The first week of Playoff super rugby kicked off this weekend with the seven time winners the Christchurch Crusaders taking on the 2011 champions the Queensland Reds at the AMI stadium in Christchurch whilst across the Tasman the Cheetahs faced the Brumbies in Brisbane.
The Crusaders were in full force as they picked apart the Reds with a mammoth 38-09 win. The world’s greatest playmaker Dan Carter showed why he holds that title. Carter was in sublime form as he ran in one try on top of his 3 conversions and 3 penalties. In addition to Carters 23 points 2 tries from Ryan Crotty and one from Tom Marshall saw the Crusaders pile up the score, a solitary penalty off the boot of Tom Taylor put the icing on the cake for the Crusaders. 3 penalties off the boot of Quade Cooper was the only points the Reds could accumulate.
In the second playoff game the Cheetahs immensely improved squad went head to head with the Australian Conference winners who had the home field advantage. The Cheetahs went out all guns blazing outscoring the Brumbies by two tries to none. Johann Sadie ran in the first try for the visitors whilst replacement winger Ryno Benjamin ran in a last minute try. Fly Half Riaan Smit knocked over one penalty whilst unfortunately missing the last minute conversion from the corner which would have sent the game into extra time. The Brumbies only managed 5 penalties in the entire 80 minutes with 4 of them coming off the boot of Christian Lealiifano and one through Nick White.
The Crusaders now make the short trip up to Hamilton to face the Chiefs in hopes of making it to their 10th Super Rugby Final and competing for their 8th championship. Their opponents and defending champions the Chiefs are hoping to make their 3rd final and 2nd consecutive championship. This will be the 6th time the teams have met in 12 months with the Chiefs having won 3 and the Crusaders having taken 2 games. Ironically it is a very similar tale as it was last year as the Chiefs took the first game early in the season and Crusaders taking the second at the end of the preliminary rounds. Last season the Chiefs knocked off the 7 time champs in the semi-final, a stat the Crusaders will hope to change.
It is very hard to pick a winner in this game with the Chiefs having been the most consistent team all season long and the Crusaders coming in a spectacular streak. It is going to be a battle of the tried and tested war horses of the Crusaders against the youngsters who have been hot on their tails over the last year. All Black skipper Richie McCaw made his return last week after an eight month sabbatical and will go head to head against his All Black under study Sam Cane in the number 7 jersey. At five eight Dan Carter will face his understudy Aaron Cruden as they battle it out to see who New Zealand’s premier playmaker is. This is shaping up to be a game of inexplicable spectacle and grandeur as these two teams have fought head to head to prove themselves as the number one team in New Zealand.
The second semi-final will also be one to watch as the ever consistent Bulls will be looking to make their 4th Super Rugby final. The Bulls are 3-0 in Super rugby finals having never lost the big game taking the Championships in 2007,09 and 10. The Bulls also happen to be the only South African team to have won the Championship. The Brumbies on the other hand have made 5 finals and have taken the Championships twice in 2001 and 2004.
Super Rugby Semi-Final
Saturday, 27 July, 2013
Chiefs v Crusaders
Waikato Stadium, Waikato
Kick-off (1935 local, 1735 NSW/ACT, 0935 SAT, 0735 GMT)
Super Rugby Semi-Final
Saturday, 27 July, 2013
Bulls v Brumbies
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off (1705 local, 0305 NZ, 0105 NSW/ACT, 1505 GMT)
*Date will be Sunday 28 July in Australian Eastern/Central and NZ time zones
