Here we go – the deciders are here. Only two teams can contest the final…. which teams will those be?
Semi-final 1: Crusaders v Cell C Sharks (Saturday 09h35 SA time)
All of the smart money is on the home team here, as one would expect. They’ve had the benefit of a week off and, of course, haven’t had to travel anywhere during the week, unlike the Sharks who only arrived in Christchurch on Monday night and were forced to take all of Tuesday off too, just to recover. Funny things can happen in knock-out games, though, as we’ve seen and we all know our beloved Sharks perform best when their backs are to the wall. Both coaches have picked incredibly strong teams and on any neutral day and venue, you’d be hard pressed to pick a winner based on paper. We’re going to go with the heart over the head here and back our boys to squeak it, just because it’s too damn heartbreaking to contemplate a scenario ending in defeat. Sharks to take the spoils by 2 points.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Kieron Fonotia, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Johnny McNicholl.
Cell C Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Lubabalo Mtembu, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Sibusiso Sithole, 23 Tonderai Chavhanga.
Semi-final 2: Waratahs v Brumbies (Saturday 11h40 SA time)
Hard to get as excited about this game, given the awesome one before it. It’s probably safe to assume that the home side will prevail, though, such has been their dominance and form in recent weeks. Waratahs by a comfortable 5 points.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements (from): 16 Tola Latu, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitch Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbon, 23 Matt Carraro, 24 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 25 Cam Crawford.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Leon Power, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Ruaidhri Murphy, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Fotu Auelua, 20 Tom McVerry, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Joe Tomane, 23 Pat McCabe.
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Comfortable 5 points
Must say that reading other sites you’d think the Tahs have already progressed to a home final.
Ja think Tahs should beat the Brumbies but don’t know about that 2 point Sharks victory?!?!?! I really hope it happens but don’t know if Shars can beat the Sharks can beat the Saders at home again.
This is building up like test match and would also be played accordingly i suppose. Anyone know about a link online to watch the game, for foreigners?
If the Tahs think they have already progressed through to the final, then its actually going to happen in either Christchurch or Durban.
Yes, have to go with the heart on this one.
@gregkaos (Comment 4) :
Yeah, don’t write off the Brumbies.
@gregkaos (Comment 4) : Cheika apparently said that he prefers facing the Brumbies before playing the Saders in the final.
@Gerhardt (Comment 3) : http://www.vipboxsa.co/sports/
@Gerhardt (Comment 3) : I normally google, and get to a site (cant remember the name) that has different site links, the ones from Fox works the best though
@FireTheLooser (Comment 7) : Haha. I would lose my mind if JW said something like that!
A durban final would be nice.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 7) : what an arrogant asshole. I hope the brumbies klap them
thanks guys, these links change all the time. will try the one from sharkslover
@gregkaos (Comment 10) : Not even PdV would have had his foot that deep in his mouth
Cheika sure is a “special” kind of coach.
@Poisy (Comment 12) : If the Sharks don’t make it I would rather have the Brumbies, and if not the Crusaders win the title. I find the Waratahs a very unlikable team.
@Bokhoring (Comment 15) : Their coach, captain and Beale makes them a very unlikeable team….and off course, their baby blue jerseys and Phil Kearns adds to my distaste for them.
We lost this tournament a few weeks ago against the stompies at kingspark and made double sure of that,the next week in bloem.Im sorry to say it but the road ends here.
I would rather the Sharks and the Warathas win,otherwise we will have to fly back to Durban again for the Final? Klap them by 8!!
@tigershark (Comment 17) : At least I expect us to give good account of ourselves, but I am afraid you are probably correct.
Still looking forward to a good game though!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : Agreed, Kearns has got to be the most annoying commentator in all of professional sports. He’s as biased as they come and is always moaning when refs blow the whistle for infringements that are clear but because they’re marginal he thinks they’re ok.
If the Brumbies play like they did in the first 30 minutes against the Chiefs, the Tahs will have their hands full! That was very impressive…
I’m nervous for Saturday…I just hope we pitch really focussed and play with intensity…then the Crusaders will have their hands full…
My picks?
…please?
- Tahs by 4…
- and Sharks by 7…
Superxv.co.za had these picks:
- Tahs by 7
- Crusaders by 9
The Bookies have it:
- Tahs by 5
- Crusaders by 8
@pastorshark (Comment 24) : Sharks 2, Brumbies 2
Moral of the story? We are definite underdogs! I like that…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 27) : I like the way you think!
@pastorshark (Comment 29) : the only thing I have against a outcome of this sort is that we would have done all the traveling and we ended up higher than the Brums on the log, just shows how stuffed this comp is in that sense…
I disagree with all above,I think its a 50/50 just depends on which Sharks team pitches,if its the chokers it will be ugly,if the real deal pitch I say by 1(one) point
I say – Sharks, play out of your skins and don’t give up. Then maybe you can do it!
GO SHARKS!!!!!!!
@benji (Comment 31) : It can’t be the chokers, ’cause we’re the underdogs….the no hopers….Saders are doing us a favor by allowing us onto their field for this nuisance semi-final….they just want to collect their ticket to the final to face the Tahs….it’s out of their goodwill that they are allowing us to go over there and waste their time as they look toward the finals
I went with the 2 away teams to sneak it
The tahs will get a surprise on saturday 
BELIEVE BOYS AND GIRLS.
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 34) : I did the opposite. Think the home teams are favourites to win tomorrow, but really hoping Sharks will proof me wrong and then that thr Brumbies will surprise thr Tahs as a home final for the Sharks would be nice. GO SHARKS! !!!!!