This is the Super Rugby Ultimate Preview, your one-stop shop for everything you need to know for those all-important tips or fantasy transfers. This is our bumper Grand Final edition, and the last for the season. Enjoy.
Saturday 9th July
Reds v. Crusaders @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7:40pm AEST
Reds: 15. Jono Lance, 14. Rod Davies, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Radike Samo, 7. Beau Robinson, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. James Horwill (c), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Ben Daley. Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Shatz, 20. Liam Gill, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Will Chambers.
UNCHANGED
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22. Ryan Crotty
UNCHANGED (although Andy Ellis and Luke Romano must prove their fitness before Saturday)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Recent History: Reds 2 – 3 Crusaders. The Reds are on a two-game winning streak against the Crusaders, having taken out the Round 15 clash 17–16 after Quade kicked a late penalty. It was a cracker of a game played in front of a record crowd. Let’s hope that sentence will also be used to describe Saturday’s game.
Last 5: Reds LWWxW, Crusaders xWWWW
Odds: Reds $2.36, Crusaders $1.60
Panel Tips
The Brown Hornet: So here we are at the pointy end of the season and I think it’s fair to say that the best two teams over the course of home and away series are battling it out in the final. The Crusaders may not have finished second overall, but they clearly showed their quality by dispatching the Stormers in a very professional display at Newlands last weekend. They always looked in control and won the game in the tough stuff, which is where I think they can press home and advantage tomorrow night.They have nearly a full squad to choose from, minus Izzy Dagg, and they are in great form across the park. It must be a daunting prospect playing against these guys, because they don’t have any glaring weaknesses. Their scrum, lineout and breakdown work are first class and they have pace to burn out wide. The Reds are at the end of a remarkable season and much credit must go to Link and his team for getting this far. They deserve to be in the final, not only for the performance last week, but across the whole season. They’ve varied their tactics when required and have beaten a lot of quality teams. The Reds play, in general, an attacking and fairly daring brand of footy and I’m expecting them to stay with that against the Cru and why not. They’ll be worried a bit about the scrum and lineout and won’t be able to win the game with the amount of possession they had against the Blues. They’ll need to be at their absolute best, but I reckon they can do this and especially at home. I’m tipping the Reds by 5.
Sully: The Reds will win! Why? We won more games, the home ground advantage, the travel, the crowd, Cooper, Caxton Street, the floods, the cyclone, Horwill, the team work, the defence, Genia, because we are the tough ones north of the border, Lang Park, because we want it more, because Banjo playing makes you strong. It’s perfectly clear to me.
Reds by ten! I AM RED!
Zeno: For all the claims of the Crusaders’ total awesomeness, scrum awesomeness, offloading awesomeness and awesome awesomeness, they have trouble finding their way over the tryline. The Reds will score more tries; penalty goals and conversions will be about equal and there should be a drop goal one way or the other. Reds by 10+.
Mr Timms: The all-conquering Crusaders have not let travel be an excuse all year, can’t see it becoming one now. What the Crusaders bring with their menacing pack, the Reds will counter with sheer dogged determination. Both teams play a highly skillful and energetic game, I can’t see scrums being that big a decider (hope that doesn’t bite me on the arse…), more the packs’ ability to secure their backs clean front-foot ball. Once that ball is secured, I think the Reds’ nexus of Genia/Cooper has the edge, despite the massive presence that is Dan Carter. Fingers crossed Quade has cured his kicking yips. Reds by 5.
Gagger: It’s going to be a hell of a task for the Reds — the Crusaders are a bloody good team. As much as I will be cheering hard for them I feel it could be a bridge too far against a team that has class all over the field. It is doable for the Reds, and should be a close game. But I will go for my head over my heart. Crusaders by 3.
Lance Free: There are six changes from the game in Round 15, which effectively weaken the Reds (losing Slipper, Morahan and Lucas) and strengthen the Crusaders (gaining Ellis, if he plays, Sam Whitelock and Maitland). In my view, the Crusaders are stronger and in better form than in Round 15. The Reds forwards will be under the pump at the set piece and on the deck and I’m not sure they’ll have the answer to the questions posed. The Crusaders are a well-balanced unit with grunt in the tight five and an ability to dominate the breakdown. They are the best counter-rucking team in the competition. They’ve also the most capable backline general in the world, a midfield to-die-for and speed in the three-quarters (counter-attacking especially). Crusaders by 12.
Barbarian: Jeez I am torn, this game is harder to pick than a broken nose. Much like most on the panel my heart says Red, but my head says Crusaders. They had a real off game in Round 15 but still probably should have escaped with the win. A few key players have returned since that point, and they have tonnes of big game experience. I will be cheering my lungs out for the Reds, but don’t think I can tip them. Crusaders by 6.
Whom are you tipping?
