The Crusaders travel to Durban to face the Sharks in Super Rugby Round 8. Join us here on The Roar from 12 midnight (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
This week marks the start of Super Rugby ‘Snakes and Ladders’, where conference leadership positions will start to rise and fall.
The visitors have won only three of their six matches. If they lose this, they will fall further behind the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders.
This challenge is compounded by the loss of Dan Carter, who has returned to New Zealand for the birth of his child, while Richie McCaw needed a break after last round’s bruising loss to the Bulls and will start from the bench.
The hosts are in a tight race for the top with the Bulls and the Stormers, and welcome the return of three Springboks. However Francois Steyn’s expunged red card was recently contested by SANZAR, and he has since been found guilty. He joins Bismarck de Plessis as a suspended player – for five weeks.
Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper will lock horns with Bell Funnell, who will play with a different prop partnership from last week. The Sharks scrummagers will aim to replicate last week’s punishment by the Bulls, though Owen Franks will probably have something to say about that.
The Crusaders will take heart with numerous raids by the Force into the Sharks redzone. Unlike the Force, the Crusaders have excellent finishers, with multi-skilled dual-role players like Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Israel Dagg, and Ryan Crotty. And Nemani Nadolo could rip through both the A and B zones in attack.
The Sharks will target the gaps in the Crusaders’ defence exploited early in the game by the Bulls last week. This will only work if Pat Lambie is able to retain possession and leverage on the return of Jacobus Reinach and Marcell Coetzee to secure quick ball and win collisions.
The fullback duel between SP Marais and Israel Dagg will be worth watching, as they have very similar counter-attacking skills that can punish teams and change a game’s momentum.
Look out for game-changing contributions by Keiran Read and the leadership team. This is typically the type of match, and the stage of the tournament, where he and his team lifts. Failure to do will start burying their Super Rugby ambitions, and intensify the attention on the viability of Crusdaders coach Todd Blackadder to win trophies with a strong roster.
The referees and TMO are all from South Africa, which is a break from the recent practice of using neutral referees. The bookies have the Sharks at a slight advantage, which basically means it is anyone’s match.
This is a high-stakes game, folks. While we might see a bunch of reset scrums, we will also probably see a lot of attacking, savage ruck contests and backs slicing up their opponents.
Be sure to join us for all the action from 12 midnight (AEDT), and leave your comments below.
dsat24
Guest
Mate the Rebs, Blues or Force would have looked good against those Shorks... they just didnt show up
Rugby Tragic
Guest
We shouldn't complain ... we (Blues and Reds) can hold hands at the bottom of the table.
RobC
Roar Guru
:lol:
Rugby Tragic
Guest
You deprived your wife AND daughter the pleasure they take from ironing your shirts?... that's terrible .. shame on you mate ... Next time you want the creases taken out of your shirts, go lie down on the lounge and switch on TV ... leave the shirts in a heap with the ironing table out and a number of hangers for your wife and daughter.... based on what you have told me, you will be in the pound seats!
Jack
Guest
Not Richie mate.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thought Berry had an excellent match last week for Canes vs Rebels. Need a closer look for this one. Some of his games in SA, has certainly attracted attention from Antipodeans. Harry, what's Berry rep in SA?
RobC
Roar Guru
Yes. I think I missed the coverage re the rucks. Most important, I think I missed the coverage of cheerleaders Im going to watch it again today, focusing on the ruck penalties. Cheerleaders too, maybe
RobC
Roar Guru
Imconvinced my wife is crazy. And my younger daughter with her They both enjoy ironing. Id rather scrummage against Wyatt Crockett and Dylan Hartley
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I hooked a couple Diggercane. ;)
RobC
Roar Guru
Cheers RT. Was interesting. Stuart Berry last year, had the Blues fans seeing red Had the Reds fans feeling blue Yesterday, will have Kiwis running a Crusade against him
RobC
Roar Guru
:lol: Maybe he was speaking, also as an independent. And commenting on behalf of both sides.
RobC
Roar Guru
Cheers CS. Sharks, like the Bulls, struggling with an open faster approach to hitting the rucks, and D - caught between Currie Cup and TRC. Good for mid term. Painful meantime until their back five can play dual roles / increased mobility
Grahame
Guest
You can say that again!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep you are right Harry... Stormer's were hard done by in Wellington by an Australian ref. A couple of decisions could have changed the result. The one decision that met that criteria was when Conrad Smith lost ball forward about 5 metres out from Canes line. If I am correct, it was literally in front of a linesman (not sure which one) but it was not called so 30 seconds later the Crusaders scored a try 95 metres down the park, a possible 14 point turnaround. I guess 'them's the breaks'...
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I think back Rob, that must of been a helluva game to blog!.. there was so much going on...
Rugby Tragic
Guest
The worst? ....Always the ironing mate ... always!
Lano
Guest
Hilarious - nearly choked on my rusk. Very amusing. Comment of the year!
Vic
Guest
No difference between african refs, aus refs or nz refs - you just don't see that. Every weekend there is the same stuff going on in all 3 countries - there are a few good refs from all 3 countries. This game though was not tye ref's problem. The cards were legitimate.
Dopplerman
Guest
Granted Harry though there's a big difference between poor calls and Bias to a home side particularly in Africa the refs and Tmos are indeed influenced by the home crowds or something else? As I am at a loss for any other explanation for their stupidity. If Joubert the only African ref ,who I have respect for ,had been referring this match .in the spirit of the game the second yellow would of been a warning based on that there wasn't anything malicious in it ...with something along the lines of you already have one in the bin blah blah blah and I can think of a few refs who have done exactly this . Imagine if this game was a world cup game or the final....yeah I know test rugby is different but hey the rules are the same essentially and refs are spoused to be impartial ....but if we have to have neutral refs in a test match is it because they aren't?
Mr.G
Roar Rookie
Geez that was a terrible game to watch as a Sharks supporter. Non existent defence, non functional lineout, defensive gaps appearing at will, brain explosions of the highest order when up by three men and in the 22 of the opposition (yes Jean, I’m looking at you!). Even worse than the 40 they played against the Brumbies at the same Stadium not too long ago. Those special jerseys they wore were to be auctioned to raise funds for an organ donation charity- I pity the poor auctioneer, would be surprised if any of them got sold! Sharks backs look terrible. Just crabbing across the field. Pack’s holding the side up, but when it doesn’t come to the party, results like today’s happen. Not sure if this is Brad, Sean and Paul’s fault, but the team doesn’t look coached at all.