This early Saturday afternoon game sees the Crusaders hosting the Hurricanes from AMI Stadium in Christchurch. Join The Roar from 3:15pm (AEST) for all the live action.
This match is the first of two back-to-back New Zealand derbies tonight with all four teams participating still with a chance of topping the New Zealand conference and potentially earning the top qualifying position across all the Super Rugby conferences come the playoffs. The equation is simple for both sides tonight – win.
The Crusaders have the advantage of playing at home and will see the Hurricanes tight five as an area they can exploit, particularly at set piece. Containing four All Blacks, and with another on the bench, the Crusaders will certainly want to dominate their Hurricane opposites, with only the Hurricanes Dane Coles having achieved national honours.
The Hurricanes will certainly be concerned about their scrum after some trouble in recent weeks but will fancy their chances at lineout time, with multiple jumpers providing numerous options and able to create pressure on the opposition throw.
The loose forward battle is a far more even affair with both sides containing in-form current and former All Blacks and two players on the blindside, the Crusaders Jordan Taufua and Hurricanes Brad Shields on the fringes of national selection.
With Kieran Read returning after a week’s break and the in-form Ardie Savea raring to go, the battle in this area could prove vital to the outcome of this match.
One area the Hurricanes will feel they have the edge will be in the halves, particularly on the back of Beauden Barrett. His form this season has been excellent for the Canes and one does feel he will need another quality performance this evening if the Hurricanes are to win this crucial match.
Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders first five, has also had a superb season running the Crusaders and the Hurricanes will need to shut him down. If Mo’unga is allowed a free ride in guiding his team around the park tonight the Crusaders pack will be tough to hold.
Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, their regular midfield has been ruled unavailable through injury, replaced by Ngani Laumepe and Willis Halaholo at second five and centre respectively.
Both exciting with ball in hand, questions remain around their defence and cohesion as a pair, particularly for such a pivotal match, and the Crusaders midfield of David Havili and Ryan Crotty will no doubt be looking forward to finding out.
Both sides’ back threes contain plenty of excitement and strike power and crowd favourites Nemani Nadolo and Julian Savea will be looking to excite their respective sets of fans.
One player though, Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg has been in sublime form this season, so much so he has earned an All Black recall and Dagg certainly shapes as a match winner for the mainlanders. His influence from the back could prove the difference for the Crusaders this evening.
Join me as I cover all the action live and don’t forget to keep me company with your thoughts and comments on the match as it unfolds below.
Tip – Hurricanes. No logic, just because.
samalavich
Roar Rookie
i think the mostly black one looks ok .. the y should just wear that all the time
samalavich
Roar Rookie
scott has an ominous npc record.
samalavich
Roar Rookie
quiet chook
samalavich
Roar Rookie
what a weekend -- the perfect storm!!!!!!
samalavich
Roar Rookie
hush
samalavich
Roar Rookie
and... yay
samalavich
Roar Rookie
i think maybe you were watching the game with your one eyes there facts
samalavich
Roar Rookie
as a canes supporter i'm glad to be playing the sharks. the crusaders will be hard next week
Jibba Jabba
Guest
My bloody dog (ridgeback/bull mastiff) just ate the foxtel remote ... seriously he did .. he didn't even tell me who he was supporting ffs
taylorman
Roar Guru
The Dagg Ben Smith alliance is too good for the selectors to ignore, and his kicking was good, even if he didn't contribute much more than that. It was tough on all the Saders backs tonight.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Saw all those and as a neutral didn't think they were that bad, and certainly didn't make the difference. Canes made far more of their chances. The neck roll probably bordered on the more serious of them but even then a try wasn't guaranteed if not for it. The Nadolo one was nothing much, if anything Nadolo looked like he was about to play it up.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Finals rugby is a little different than pool though, and Canes are in some pretty good form at the moment.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Colour me amused that a Crusaders fan is upset by repeated cynical infringing.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
What wonderful news for Sharks fans!!! :-) Because if the Lions lose and the Canes stay too, the Sharks have a much better chance at beating the Canes than they ever would the Lions!! Seeing as though they thrashed them not so long ago! Also they would've had next to no chance against the Crusaders in Christchurch and a very slim chance against the Chiefs. But the Canes??? Sharks can beat them :-) Ha ha So I'm in two minds as to whether I'm supporting the Lions tomorrow morning or not?!
Facts
Guest
Officiating was appalling. I left shortly after Beauden Barret knocked down the pass. That was, to that point, the fourth cynical foul that the refereeing team had ignored. Between having to play Mitchell Drummond, who just doesn't have what it takes to direct a team, and the referee's one eyes performance, the Crusaders never had a chance. Hurricanes should have had their number 16 binned after his second high shot (how do you even hit Nemani Nadolo high as a six foot tall person and not have it considered an act of foul play? The guy practically had to jump). Julian Savea hit Johnny McNicholl was hit high and neck rolled by Julian Savea on the crusaders goal line. A neck roll alone is enough to get a player binned. Nadolo was also hit late and obstructed off the ball. This game was a farce. The Hurricanes would have won this with a first fifteen team.
Lara
Guest
Canes forwards stepped up ,but that backline with Barrett directing traffic is humming. Ardie is one special flanker, outstanding.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
no... I was making a fashion statement only. *S* ... who in the hell designed the Cane's uniform? .. Hehehe
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks for following TT.
Digby
Roar Guru
Thank you everyone for joining me here tonight, hope you enjoyed the blog. Big game coming up, Adam Julian will be your host for that one here - http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/07/16/highlanders-vs-chiefs-super-rugby-live-scores-blog-3/ I will be back later on for the pivotal Australian Conference match between the Brumbies and Force in Canberra. Hope you can join me later. Thanks again and GO THE MIGHTY HURRICANES!
Tissot Time
Guest
Thanks Digger Congrats to your team Bus has arrived in Bari Cheers