Tonight the Crusaders go into Melbourne to take on the Rebels in round five of the Super Rugby season. Join us here at 7.30pm AEDT for scores, live blog and commentary.
The Rebels played one of the best matches of their short existence in Round 3 of the competition – their first outing this year. Last week they laid an egg.
That was an egg as in a 25-point beating, where the game was over after about 30 minutes. The Rebels scored their seven points in the 80th minute.
Not a whole lot to take away from that match except they aren’t good enough for wholesale rotation to be a successful tactic against other outfits first XV and they “won the second half”. No one wants to say “we won the second half”, that’s just avoiding the issue.
On the other hand the Crusaders have been in scratchy form as well. They did sneak home against the Stormers last week in a match where they started to put together some sequences of more fluid rugby.
The Stormers defence only let the Crusaders through for a single try, despite numerous breaks and other opportunities. The Rebels will have to be at their absolute best to defend that well.
The backline of the Crusaders has been a problem so far this year, both in terms of leaking tries and not being potent enough when opportunities present when they have possession.
For this match Todd Blackadder’s selections may be the best back squadron they’ve put on the park. Colin Slade moves to fly-half, Tom Taylor slides out to 12 and Ryan Crotty to 13. Then Johnny McNicholl, Nafi Tiutavake and Israel Dagg fill out the back three.
The Rebels will be relying on the experienced Tamati Ellison to keep the backline in check and find the weak-spots out wide.
All that aside, the forward packs are where rugby games are usually won. And this match will be no different.
After belting the Cheetahs around a bit the Rebels pack went missing for the first half against the Force. If that’s the case again tonight the Crusaders will eat them up.
Names like Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd and Keiran Read populate the Crusaders pack. That’s a lot of experience, possibly the best player in the world and a powerful second row all stacked in one.
The Rebels will need another stand-out performance from Scott Higginbotham, their captain. Additionally Luke Jones and Hugh Pyle will need to lift to combat a fearsome second row.
The Crusaders might just sneak home for an away win here, but the match should be close and exciting.
Don’t forget to log on here for live scores, blog updates and some banter between viewers!
Sylvester
Guest
When you add in the seven who payed for the ABs last year (Bird, Todd, Romano, Taylor, Crotty, Crockett, L Whitelock), plus two former ABs in Ellis and Slade, that should be enough talent to overcome a team with the Rebels' resources.
peter k
Guest
Was at the game last night Rebels lack a forward who can make ground to get momentum - as a result they tend ot go side to side rather than forward. Crusaders weren't that good but had players who could get forward momentum - Refs call of the scrum penalties cost the rebels - if he had been so consistent with calling the crooked line out throws by the crusaders the outcome may have been different. Liked the way the rebels hang in the game - in other seasons this would have blown out to a 20 point plus loss
PiratesRugby
Guest
Absolutely correct. A shadow of the Crusaders in the past. That's why the Rebels should have beaten them. That they didn't shows that the Rebels are really just a tidied up version of themselves.
The Bleat
Guest
Every time Crockett fell over, the Crusaders won a penalty.
stillmatic1
Guest
wow, you are almost as pedantic as the ref, peterK
Paul
Guest
now it sounds precious..... Clinging on to whats sports you have left.Thought aussies were more mature than that. I guess not.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I felt like the Crusaders were in control, they were the dominant team they just lacked the ability to score tries. There was no feeling during that match that the Rebels could steal the win imo, the Crusaders forwards were smashing everything the Rebels could throw at them. The Crusaders pack dominated the set piece. If they had half the backline the Chiefs had they would have won that match by 20 points.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
That means there have been 3 games for 2 Aussie wins and 1 loss. I asked because i got the feeling from your comment you were bragging, i couldn't really understand why, i still don't.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
It's not obsession. Just noting another milestone in the resurgence of Aus Sport. Not so long ago, there was no Ashes, NZ were League World Champs and The Lions were kicking butt. Aus were tops in Aussie-Rules and that was about it. Now look!
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
22 Feb Sharks 27v9 Hurricanes 28 Feb Rebels 35v14 Cheetahs 28 Feb Stormers 19v18 Hurricanes 7 Mar Hurricanes 21v29 Brumbies 7 Mar Reds 43v33 Cheetahs 8 Mar Crusaders 14v13 Stormers 8 Mar Bulls 38v22 Blues So, 7 before this, with 3 involving Aus-Conf sides. Probably a record start
Paul
Guest
wont be the last one this weekend alone if youre obsessed with that
Kuruki
Roar Guru
How many have there been exactly?
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
I can understand your frustration then with pens & refs to the fore. Most of the NH Club Rugby can be like that - slogging out technical games in the mud. I have seen some good S15 though: - the Rampant Tahs - the surprisingly cool Lions, games 1 & 2 with Marnitz Boshoff being a threat from anywhere - the Rebels running them up, then the Force running amok v the Rebels - how surprising was that? - the Chiefs grinding it out - the Sharks coolly destroying the opposition - loads of great finishing - drop goals - rolling mauls What's not to like? Try watching Glasgow, mate - up for the play-offs but having got a 4-try BP in 14 League matches. Grinding
Magic Sponge
Guest
It was a penalty a thon. The ref was the major player. It was a terrible advertisement for rugby. The s 15,has been really poor so far but hope the tahs brumbies is better.
Gavin Melville
Roar Pro
Is that the first extra-conference loss by an Aussie Super Team this season? I think so.
almark
Guest
Agreed, either put him on the sideline or make an international commentery team of him and Skinstead in the same box. Will learn exactly what the opposition teams are doing to cheat all game
Bobbo7
Guest
Agree. It was insanity to rest players in a game you were never certain of winning. And only 2nd game of season.
PeterK
Guest
since rebels scored first Crusaders could NOT have been always a min of 3 points ahead
Chivas
Guest
Chivas
Guest
Not in control but always a minimum of three points ahead a lot of the time 6 points and for the last 20 15 points ahead until the rebels scored. Yeah right they weren't in control. Did you even watch the game?