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The Crusaders take on the Stormers at AMI Stadium in Christchurch tonight. Join us for live scores and coverage from 5.35pm AEDT.
Coming into the fourth round the Crusaders will be looking to make amends for their unimpressive start to the season.
The Stormers have been equally poor, with a massive loss to the Lions and a one point victory over the Hurricanes at home.
While the Crusaders find themselves with a typically slow start, you get the sense this year the bookies might have it wrong; that they won’t just get into their stride and make the final with a late flourish.
With this game they’ll be looking to stop the rot and get back to where they belong.
Richie McCaw is out with a broken thumb. His body is having alternative ambitions to his mind. It’s not a waste however, with Matt Todd outplaying the bloke early in 2014, cutting the defence apart with ease.
Meanwhile the Stormers’ lineout has been crumbling like a Roman forum on softer sands, although rather more quickly. In their first game of the year against the Lions they lost five against the throw, and last week a couple more.
In the past they’ve treated the idea of scoring tries with a curious contempt. And they’ve largely been able to, with their set piece, strong defence and ability to dominate field position.
This year it appears the wheels may be falling off the wagon.
The Lions scored three drop goals and six penalty goals against them, which, when added together, equals far more than the Stormers’ typically lonesome five pointer.
If these guys are going to give away field position they’ll want to learn how to score tries from open play.
No better time than now.
Join us at 5.35pm tonight on The Roar, the place to be for live scores and where you can have your say.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.