Preview: Crusaders v Highlanders
SUPER RUGBY QUARTERFINALS: There is no place to hide. This, in a nutshell, is the opening match of the quarterfinal round.
There is also no doubt that the Highlanders are the underdogs, prompting Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to suggest the visitors could play with ‘freedom’, knowing they have nothing to lose.
The Crusaders are the toughest team to beat at home and the statistics confirm it – three years and 29 matches since they last lost in Christchurch.
There was a 21-all draw with the Sharks in May, the only glitch in an otherwise flawless home record stretching back to July 2016, when they lost 10-35 to the Hurricanes.
The Crusaders, coming off a bye, also face a Highlanders squad that just sneaked into the top eight, after coming through a mathematical embroglio.
* Continue reading below …
“The Highlanders have been a great rivalry in derby matches over the years,” Robertson said about Friday’s southern derby.
“We play them a lot, so we know their strengths and they know ours.
“We are well aware of their abilities when they are on [form].
“It will be a helluva contest.”
While no rain is predicted, the dew factor and cold temperatures – a daytime high of 14°C and a low of 4°C around kick-off – will require some tactical adjustments.
“Your kicking strategy is really important,” Robertson said, adding: “You have to be smart, for sure.”
And the Highlanders have a couple of match winners of their own – including fullback Ben Smith and scrumhalf Aaron Smith.
“Ben Smith is a world-class player,” the Crusaders mentor said, adding: “What he does is inspire them and if he does play he will bring as a lot to their group – you have to watch him.
“Both Smiths [Ben and Aaron] are pretty special for them.”
The Highlanders will take confidence out of sneaking into the play-offs, according to assistant coach Mark Hammett.
And as Robertson suggested, they are likely to play with a lot of freedom.
“We know our style. We always like to be innovative and bring something new, not because it’s part of winning the game but it is really invigorating for the players at this time of year,” Hammett said.
“We have got a few things we want to do this weekend and concentrate on how we want to play.
“We know that they are a good team, but we also know if we put things together we are a good team as well.
“We have noticed in the past couple of games we have lifted.
“Certainly against the Bulls [the previous week], defensively we raised it, big time.
“[This past weekend], against the Waratahs, it was probably the best it has been. I thought we added probably a bit more precision to our attack in pretty tough conditions.
“We feel like from a perspective of where we want to play and where we want to get to, we are getting closer.”
Recent results:
2019: Crusaders won 43-17, Christchurch
2019: Crusaders and Highlanders drew nil-all, Dunedin
2018: Crusaders won 45-22, Christchurch
2018: Highlanders won 25-17, Dunedin
2017: Crusaders won 17-0, Christchurch (quarterfinal)
2017: Crusaders won 25-22, Christchurch
2017: Crusaders won 30-27, Dunedin
2016: Highlanders won 34-26, Dunedin
2015: Highlanders won 25-20, Christchurch
2015: Crusaders won 26-20
Prediction: The Crusaders have won five of their last six completed Super Rugby matches against the Highlanders, coming from behind at half-time to win two of those matches. The Highlanders have lost six of their last seven Super Rugby matches on the road, conceding an average of 33 points-per-game in those defeats. The Crusaders have averaged 510 metres per-game in Super Rugby 2019, the most in the competition and 78 more than the Highlanders (432). The Highlanders have conceded just seven penalties per game on average in Super Rugby this year, fewer than any other side. Aaron Smith (Highlanders) has provided 11 try assists in Super Rugby 2019, the most of any player in the finals series and the second most overall (Quade Cooper –12).
Prediction: Crusaders
Margin: 14 points
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Patelesio Tomkinson, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Elliot Dixon.
Date: Friday, June 21
Venue: Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Statistics provided by Opta Sports
