Week 14 Preview: Blues v Crusaders
Sportal.co.nz - (14/05/2009)
By the time this Rebel Sport Super 14 match kicks off the Crusaders will have a fairly good idea of what's required for them to make the playoffs – a win will probably do it but a bonus point may be needed. The Blues will only have 80 minutes left in their season, whatever happens.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 – Blues 8, Crusaders 7.
LAST TIME: April 25, 2008 (Christchurch) – Crusaders 26-22 Blues.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Blues suffered no more lasting damage but there are still doubts about Justin Collins and he is bracketed with Peter Saili on the blindside. Brad Thorn was the only one of several Crusaders who left the field last week to miss out this week, as his hamstring tightened again during midweek training. Otherwise Todd Blackadder has named the same team that thumped the Reds.
FORM: Last week at Canberra the Blues finally confirmed what we've all known for several weeks now – that they won't be playing any more footy in 2009 after the regular season is over. While they had been hanging around on the fringes of the four it was all smoke and mirrors and the Brumbies finally put them away with a clear-cut win. The Crusaders nudged their way up to fourth with the expected bonus point victory over the Reds and a playoff spot is now theirs to lose. Pat Lam will be wondering why Blackadder's mirrors are better than his, because the Crusaders should have been eliminated weeks ago. Several teams, particularly the Waratahs and Sharks, will be kicking themselves for not kicking the Crusaders when they were down and now they might well see the red-and-blacks in the four, yet again, while they miss out.
WHO'S HOT: Tony Woodcock has been impressive since he returned to action and will be a certain All Black selection. In the backs Isaia Toeava and Rene Ranger are making some good breaks but too many die either through lack of support or from handling errors. If the Blues are going to have any chance in this match they must contain the Crusaders forwards, particularly the excellent loose trio of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Thomas Waldrom. This group has no superiors as a unit in the competition and all three would be among the best in their individual positions. Leon MacDonald will be looking to make a big impression in his final match on Eden Park and no doubt he'll get a good send-off from the fans for years of dedicated service.
WE THINK: We are now entering Crusaders time in the competition and, with the red-and-blacks having been given a lifeline by the failings of others, we don't think they'll be so rude as to chuck it away. Our pick is that the Crusaders will win, probably by ten points or so, and yes, they'll make the four.
TEAMS:
Blues: 1 – Tony Woodcock, 2 – Keven Mealamu (captain), 3 – John Afoa, 4 – Jay Williams, 5 – Kurtis Haiu, 6 – Justin Collins or Peter Saili, 7 – Tom Chamberlain, 8 – Jerome Kaino, 9 – Chris Smylie, 10 – Jimmy Gopperth, 11 – Joe Rokocoko, 12 – Isaia Toeava, 13 –Anthony Tuitavake, 14 – Rene Ranger, 15 – Rudi Wulf.
Reserves: 16 – Tom McCartney, 17 – Tevita Mailau, 18 – Dean Budd, 19 – Saili or Andrew van der Heijden, 20 – Grayson Hart, 21 – Jamie Helleur, 22 – Paul Williams.
Crusaders: 1 – Wyatt Crockett, 2 – Jason Macdonald, 3 – Owen Franks, 4 – Michael Paterson, 5 – Isaac Ross, 6 – Kieran Read, 7 – Richie McCaw (captain), 8 – Thomas Waldrom, 9 – Andy Ellis, 10 – Stephen Brett, 11 – Adam Whitelock, 12 – Ryan Crotty, 13 – Tim Bateman, 14 – Jared Payne, 15 – Leon MacDonald.
Reserves: 16 – Daniel Perrin, 17 – Bronson Murray, 18 – Ross Filipo, 19 – George Whitelock, 20 – Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 – Sean Maitland, 22 – Hamish Gard.
REFEREE: Bryce Lawrence