think you should go and work for SuperSport.
@Ben (Comment 3) : Because it’s the most likely scenario. If the Saders win they’ll be 2 ahead of the Blues, if the Blues win they’ll be 6 ahead of the Saders. No bonus points scored by either team. Next week both play at home. Blues v H’landers, Saders v H’canes. Home teams will most likely win those. Bonus points might actually be the deciders.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) : Actually bonus points, 4 tries and losing, is going to be decisive in final log positions for all the top contenders.
Picked Saders by 4.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) : In this season of all do you really think you can say what team will most likely win? How many upsets have there been? Only the Blues can clinch the NZ conference today.
@Ben (Comment 7) : That’s why I said most likely scenario
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 8) : Well that I do know.
The Saders lost 2 out of their last 3 games. Upwards curve, I’m not so sure
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 10) : I think they should take this one.
@Ben (Comment 11) : So do I. Just poking some fun at Rich
Kick off!
Penalty Blues. Luke aims and gets lucky.
Cru 0 – 3 Blu
4mins
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 12) : As was I.
The entire front row of the Saders are sporting the same beard. Triplets!
That sucks, he was barely tackled
Ranger Try!
Cru 0 – 8 Blu
12mins
@Ben (Comment 3) :
Saders penalty. Carter (79% accuracy) slots it.
Cru 3 – 8 Blu
16mins
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 18) : Starting XV
Saders Try!
Carter converts!
Cru 10 – 8 Blu
19mins
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 22) : Matt Todd I believe.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
@Ben (Comment 3) :
Thanx for yet another personal attack..
Im sorry for stating my opinion on this blog..
Crusaders by 12 please
SBW seems to be in a bit of pain, being subbed by Crotty.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : Yet another?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : your opinions are brilliant and you have nothing to apologise for. SuperSport would be lucky to have you on board!
Ranger subbed, upper leg injured.
Richard I was joking sarcasticly, didn’t really mean it personal. See comment 15.
Saders penalty 5m out. Carter converts!
Cru 13 – 8 Blu
30mins
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 28) : Took SBW out of my starting XV in favour of Fruean. Good call it seems.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : I have about 5 injured players in my squad now
@robdylan (Comment 30) : except that we won’t go down without a fight. We will have the Erasmi on board in a flash to defend the validity of your contract with us.
Blues penalty. Lucky Luke slots it!
Cru 13 – 11 Blu
32mins
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 31) :
OH FFS!!! Dude you can’t score a try and then go and rest. Get back on the field MFer!!
Saders on the wrong end of the whistle as yet another try is disallowed
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : you offering to pay the legal fees?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 35) : close for me
Dagg
Ioane
Maitland
Same for me if you add
SBW & Ranger.
Don’t worry about it Ben..
Its cool
@robdylan (Comment 41) : We’ll get someone else to contest the legal fees and then someone ELSE to contest those legal fees and we can carry on like that for YEARS.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : Lets see:
No wonder I’m slippin.
Dagg
Maitland
Alberts
McCaw
Odwa
Grant
SBW
J du Plessis
HALFTIME
Crusaders 13 – 11 Blues
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 45) : And Ben Mowen
That’s 9 in 1 round 
2nd half about to start
Carter kicks off. Guildford in the corner!!! In my starting xv!
Carter misses the conversion
Cru 18 – 11 Blu
42mins
Blues on attack 5m out!
27 phase and try! TMO pending.
Held up! Blues scrum 5m out.
How’s this defence from the cru?
Just jinxed them. Try Faumuina
Blues try! By the loosehead prop!
Missed conversion.
Cru 18 – 16 Blu
50mins
Come on Blues!!
Any one else think there was obstruction before that Blues try. Right after the linout maul?
Penalty Saders. Carter misses another.
Cru 18 – 16 Blu
52mins
Ellis butchers a try by knocking on
Crusaders are doing everything right….except finishing
And now the Blues cant finish
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 62) : What part of the country do you stay in?
Seems to be a close game.
@Ben (Comment 64) : In the centre. Vaal Triangle.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : It is and entertaining as well
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 66) : No wonder you’ve never seen a live rugby game!
what stadium is closest to you?
Blues seems to have set up camp in the Saders’ half.
@Ben (Comment 68) : Ellis Park. It’s cause I’m mostly working on weekends and I have no interest in watching games the Sharks are not playing in live.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 70) : And most of my family and friends supports either the Bulls or Cheetahs
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 70) : Don’t watch neutral games live either. How far are you from CC park?
Great defence by the Saders stops another certain try!
Cru 18 – 16 Blu
70mins
@Ben (Comment 72) : About a 140km
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 45) : Add Alberts to my list as well
I feel a drop gaol comming up…
6mins remaining
Guildford try in the corner!
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 75) : Luckily the Leopards are in the CC. Can watch one live Sharks game in my back yard once a year.
Okay now the Crusader should deny the Blues a bonus point. That would work well for us.
Carter misses the conversion.
Cru 23 – 16 Blu
75mins
@franshark (Comment 77) : I meant a pop kick and try
morning fellows…. The pvr just caught up with the game, gee a lot off try opportunities thrown away by both teams
@Ben (Comment 80) :
79mins
FULLTIME
CRUSADERS 23 – 16 BLUES
80MINS
After this game:
Crusaders on 57
Blues on 56
Okay now we have to beat the Lions with a bonus point to move into 4th.
FL: 2 Tries and 3 Kicks
SB: 2/3 and 2 margin points
@Ben (Comment 88) : Current points differences?
@Ben (Comment 88) : And on Points difference? How big a margin will we have to win by to ensure we are above them on the log?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 90) :
Current PD’s
Sharks 65
Blues 53
@klempie (Comment 92) : Nice
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : our points differens is better
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : Okay that was a trick question by me to see if you belong at Supersport or are okay to stay with us.
points difference will not come into it. if we win with a BP we will be level on points with them. The 1st tie break is games won. We will be on 10 games won and they will be on 9. Which means we go above them automatically.
Will you see this before you answer?……
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : as for as I know th point diffrence does not bring u ahead when on same points, its number off wins first, and we will be better than blues if we win the lions
@klempie (Comment 92) :
@franshark (Comment 94) :
Please submit your job applications to Supersport.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 90) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : We will have more wins than them!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 95) : Nope
I keep on forgetting about the ‘games won’ ruling.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 95) : I didn’t.
@franshark (Comment 96) : You only said it after my comment, so how can I believe you knew it before I said it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 97) : Someone asked what the PD’s were. I gave him the answer.
@Ben (Comment 100) : How the hell can we belieeeeeeeeve you?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 97) : So should I
But I’d rather work here. Vacancy for a coffee maker maybe? 
@KSA Shark © (Comment 101) : I type slower so I started first
@klempie (Comment 102) : Supersport will believe you. ME? Not so much
@KSA Shark © (Comment 103) : so u not in a believing mode today
@KSA Shark © (Comment 103) : Because I don’t make the same mistake twice!
Quote of the Day ” Everyone has to be somewhere, he just happened to be there, I guess ” TJ