Last week’s shock loss in Perth might have nudged the Crusaders towards desperation mode, but the Stormers won’t lack for motivation either as second hosts third before an expected Friday night sell out at Newlands. Two years ago, the Crusaders blanked the home side 22-0 in the corresponding match, which represented the first time in the Stormers’ then 130-game history that the side had been held to nil.That result continued a trend which has seen the Crusaders heap misery on the Cape Town faithful, coming on the back of successive 50-pointers by the Crusaders at Newlands in 2003 (51-13) and 2005 (51-23). Such has been the Crusaders’ dominance over the Stormers, flyhalf Daniel Carter has run up 103 points in seven games against the Capetonians, and he only started in five of those!
Seven-time Super rugby champions, the Crusaders have previously shown the type of resilience they are going to need over the next week in South Africa, being one of the few sides in Super Rugby in credit from all matches in the Republic. The Crusaders have won 17 and lost 15 previously in South Africa, batting at 50 percent last year when they beat the Sharks and Lions, but lost to the Cheetahs and the Bulls, with the latter match being a semi-final. For all of their dominance of this relationship, it hasn’t all been one-way traffic, as was shown when the Stormers beat the Crusaders 28-17 in 2006.
Incredibly that win, over the eventual tournament champions of that season, was the only success the Stormers achieved from seven home matches at Newlands that year. The Stormers are much better at home now, on Friday bidding for their fifth win from six matches at Newlands this year.
The upswing in their home performance has contributed significantly to their lofty ranking on the tournament table. The Stormers have only previously won four or more home games three times from 13 seasons, winning four from six in 2007, four from seven in 2008, and a franchise best five from seven in 1999 when they hosted their only tournament semi-final to date.
Matching their 1999 home record this weekend would go along way towards securing a second semi-final appearance at Newlands. While the Stormers arrived back from their four-match overseas tour at the same time as the Crusaders reached Cape Town, with both teams playing matches in Australia last Friday night; travel fatigue won’t inhibit the home side.
History suggests striking the Stormers now is arguably the worst time that the Crusaders could get them as the South Africans have won 11 and lost just twice in their first match back after an overseas tour in Super Rugby. One of those previous ‘homecoming’ wins was achieved against the Crusaders in 2006.
The Stormers and Crusaders boast the best defensive records in the league, with just 27 tries conceded between them, so expect tries to be at a premium. The importance of the night to the semi-final picture – especially with the top-of-the-table Bulls still to play away from home – will not have been lost on Crusaders skipper Richard McCaw, who has a big night in store on a personal level. The current All Black captain, who was battling a rib injury earlier in the week, is set to become the 34th player, the 12th New Zealander, and the sixth Crusader, to play 100 Super Rugby games.
Besides Moller, who picked up an injury, being replaced by Kritzinger the Stormers have an unchanged side and the Newlands faithful will be baying for their team to record a victory.
Prediction: Extremely tough call this one because either team on their day can win it. Personally I am worried that the loss the Stormers suffered loss last week is still lingering and might come back to haunt them in the remaining weeks. They have home ground advantage but I think it is going to take a supreme effort to beat the Crusaders. Stormers to win it by less than 5 points.
Last Year – Crusaders 11, Stormers 7 at Christchurch
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Gio Aplon,14. Sireli Naqelevuki,13. Jaque Fourie,12. Juan De Jongh,11. Bryan Habana,10. Peter Grant ,9. Dewaldt Duvenage,8. Duane Vermeulen,7 Francois Louw,6. Schalk Burger (c),5. Andries Bekker ,4. Adriaan Fondse,3. Brok Harris,2. Tiaan Liebenberg ,1. JD Moller
Reserves:16. Deon Fourie,17. Eusebio Guinazu,18. Anton Van Zyl,19. Pieter Louw,20. Ricky Januarie,21. Willem De Waal,22. Tim Whitehead
Crusaders:
1. Wyatt Crockett , 2. Corey Flynn , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Brad Thorn , 5. Chris Jack , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Richie McCaw (c) , 8. Kieran Read , 9. Kahn Fotuali'i , 10. Dan Carter , 11. Zac Guildford , 12. Ryan Crotty , 13. Robbie Fruean , 14. Sean Maitland , 15. Colin Slade
16. Ti'i Paulo , 17. Ben Franks , 18. Sam Whitelock , 19. Thomas Waldrom , 20. Andy Ellis , 21. Dan Bowden , 22. Jared Payne
