Super Rugby Playoff 1: Crusaders vs Bulls

Due to the long trip from Pretoria to New Zealand and the fact that the Bulls have not won in Christchurch since the first year Super 12 in 1996 Righfully so the Crusaders are installed as favourites for this weekends first super rugby qualifier.

The two sides have never met in a final, but todays match will be their fifth knock out meeting in seven seasons with the home side winning on each occassion. Earlier this year the Crusaders almost wiped out a 16 point deficit at Loftus highlighting their never say die attitude and with the likes of McCaw and Carter who are widely regaarded as the best ever in their positions in their ranks the South Africans will need everything to go their way. On the other end of the scale the Bulls will be without the experience foursome of Matfield, Roussow, Botha and Du Preez and when it comes to the crunch, experience or the lack there of could be the deciding factor.

Some Stats
The overall record between the two sides sees the Crusaders ahead with 12 wins to 9.
The Crusaders have won seven super rugby titles.
The Bulls have won the competition three times.
The Crusaders were runners up on three occasions.
The Bulls have beaten the the seven times champions in the last four on each occasion on their way to their three super rugby titles.
The Crusaders last lost to the Bulls in Cristchurch 17 years ago.
In the the last 10 years 90% of the knock out matches have been won by the home side.

Yes rugby is not won on paper or by reputation, ask the Reds defeating the Crusaders in last seasons final but the New Zealand outfit will be really hard to beat by a let's be honest below average Bulls outfit.

Special thanks to Supersport for this blog post.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (JCBA)

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