Rugby dominates the landscape this weekend; as far as we are concerned anyway. The two Super 14 matches tonight are effectively quarter-finals - win tonight, and you're in the play-offs; lose, and the season ends.
The Crusaders look the more likely of the two New Zealand sides playing tonight. But for an absence of love from Marius Jonker in the last five minutes last weekend, they might have sneaked past the Bulls, and into a position of strength. At home tonight, and with a big crowd expected (well over 20,000 tickets sold already), we reckon they'll be too good for the Brumbies.
Likewise, the Waratahs have home advantage over the Hurricanes, although there'll be plenty of Kiwis in the SFS crowd. We've been impressed with the Hurricanes in the last few weeks; they haven't been beaten since March, and look a much stronger defensive team this year. To come from 21-8 down after 25 minutes and beat the Reds 44-21 was a very creditable performance. They'll be much better tomorrow night too with Conrad Smith running things. Cruden has played his best footy this year when Smith has been outside him.
If the Hurricanes lose tomorrow night, they will look back on the game in Bloemfontein as one that got away. It was possibly their worst performance over the last couple of the seasons, and all the early momentum from three wins disappeared. They CAN beat the Waratahs tonight, but it will take a total team effort. At least they are three hours closer to South Africa than the Crusaders, because that's where the semi-finals will be.
So that's our thoughts on tonight's games - what do YOU reckon?
10 comments:
I think (hope?) that the 'canes will have too much firepower for the Waratahs. If they lose it'll be narrowly but if they win, I'm picking a thumping like they gave the Reds.
Unlike previous seasons they seem to be playing into form rather than starting with a hiss and a roar and fading in the play-offs. A win tonight and I'm confident they'll be finalists.
Cue pdm to explain why I'm wrong...
Thanks for the invitation James.
When did the Hurricanes last win in Sydney? As I have said many times before I have little confidence in the Hurricanes in really crunch games against teams that will stifle them. The Waratahs are a good defensive team and the Hurricanes turn a lot of ball over. The lineout is also pretty dodgy.
Whoever wins the problem is going to be the trek back to SA to play either the Bulls or Stormers in semi finals. Hard to see that being an attractive option for any of the four teams in contention for the two places.
This is a much-improved Canes side pdm. They could easily have folded after the mid-season slump, but they haven't. They had a good win in Canberra a few weeks ago, and really dealt to the Reds last week. But the best feature of last week's match was the discipline - it was much better than past years.
One other thing goes in the Canes' favour - Steve Walsh is NOT the referee!!!
Head says the Canes can't, but heart says hell yeah. I think I'll go with the heart on this one. And I can't see the Crusaders losing, so it could be time to say goodbye to - yet another - all-too-brief Aussie rugby "renaissance".
Hellen's been gone for more than a year but the country is still the same welfare-ridden bunch of losers
So all the Kiwi teams will lose this weekend.
Just like the Black Caps, All Whites & All Blacks.
Time for Key to do what he promised - REWARD WINNERS not bludging losers
STFU Anon.
Politics and sport have nothing in common.
My money is on the saders to take it out.
Politics: Blue > Red
Sport: Red > Blue
(V8's being the exception that proves the rule...)
Inv2 - we hear every year the Canes are an improved or changed side yet they still have the same choking suspects.
Dumb and Dumber in the front row.
An inaccurate lineout thrower.
A well past his use by date 8.
A 12 who will give away more points than he will create and will probably spend time in the bin.
To name a few.
Crusaders 28 Brumbies 19
Canes 34 Tahs 28
I REST MY CASE!!!!
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