The Crusaders start the weekend’s action by hosting the Hurricanes in Christchurch.
The time for needing or denying bonus points is gone. Will this affect the style of rugby?
Can the Hurricanes give SA a chance of hosting another final?
Or will the crusaders recover from last week’s hiccup with ease and clinch yet another Christchurch final?
Kick-off in Christchurch at 09:35 SA time.
Ref: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
TJs: Matt Goddard (Australia), Paul Marks (Australia)
TMO: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Crusaders:
Starting XV: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Scott Hamilton, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Mose Tuiali’i, 7 Richard McCaw (captain), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ti’i Paulo, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Reuben Thorne, 19 Nasi Manu, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sean Maitland.
Hurricanes:
Starting XV: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Scott Waldrom, 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Tamati Ellison.
Tweet
Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go hurricanes !!!!!!
😎 😳
😯 😯 😯
Struggle to give away semifinal tickets
Canterbury rugby officials have had trouble even giving away tickets for the Crusaders’ Super 14 semifinal against the Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.
The Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) and radio station More FM staged a promotion yesterday giving away a ticket with each one sold to boost flagging sales to the game.
Union chief executive Hamish Riach said last night that the promotion had generated some sales and extra interest in the match but was “not hugely successful”.
By late yesterday 16,400 tickets had been sold for the 25,000 capacity AMI Stadium. Riach said the response was “puzzling and really frustrating”.
“We have been a little bit caught by surprise at the response.
“The Hurricanes have always been a really good drawcard and we were pretty hopeful of a big crowd.
“It could be Robbie Deans and Reuben Thorne’s last appearance and we know how much they have contributed to the Crusaders’ success.”
Riach said the demolition of the old East Stands at AMI Stadium was a significant factor in crowd attendance.
Many of the seats in the old stands were under cover and were filled by more traditional fans, some of whom said they would not return until the new stand was built. A late surge in sales today could depend on the weather but the forecast is not promising cloud, light rain and cold south-westerlies.
Canterbury Rugby Union president Tane Norton said the shocking weather against the Sharks three weeks ago would have put a lot of people off.
“So they will leave it until the last minute and see what the weather’s like,” he added yesterday.
He said rising costs and the run of home games could also be the cause.
“There’s that old thing of money starting to tell.”
Christchurch
Currently At 6:58PM 9°C
RealFeel® 4°C
Winds: WSW at 12km/h
Rainshower
Humidity: 93%
Sydney
Currently At 4:15PM 16°C
RealFeel® 15°C
Winds: S at 16km/h
Sunny
Humidity: 58%
Seems the Sydney weather might be a little better 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) :
Thats not right
@PJLD (Comment 6) :
We won’t have that problem in Dbn next week 🙄
They could have had this game at city park and the turnout would have been better
3 coaches from the Semi’s are leaving their teams this season.
Must be somekind of record. A shitty one but a record nonetheless.
BTW GUYS SB PICKS NEED TO BE MADE.
Hmmm?
Kandas?
you still have time to make the pick
SuperBru picking statistics
Picks for Crusaders 14268 (72.39%)
Picks for Hurricanes 5433 (27.56%)
Picks for draw 9 (0.05%)
that’s pretty much as expected.
Come on the Canes! When’s kick off?
@robdylan (First Sydney, then the World) (Comment 12) :
09:35 SA time
17min
and here’s me stuck in the office 👿
So Rod is out? Not good
Here are the SB picks for this round.
Remember that you get TWO points for picking the correct team in the Semi’s
Bru-El Crusaders 14
PJLD Crusaders 12
Fatality Crusaders 11
Lylmik Crusaders 11
SeaShark Crusaders 10
Wehan Crusaders 9
Pissant Crusaders 8
robdylan Crusaders 8
namboer Crusaders 8
Sharkie Crusaders 7
bryce_in_oz Crusaders 7
IceBabe Crusaders 6
Sinbinners Crusaders 6
Debs Crusaders 4
Ghost10 Crusaders 2
——————————
Nita Hurricanes 2
Villie Hurricanes 4
blackshark Hurricanes 4
KSA Kette Hurricanes 5
shark_time Hurricanes 5
shark-tank Hurricanes 5
Dive Pass Hurricanes 5
SauronShark Hurricanes 5
fattmann Hurricanes 6
sharkboy Hurricanes 6
Western Sauce Hurricanes 7
Kandas Hurricanes 8
King Shark Hurricanes 8
Salmo Hurricanes 8
PaarlGimmie Hurricanes 9
Whindy Hurricanes 9
Sandshark Hurricanes 11
@robdylan (First Sydney, then the World) (Comment 15) :
is in my FL team 🙁
I am surprised they have gone with Hore as the Captain. Would have thought it would be Nonu.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : Oh dear.
I am going to have to do a lot of quick selling when the Canes win
Game On !
Go Canes!!!!
Hell it looks like fog again…oh just smoke..thank goodness
Try Canes..charge down on Carter!
who scored?
hurricanes miss the conversion
5-0 Canes
3 minutes
crusaders hot on their heals though
Guilford scored the try.
Try – Carter takes his time to clear from the 22. Guildford is on him in a flash and charges the kick down. The wing scores the opening try.
carter kicking ….
and the PK is good
5-3 Canes
5 minutes
Saders v Canes pack weights
883kg v 857kg
C’mon Canes don’t let the discipline lose the game.
Having said that if you want to punch a guy do it in the oppositions half 😉
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 28) :
quite a difference.
canes scrum ..collapsed, canes send the ball out and head down field
Gears brother seems a very good player better than the older boet.
saders scrum, the win the ball and carter kicks
saders on the attack, here comes a try ….
I need Hore and Nonu to score tries
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 34) :
bloody hope not.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 35) :
And So’oialo 🙁
I need carter to kicks lots of kicks and still lose the game. 🙂
flynn off paulo on
looks like a serious injury to his arm ❓
And? Did they score?
no foiled 😛
go canes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 40) :
Ha!!!!
GO CANES YOU BEAUTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (well this week at least)
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 38) :
Another FL player of mine 🙁
FL? Who cares GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
saders win their LO on the halway, kick and chase…
stolen by jane meters from the tryline 😯
kick clear but saders take a quick throw in, they still have it, ref playing advantage ….advantage over, play stopped at the canes 22
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : yup don’t mind being called fickle next week when the play us in the final
carter kicking again …..
Crap! I have Flynn too
and its a good one AGAIN Saders take the lead
😎
6-5 Saders
16 minutes
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 46) :
Is it treatable? 😳
😡 Carter jou drol 😡
Good morning all.
The Saders are looking the better team at the moment. Was hoping the early try would give them some confidence and momentum.
saders are trying their very best to score a try but the canes seem to save it at the very last second every time 😯
again less than a meter from the tryline and canes manage to get the ball and kick it out, saders must be getting pretty frustrated
5m scrum, canes manage to get the ball but ref not happy and it gets reset….and seems its gonna be reset AGAIN …..
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 51) :
It’s the second half when those tries normally end up being scored where they piss me off. 😡
@Nessa (Comment 50) :
By “them” I obviously meant the Canes.
Morning Nessa
canes get the ball, try and kick it only to be grabbed by the saders who dash the few meters ahead to dot the ball down……but the ref blows the whistle and again a try by the saders is foiled
You can only defend for so long.
Canes need to kick 4 territory and play the ruggers in the Saders half..they are playing a too open game with 50/50 passes and off-loads..wrong gameplan for a play-off match.
@Nessa (Comment 54) :
i wasn’t gonna say anything 🙄 😉
scrum again ….canes win it and hoof the ball downfield
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) :
Hello. Missed you on the site this week.
saders have run it back down to the canes 22…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 59) : 😳 😳
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 58) :
been one of my thoughts all week.
Would any team really change their style of play just coz it’s the play-offs?
I mean you have been playing one style all season and to then suddenly change is not going to be easy.
morning nessa, you on your lucky couch ?
Mccaw always seems to get the whistle his way..he was holding on there 3 Canes players on their feet contesting 🙄
Dick en sun at his best again
come on the CANES!!!
Can’t belive how few people there are in the stadium – and an all New Zealand semi!! What’s wrong with these people? We would have killed to be able to go to a semi.
@Nessa (Comment 61) :
Been a busy man. 😳
saving my self for the run in to the finals 😉
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 58) : as many times as the canes try and get the ball into the other half, the saders are keeping it in the canes half, they may not be scoring but they definitely look stronger
Hi Nessa!!!, KSA & Kette!!!
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 65) :
Ha ha – I watched the last Tahs game at our local pub and you know the result there. I am putting my butt in my chair for sure.
Maybe I should sit there now for this game as well? Didn’t think of that.
Hi Rob and Me2!!
@Me2 (Comment 71) : Hi Rob 😉
@Nessa (Comment 68) :
They’re busy waiting for 4 years to pass. 😛
hi guys… I am popping in and out. Will be around properly for the Sharks game, but probably too nervous to comment.
I swear, my hands shake so much I lose the ability to type.
Hi Everybody 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 75) : After having to offload their tickets for the semi last year, they’re not so keen anymore 😉
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 76) :
My thoughts exactly Rob! Going to go and put my butt in my lucky seat for this game as well. The Canes need any help they can get.
See you all later.
GO SHARKS!!!!!
scrum at the canes 5m again…..will the saders be able to get it over this time ???
time in opposition 22 …
14min saders
1min canes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 80) : nope still no try ….
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 80) :
Nope
ok someone preferably in yellow needs to score now 🙄 😉
You don’t beat the Crusaders by playing a holding game. They always kill you in the last 20. Canes need to keep scoring
canes kicking ……
from superrugby
30
The Hurricanes have spent another 15 minutes defending deep inside their own half, but their defence is resolute as ever. The Crusaders must be disappointed to have only six points on the board after all this territorial advantage with ball in hand.
let’s hope they can do this for a WHILE LONGER YET.
woohoo and they have the lead again
8-6 canes
33 minutes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 84) :
or someone in Red needs to get a Yellow. 😉
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 88) :
YES!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 89) : only 5 minutes left, let them save that for the start of the second half 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 89) : just so long as no one in yellow gets a red 😉 😆
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 88) : Yeah baby. Blow the whistle, Stu!
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 92) :
Let’s just hope noone in black gets either yellow or red. Epi…
saders try !!!!!
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 96) : 😡 👿
and the kick ……is good 😎
13-8 Saders
39 minutes
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 74) : Hi Rob!!
Had a serious prob. just now..refreshed & could read BUT NOT comment!! 😯 Refreshed again & it came right 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 97) : sorry 😳
38
The Crusaders cross the line for the first time two minnutes short of halftime and after a whole half of attacking. It is MacDonald who joins the line and slips through the gap to ground under the uprights.
not sure whether i bought MacDonald or Hamilton in the end last night.
either way 😡
hooter has gone but they’re finishing up the move …
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 98) : O No!!!
No! Who scored?
canes had the ball but saders suddenly stole it, looked like they would head for the line but thankfully canes have it back again….just get the ball out now 👿
I bought Hamilton 😡 👿
42 minutes on the clock …… play still on
ref blows half time
HALF TIME
13-8 Crusaders
ok need to put a movie on for the kids, be back in a bit
I have leon
Kom nou Hurricanes, roer julle, ek wil in Durban die final gaan kyk… 😈
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 110) :
only 90 min beofre the MAIN Kick off.
Make sure it is a short movie 😉
GO CANES!!!
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 111) :
i’m not so Lucky
boys back on the field ….
time on ….
C’mon Canes
Play in their half now.
Come now Canes
C’mon Canes for vark sakes! 😈
Don’t have a good feeling
flynn gone to hospital for x-rays – suspected broken radius
lineouts won —
saders 8
canes 1
LO on the canes 22 …canes keep the ball
LO on the canes 10 …saders keep the ball
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 122) :
Ouch
so if the radius was crushed is it now a semi-circle or an arc?
ref blows…playing the ball on the ground…..saders have the ball, stolen by canes and suddenly they’re in the saders half 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 126) :
😆
ref blows time out …talking to the saders about holding on, says “thats enough !” 😎
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 127) :
that’s the stuff.
canes scrum on the halfway
they win the ball and run …..
TMO decision pending on a canes try
No try. 👿
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 129) :
That’s even MORE of the Stuff.
I am sure McCaw said something under his breath there. Card him ref!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Just incase you are wondering I CANNOT see the game and am in the office) 😳
Go Canes!
TMO says “right knee was in touch before the ball was grounded” 😥
LO to come
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 133) : 😡 😡
Who is the TMO? Jenny Bentel? 😳
c’mon 50minutes, score canes score !
Hectic pace. Can they last?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 137) : No idea.
Just sold Flynn
saders try 👿
ag f#k. 👿
Nail being driven into the Canes coffin.
Come on the yellow!
and the kick …..do we even have to question ….its good 👿
20-8 Crusaders
53 minutes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 142) : 😡 😡
FOOOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👿
Canes on the ropes. I sense a knock out.
and the crusaders have lit up, they’re heading down again, canes look finished 😥
MacDonald now has two tries 👿
ref blows for offside play…saders kicking ……
and the margin difference grows a further 3 ….
23-8 Crusaders
56 minutes
They always do this! Who scored no 2?
Is this hurricane blown out?
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 139) : seems not 😥
Did I mention I have Leon?
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 153) : mcdonald
Possession
38% Canes
62 % Saders
Territory
20% Canes
80% Saders
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 156) :
TWICE 😆
Let’s hope there is no need for a 3rd mention 😳
going to sell Nonu and Hore quickly
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 156) : Yes!! & I thought I was the senior citizen on the blog!!! 😆
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 158) :
80% 😯 😯
this is turning into a hammering
@Me2 (Comment 161) : I blame it on the booze 😉
This guy is smiling all the way
Bru-El Crusaders 14
canes look done, their defense which was great all first half is just not there anymore
@KSA Shark © (Comment 165) : hey there’s stil almost 20 minutes left, anything could happen 😐
@KSA Shark © (Comment 165) :
if this is the final score he bags a full haul of points 😳
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 167) : hopefully happen 😳 😉
C’MON CANES!!!!!!!!
Good Morning Shark People
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 169) :
😆
@Cru-El (Comment 171) :
Hey Cru-el.
You ready for NEXT week? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 168) :
Gun jy dit nie vir my nie? 🙁
TMO decision on a saders try …
@KSA Shark © (Comment 173) :
Let’s hope the guy with the sword doesn’t fall off his horse b4 the end of the 1st semi 😉
TMO says ” there is no question, you may award the try !”
@Cru-El (Comment 176) :
and the kick ……oh why bother…its good as usual
30-8 Crusaders
67 minutes
thorne on read off
@Cru-El (Comment 176) :
Unless his name is Eugene, I think you are safe. 😉
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 177) : 😡
ok so i said it wasn’t over and something could still happen, I wasn’t hoping for more saders score though 😥
ouch. Thrashing now
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 179) :
Cru
These guys are messing with your margin point, dude. 😉
eaton off clarke on
C’mon Canes! You need another 8 points…IF the CRUs don’t score again 😉
10 minutes left …..
darnit… shoulda bought Reid
carter kicking …….
@Cru-El (Comment 186) :
😛
and its ……good 👿
33-8 Crusaders
71 minutes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 191) : 😡
And we all thought the Canes had a chance. 🙄 😯
cool – I now have the soundtrack to “Once”, so I’m happy.
And the new Counting Crows too 😉
7 minutes ……
@KSA Shark © (Comment 192) : maybe it was just wishful thinking 😥
time in opposition 22
3min canes
33min saders
@KSA Shark © (Comment 192) :
Think you hoped more than you thought 😉
Canes are good in a lose/loose (check spelling 😆 ) game and off turn-over. Crusaders good allround team and a lot of experience in these type of games!
less than 4 minutes ….
too late to expect Nonu to score a hat trick?
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 195) : Yeah!!
@Cru-El (Comment 197) : 😳
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 199) : think so 😆
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 199) : Maybe if there is lots of injury time 😀
canes score !!!
and conveted 😀
15-33 Saders
78 minutes
Well done Saders.
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 204) :
What are they trying to do? Get the loss BP? 🙄
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 204) : What!!
less than a minute …..
canes running ………
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 205) :
Hey Cru has his margin point back 😉
meter from the line….they might not win but ….
hooter gone but play is still on
TRY !!!!!!!
Brekfis time. 😀
tialata try
Cru-El hopes that after the 2nd semi, his Shark friends feel like he does now…
For the sake of Bru-El, I hope they don’t! 😉
and its converted
FULL TIME
22-33 Crusaders
@Cru-El (Comment 216) :
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 215) : 🙄 🙄
Dis nou te laat julle klomp………….. 👿
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 217) :
Cru
They robbed you of your closest pick point as well. 😳
no home final for us then
Oh well…I guess the Sharks will have to go to NZ after all 🙁
SB “pickers”
Fatality Crusaders 11
Lylmik Crusaders 11
Okay will see you guys from home in a bit.
GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!
See you all later…leaving work early…even closing the shop…to go watch my boys 🙂
superrugby reckons Jerry Collins got a conversion
Counting Crows in SA soon.
This could actually be good.
Ive never had a full house with Superbru nor a total blackout so if we continue in that vein it will be the Sharks. Its up to you Superbru.
@Me2 (Comment 223) :
Ditto.
@Salmonoid (Comment 226) : we’re all banking on your track record then salmo 😎
@Salmonoid (Comment 226) :