It’s freezing, hostile territory but the Crusaders’ ominous home advantage at their new AMI Stadium doesn’t faze the Queensland Reds ahead of Saturday night’s Super Rugby play-off.
Reds mentor Ewen McKenzie has shrugged off the Crusaders’ 15 from 16 record at the renovated Christchurch venue since it was upgraded to be their home ground following the 2011 earthquake.
Only a controversial one-point upset by the Hurricanes last year has blotted the seven-time champions copybook but Queensland are taking plenty of heart from a swag of close calls this season.
The Hurricanes were unlucky to fall 25-17 just last week at AMI Stadium while only a missed Berrick Barnes penalty after fulltime denied the NSW Waratahs (23-22) before the June break.
The lowly Melbourne Rebels also threatened a massive upset in Christchurch before falling 30-26 in late April.
“It depends on how you want to look at it,” McKenzie said of the Crusaders’ run at tightly-enclosed 17,500-capacity venue. “You can look at their 15 from 16 record or you can look at each game this year.
“A lot of teams pushed them down there.
“We have to think of that side of it.”
The Reds are without a win in Christchurch since 1999, but last year’s 15-11 loss – after leading 11-9 with 12 minutes left – also gives them confidence.
“All that tells you is you have to nail the small moments,” McKenzie said. “There will be one or two key moments and you have to make sure you nail them.
“One thing that we’ve been guilty of, if anything this year, is the amount of times we got to the tryline or over it and not getting a reward.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best game this year and it would be a pity if we didn’t get to that point.”
The big guns have been rolled out by both sides for a qualifying final that is expected to be a battle of Test match proportions.
Wallabies leaders Will Genia (knee, hand) and James Horwill (calf) have both been cleared of injuries as expected by the Reds while All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw will make his Crusaders return off the bench.
With Queensland enjoying epic 17-16 and 18-13 wins over the Crusaders in their title-winning season in 2011, Horwill is braced for another huge clash.
“The games we’ve played against Canterbury over the last few years are some of the most intense and biggest games we’ve played,” the Reds skipper said.
“Both teams bring out the best in each other when we play, and I expect that again.”
Genia is one of four changes in a reshuffled backline with Jono Lance finally getting his chance at inside centre following anthony Faingaa’s slow recovery from a hamstring strain, and two new wingers selected.
Dom Shipperley replaces the injured Rod Davies (knee) while Luke Morahan has surprisingly been dumped to the bench and boom youngster Chris Feauai-Sautia promoted.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
Yeah Mick, why would people react to these niggle things after a year or two? That sums it up exactly. Why would they?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Poor Kwaidey. All he did was run over and belt a bloke across the head while he was sitting on the ground. What was wrong with that? He was an elite rugby player who had earned a high reputation over a long period of time and enjoyed good standing across the rugby world but what does that matter? Character? respect? Pffft - quaint and comical concepts! Another time he waited 'til he was pinned on the ground and kneed him in the head. What was wrong with that? Why on earth would people remember and react to these "niggly little things" after a year or two? They are just so cruel to the li'l fella.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
OK, fair enough, the answer is in Christchurch. I'll reserve comment until he's booed in Wallabies colours in Wellington.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
OJ - "Who says they haven’t let it go? When was the last time Cooper was booed in NZ?" Well I think you have your answer... hours ago. What a disgraceful crowd. Seriously, stamping feet in unison to put the goalkicker off? Booing every single time Cooper got the ball? I feel completely vindicated by what I saw and heard tonight. Aside, that was a consummate performance by the Crusaders. Respect.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The article published by Fairfax on Cooper's reception tonight was from The Brisbane Times so perhaps it's the Aussie media who can't let it go in their efforts to publish six stories about the Reds a day.
atlas
Guest
"It’s all the NZ papers can talk about' - did you read every one? feeling a little insecure today? There are in reality just two major NZ newspapers - the Fairfax group of ten regionals, and NZ Herald All the Australian Fairfax ones' sports coverage is a direct feed from Rugby Heaven, ie exactly the same as you will find on Sydney Morning Herald etc NZ H barely gives this match a mention, and when it does in the preview, the only mention of Quade Cooper is in the team list You're very misinformed if you think 'all' NZ cares about, or supports, Crusaders rugby - it's a regional not national side. I don't expect many Crusaders fans will cheer for the Chiefs if they play another team next week - would a Man Utd fan cheer for Liverpool 'just because they're English'? Even the locals seem disinterested with only 11,000 tickets sold and the Crusaders expect to run at a loss due to the costs involved as have to pay reds a fixed sum. 'Richard Loe. Dirtiest player that has ever lived'. What are you - Carozza's mum? Don't approve of his behaviour, but he wouldn't make the top 20.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
It's all the NZ papers can talk about... how Cooper will cope with the reception incurred from the time he niggled McCaw. Cooper will be booed tonight every time he touches the ball, just wait. I hate to imagine what grief he would have gotten from NZ crowds if he had have laid McCaw out with a punch and broke his nose a la Loe style. As for the reaction to McCaw in bars... well I'm sure that's more indicative of the bars you're drinking at than how Australians in general react to him.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Who says they haven't let it go? When was the last time Cooper was booed in NZ? Why are you so precious about Cooper? Gregan used to get grief every time he came over to NZ as the player we loved to hate. Ive watched rugby in bars where Richie McCaw has drawn violent, almost psychotic reactions from Wallabies fans. The fact is Cooper was any good he would have risen to the ocassion like Spencer in Christchurch or Mehrtens in South Africa.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
And btw, just because it was it was a long time ago, time shouldn't have changed anything, the crime is still the same.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
I'm not ignoring anything. I'm also not claiming what Quade did was smart or within the spirit of the game. But, gees, it was a tap on the head and a bit of shove and niggle. The way the NZ public reacted it was as though someone re-crucified Jesus or dropped a Koran on the floor. OK, so Thorne thinks Cooper's a grub. Blah blah. Well I think Loe's an abomination of a sportsperson, and should have been banned for life. If the Aussie public was forgiving of a face-breaker and eye-gouger, surely then the NZ public can finally let the whole Quade thing rest now? Or are they too precious?
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Ah, the old Aussie chestnut of picking some incident from the past while ignoring your own checkered history. Richard Loe, humanitarian that he is, had nothing to do with Quade Cooper's inability to stand the heat. At least Loe took it on the chin. The Wallabies introduced a deliberate strategy of trying to niggle the All Blacks and it backfired. I especially love how much praise Brad Thorn used to get around here, because he played league in Australia which must have contributed to his greatness no doubt, yet Thorn, who was always the first to congratulate and encourage the Wallabies, thought Cooper was a "grub" in the Australian vernacular.
Ohtanis Jackets
Roar Rookie
Different time, different crime.
Nick Cross
Guest
Mate there have been 12000 earthquakes in Christchurch in the last 3 years. And the one the other day was about 300km away. If they are worrying about earthquakes they'd be better off staying at home under the bed.
Jerry
Guest
To be fair, Greyling's forearm shot was about a million times worse than anything Quade did. And Graham Henry is a fairly big hypocrite.
Tarragon Fields
Guest
@ OJ. Richard Loe. Dirtiest player that has ever lived. He got away with it. Wallabies should have refused to take the field when that scumbag was in the kiwi team. Yet, he came back to Australia and was received respectfully enough by the Australian crowd. Far worse crime than Cooper and the crowd was far more restrained than the NZ crowd was over a bit of niggle.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Yep, fair enough. If one chooses to worship at the altar of The Roar one must chant the mantra ... "Richie's a cheat, so is the ref, Deans is a mongrel, Fab Giteau has Carter on the ropes, Richie's a cheat, so is the ref, Deans is a mongrel, Fab Giteau has Carter on the ropes, Richie's a cheat, so is the ref, Deans is a mongrel, Fab Giteau has Carter on the ropes" I know, I know - I haven't checked for a while to download any updates.
WEST
Roar Guru
not again. Cooper...flooper, he digs his own holes.
The Other Steve
Guest
Checking the forecast, it will be about 9 degrees at game time in Chch - so the Reds will be suffering from hypothermia.
WEST
Roar Guru
Forget there concern with AMI stadium , been more earthquakes around the place that should keep em on there toes. ....what ways the airport.
Jerry
Guest
They've never been Canterbury when James Horwill has played them though.