The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

[VIDEO] Chiefs vs Crusaders highlights: 2015 Super Rugby scores, blog

Roar Guru
28th February, 2015
Kick-Off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
Venue: Waikato Stadium
Referee: Mike Fraser
Betting: Chiefs $1.57, Crusaders $2.38
Last five matches: Chiefs vs Crusaders. L, W, W, L, W
Last five home matches: Chiefs vs Crusaders, L, W, W, W, L
Last five home matches: Crusaders vs Chiefs, L, W, L, W, W

Chiefs
Tom Marshall, Bryce Heem, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden. Augustine Pulu, Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Michael Fitzgerald, Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu.
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Slate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Johan Bardoul, Sean Polwart, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu

Crusaders
Tom Taylor, Robbie Fruean, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl, Colin Slade, Mitchell Drummond, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Richie McCaw, Scott Barnett, Luke Romano, Nepe Laulala, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Alex Hodgman, Jimmy Tupou, Luke Whitelock, Andy Ellis, Nathaniel Apa, Nafi Tuitavake.
Sonny Bill Williams returns for the Chiefs to face Kiwi rivals the Crusaders. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Roar Guru
28th February, 2015
213
7394 Reads

The Chiefs host the Crusaders in what may very well be the match of the round. Join The Roar for this Kiwi grudge match from 5:35pm (AEDT).

Death by scrum
The scrum has played a critical role in the fortunes of Super Rugby games this year.

The Waratahs were scrummed back by the triumphant Western Force, whose set piece was ground into the dust by the Reds. The Sharks scrummaged their way to victory against the Lions. The Sharks scrum, in turn, was pummelled by the Cheetahs, who produced a famous upset.

The Bulls’ scrum has been poor. They have not won a game yet, despite home advantage. If the Brumbies took all the points offered from their early scrum dominance against the Chiefs, they would have walked away from a historic away win.

On this prospect, the Crusaders will probably be licking their chops. The Crusaders have won all 18 of their scrum feeds so far.

Midfield massacre
After two rounds, the Chiefs have the highest clean breaks this season (20), almost twice as many as the 2014 finalists. Last week, James Lowe, Charlie Ngatai, and Seta Tamanivalu cut the Brumbies midfield to shreds. The prospect of Sonny Bill Williams playing this weekend could turn the Crusaders centre lanes into the Chiefs’ bowling alley.

The Crusaders have a broad attack capability and can breach the advantage line from both the pack and the backs, as shown in their performance last week versus the Highlanders. Richie McCaw, Sam Whitelock, captain Matt Todd and many other All Blacks including, backs like Israel Dagg, will get their team close to the red zone, and score points.

One All Black who will not be joining this match is tighthead prop Owen Franks, who was suspended for two weeks for hitting Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck. But he is not the only New Zealander who has been disciplined. Kane Hames from the Highlanders and the Blues’ Hayden Triggs have also been suspended. Wellingtonian referee Mike Fraser will look to run a tight ship.

Advertisement

The main concern for the Crusaders is their defence. They have let through numerous line breaks and other gain line breaches that lead to points by the Rebels and the Highlanders. If they do not take care of this, the bookies odds may come to fruition, and give Chiefs a third win in a row.

close