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Kicking off Round 13 is the trans-Tasman grudge match between the Crusaders and the Waratahs; or, the battle of the conference leaders in this new, convoluted age of Super 18. Join The Roar for live scores, commentary and bit of cheeky bants from 5:30pm (AEST).
The Highlanders might have left their south island brothers feeling a bit raw, but that’s not a terrible indictment of the Crusaders, because the extremely tight New Zealand conference – the top four teams have one point separating them – resembles a topsy-turvy sevens weekend.
The Crusaders, unlike the Waratahs, can also come into this game with changes to their team due only to a rotation policy: Wyatt Crockett and David Havili are going back to the bench, with Joe Moody and Ryan Crotty taking their places on the field.
As much as performances from an entirely different group of players several years ago who merely happened to wear the same coloured shirt matter, the Waratahs have an absolutely woeful record against the Crusaders away from home. They’ve only won one in 12 in Christchurch.
Though the Waratahs are on a four-game winning streak themselves, having beaten the Force, Stormers, Cheetahs and Bulls in recent weeks, that won’t really do them much good. The Crusaders are a big step up in quality from travelling South African sides.
To be fair though, the Waratahs have had a campaign in which they’ve been slowly getting better and better as time’s worn on. That progression will no doubt take a jolt against the Crusaders for two reasons: a) it’s the Crusaders and b) Kurtley Beale’s goneskies.
Beale’s absence will hurt the Tahs tremendously – the Mt Druitt Magician was putting his name forward as the best player on the team, with a string of great performances. In his place, young’un David Horwitz will be given the number 12 in a straight swap.
Wycliff Palu, too, is being swapped out for Jed Holloway, having been bruised and battered playing against three Saffer sides in a row. Meanwhile, Zac Guildford quietly slinks his way onto the bench (in place of Horwitz), and no doubt there’ll be some forced narrative mention of his first return to his old club.
Prediction
The Crusaders are really good, while the Waratahs are just good. While the NSW men have been playing well, and giving a much better account of themselves than they were at the beginning of the season, the Crusaders will just be too strong.
Crusaders by 11
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.