Given the way people are gushing over Sonny Bill, I am going to talk about other things. So, Looking back to the corresponding match last year and it’s amazing to see the difference. In round 2 last year, the Reds fresh off another loss to the Waratahs, the rugby public were given the first real signs that things under a new head coach were changing for the better north of the Tweed.
Under Ewen McKenzie, the Reds secured their first win over the Crusaders since 1999 with a 41-20 thumping, including a Reds record for most individual points with 31 points. That day only the true believers were there, times have clearly changed as the Reds look like breaking the Australian Super Rugby crowd record of 42 237. Whatever happens with the crowd there is little doubt that watching these two teams go at it will be fascinating to watch.
A few weeks back, the Crusaders looked like nothing could stop them, sweeping all before them. The last few weeks, while still having the class to keep on winning, other than the Cheetahs, they haven’t looked as deadly. Obviously they are, like most teams, suffering from a few injuries with stars like Isreal Dagg, Sean Maitland, Kahn Fotuali’i, Sam and Adam Whitelock and Andy Ellis. They are, however, boosted by the return of Brad Thorn and Sonny Bill Williams.
In their last outing against the Chiefs, it was a rocky win by the Crusaders, they got the win, but with only 1 try scored, they looked more blunted than normal, the return of SBW will provide them with a little more sparkle, if he is given the space to do what he does.
Back at the Reds, Link has been able to run out the same 15 that beat the Blues 37-31 a fortnight ago, with only one change on the bench with prop Greg Holmes returning from an elbow infection that resulted in him missing the past two games. Link was pleased with this, saying he has had the opportunity to try some different combinations earlier in the year, but as they approach the pointy end of the season, allowing the players to settle into combination was important.
The Crusaders (41) and Reds (38) are top of the stats log when it comes to tries scored, so it is clear these two teams like the freedom to express themselves with the ball. It will also mean that the ability to get that ball in a reasonable time, which brings to the real spectacle of Rugby, the forwards. The Reds often unheralded pigs have a big job ahead of them facing an pack, each with their own All Black caps. There is some talk about whether the Reds will be able to to handle the Crusaders Scrum, while the Strong Reds line out will be a big challenge for the Crusaders, who probably have their biggest weakness there.
There have already been a couple of posts about tactics from Scott and Gagger, so I won’t spend much time on that.
Key match-up: There are a few mouth watering match ups in this game, with Beau Robinson and Richie McCaw an interest prospect, Anthony Faingaa’s ability to stop the fabled Sonny Bill Williams will be important, The battle of the packs will be intriguing, but I think the big one will be Cooper v. Carter in the battle of the 10s. The last time these two played against each other was in Hong Kong and Cooper got the money in that outing, but there is no doubting Carters class and past results will mean little.
Tip: Two teams that love to attack, the only tip I am sure of is that it will be an open game, played in the right spirit. Other than that, I am going to go out on a limb. I think the Reds have got the strike power to score some points against this Crusaders team, and I think the Reds piggies, will do enough to get the ball to the backs when it counts. The Reds may have only won 4 from 16 encounters with the Crusaders over the years, but every one of those wins has been by more than 13, so when they get a win, they usually do it properly. I am going the Reds, by 15
Reds Team: 15. Ben Lucas, 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia (vc), 8. Radike Samo, 7. Beau Robinson, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. James Horwill (c), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. James Slipper, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Ben Daley Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Ian Prior, 21. Will Chambers, 22. Dom Shipperley
Crusaders Team: 15. Tom Marshall, 14. Brent Ward, 13. Robbie Fruean, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Willi Heinz, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (c), 6. George Whitelock, 5. Chris Jack, 4. Brad Thorn 3. Owen Franks, 2. Corey Flynn, 1. Wyatt Crockett Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald/David Hall, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Matt Todd/Joe Wheeler, 20. Steve Alfeld, 21. Matt Berquist, 22. Ryan Crotty
