The Crusaders need a win today against the Blues to keep their hopes of playing a home final well and truly alive with just two matches remaining in the regular season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST.
Sitting in third spot on the overall ladder, the Crusaders are still in with a chance of securing a home semi-final but can ill-afford a slip up against the Blues at home.
The Blues should be expected to turn up with plenty of desperation given that they too are fighting for a spot in the finals.
With rain predicted, conditions will be tough for both teams and this may lead to a tight struggle between two sides desperate for the win.
In good news for the Crusaders, experienced All Black stars Kieran Read and Dan Carter are both back in the team after missing last week’s defeat to the Hurricanes.
In tough conditions, Carter’s kicking game could prove decisive in allowing the Crusaders to win the battle for territory tonight.
The Crusaders will also be relying on Israel Dagg and Nemani Nadolo to fire in attack. Nadolo in particular has been in fine form this season, scoring 7 tries thus far to go along with plenty of linebreaks. Only Israel Folau has made more clean breaks this season.
The Blues meanwhile are coming off a thumping victory over the Force away from home. Fly-half Ihaia West caused plenty of havoc against the Force, scoring a try before setting up two others in a commanding performance.
Rest assured that West will be a targeted player today and it will be interesting to see how he performs against a Crusaders side that will be on full alert whenever he touches the football. Ma’a Nonu will also need to be kept in check by the Crusaders after he severely dented what has otherwise been a solid Force defence last week.
With plenty on the line for both teams, this should be a tight contest. The Crusaders though still possess plenty of experience and with another potential home semi-final on the cards, they should do enough to grind their way to a win.
Crusaders by 7.
Buzzard
Guest
Peter John? Nelson? Recovery? Whats that about.
Buzzard
Guest
Recovery? Recovery from what?
Lassitude
Guest
How does a LH prop "bore in" ? Looked to me that Faumouna continually crumbles to his left and leaves nothing square to bind onto.
ben
Guest
Otaras great....hows the recovery going?
Gazzatron
Guest
I'm G Jackson and I'm still being praised but Glen Jackson on the other hand is a tool!!! Haha
Buzzard
Guest
Go the Saders..go Glen Jackson.
Buzzard
Guest
A real real shame indeed
Buzzard
Guest
Ben Wayne Kerr.....I'm very well thanks How's Otara?
ben
Guest
Mark...wasnt the ref kept kicking the ball into the ingoal everytime they were 10m out. Wasnt the ref kept knocking it on after multiple phases in the 22. ....and it was clearly a try. Get a grip.
ben
Guest
Peter john buzzard...longtime no hear. Hows nelson?
Buzzard
Guest
Nothing wrong with the ref. The Blues were only food poisoned! Inconsistent, over rated, no brains Blues.
strap
Roar Rookie
Hello Mark, You are not coming across as a sore loser at all. Better luck next year champ.
felix
Guest
It's not so long ago that people were praising G.Jackson,and now?? I've always said he is average.
Sylvester
Guest
The win was worth me freezing my butt off for - just. I think we'd be lucky if there was 17 minutes of actual rugby in between the scrums, scrum resets and penalties. Seriously, how can 5/6 of the ABs front row produce that many bung scrums?
Sylvester
Guest
Yeah, can't imagine the Blues complaining about the ref
bennalong
Guest
That was another crook, home town refereeing performance from Glen Jackson. This was hard fought but error ridden from both sides The Saders did have a purple patch but are not as clinical as in the past. Neither looked like finalists tonight
Boomeranga
Guest
Such a shame to see the Blues bow out.
Mark
Guest
Pretty hard to beat 15 players and 4 corrupt officials Worst Reffing since Wayne Barnes Crocket boring in every scrum yet somehow Blues get penalised... Nadolo's in touch yet somehow its a try... And apparently its only a ruck when the Blues are trying to win the ball Jackson should be stripped of his reffing badge - he was shite as a player and hes even worse as a ref And what was up with the crappy coverage... Everytime theres a ruck we have a wide angle view NZ TV coverage of rugby is the worst in the world!
ben
Guest
I said it last week with slade....add 2 past broken jaws...but he has a serious technique issue when he attempts a spot tackle. Carter looked class at 1st 5 and got better as the game went on.
Gazzatron
Guest
He's embarrassing, he awards the Crusaders a penalty at the breakdown,then 2 phases later he penalized the Blues for the very thing the Crusaders got given a penalty for. It's starting to really get to me and I rarely criticize the refs