'Can’t see any other team beating Crusaders'
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Securing a win over the Crusaders at Christchurch is a daunting nearly impossible task.
And no one knows this more than Sharks head coach Robert du Preez.
The Sharks’ Super Rugby campaign came to an abrupt end courtesy of 10-40 quarterfinal defeat to the Crusaders at Christchurch last weekend.
The Sharks went into the match with a 75 percent success rate against New Zealand opposition but have only ever won once in Christchurch.
The Crusaders in pursuit of their ninth Super Rugby crown have been in tremendous form. The win over the Sharks stretched their current winning streak to 13 and they have not lost at home to an overseas side since the opening round of 2015.
“The Crusaders are an excellent attacking and defending side,” Sharks coach Du Preez told reporters following his side’s quarterfinal in New Zeeland.
“I can’t see any other team beating them.
“Their set-piece is so good, lineout-wise particularly, they scored tries from that and you have to front up physically,”
Sharks captain Ruan Botha shared the coach’s sentiments and said that the Crusaders’ attack and defence are simply too good.
“Hats off to the Crusaders, they pressured the one-on-one defenders,” Botha said, adding: “Championship games are won on defence, we missed a few crucial one-on-one tackles and that cost us.
“This whole season we played well against New Zealand sides, we knew the Crusaders would be a huge challenge, that’s why they were top of the log. They played great rugby all season and their defence was strong against us and their attacking play excellent, they kept running into holes getting into space,”
The Crusaders will host the Hurricanes next weekend in the semifinals after the ‘Canes snatched a 32-31 win over the Chiefs in the first quarterfinal last weekend.
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