Two teams currently enjoying vastly different fortunes meet this week in Round Five of the Super XV, with the win-less Crusaders hosting a Bulls side buoyed by their first ever victory at Eden Park.
To preview the match we’ve sought the opinions of true-blue Bulls man Thinus Pienaar of Kaiwhana Rugby , and our very own Tim from RugbyShirts.net.
|
Which side starts this match as favourites? |
|
Very rarely do the Crusaders start a match at home as underdogs, but they’ve been pretty under-whelming to date, while the Bulls were compelling against the Blues last weekend. Although they’ve only got two games under their belt the pressure is really increasing on Todd Blackadder and his men, while the Bulls will be riding high after securing their first ever win at Eden Park. Personally, I think the Bulls head in to this clash as favourites. |
Mmmm difficult to answer! My heart tells me the Bulls should be favourites as they are on a winning opening streak! They just came off a very impressive win over the Blues in Auckland, and the ‘Saders lost against the Hurricanes last week! This however is a double-edged sword as the Crusaders’ tails will be up and after a very long lay off playing in front of their home crowd I think they are going to be playing like a team possessed at the AMI Stadium. |
|
What strengths do your team bring to this encounter? |
|
|
Seasoned campaigners. The Crusaders were poor against the Blues, but improved in their one-point loss to the ‘Canes last weekend, and, although the media hype about a crisis in Canterbury is growing their senior players won’t be panicking.They have the experience and ability to learn from past performances and evolve, and that’s what they’ll need to do if they are to kick start their campaign this weekend. |
As always our kicking game and physical, mobile forwards… however I believe that our star-studded, Springbok-riddled bench and the correct injection of these players into the game could be the deciding factor! |
|
What weaknesses do the opposition have which your side will look to exploit? |
|
| Very few to be honest. But even though he has bounced back after a disappointing end to last year I think Morne Steyn is still looking a little shaky. He was brilliant at times against the Blues, but certainly wasn’t consistent, and I think if the Crusaders can get up quickly on defence, shut down his options and cut down his time his tactical game could be vulnerable. |
I think our lineout monsters in the form of Springboks Kruger, van der Merwe and Spies will be looking to dominate and capitalize on the inexperience of a player like Dominic Bird, newcomer to the Super 15 and the Crusaders. Also the tutelage and influence of forwards coach Victor Matfield in this department goes without saying… |
| Who will be your side’s key player? | |
| I’m going to say someone a little random here – Dominic Bird. The Crusaders simply must compete in the forwards against an opponent whose nickname may as well be the ‘Bullies’ after the way they man-handled the young Blues side. We know Kieran Read, Owen Franks, and Corey Flynn will front physically, but we need every one of the 8 forwards on the paddock to be ready to put their body on the line and take on this brutal South African pack. |
Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies and Arno Botha will be our key players. Watch for the introduction of IRB World U/21 player of the year Jan Serfontein off the bench… |
| How will the match unfold? | |
| I think the first 20 minutes will be a feeling-out period, with the Bulls looking to test the home side in the set-pieces, but I actually think the Crusaders can pass that test. As the game wears on I think Ryan Crotty, a hugely under-rated player, can create some space for the red and blacks, and eventually the points should come. By the end of the second half the big Bulls side will be huffing and puffing as the clinical Crusaders get back to their best and put them to the sword! Crusaders 32-22 |
A bruising encounter from the word go I believe, as is customary when teams from these two countries meet! Points battle through the respective boots of Dan Carter and Morne Steyn. I believe the Bulls will, as always, try to put the Crusaders on the back foot, then capitalize on their mistakes through the boot of Steyn. Don’t be surprised though, after last week’s running rugby performance by the Bulls, if they decide to take it to the Crusaders from the word go….Bulls by 2. |