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Preview: S15 Round 13, Part One

There is no escaping the spotlight in Christchurch on Friday, as a couple of All Black legends look set to make their final appearance in the city as Crusaders.

Several Crusaders could be playing their last ever Super Rugby match in Christchurch, as the seven-time champs host the Reds in a Super Rugby Round 13 encounter.

Not only All Blacks Dan Carter and Richie McCaw – the high-profile names on the billboards – but also Tom Taylor, Colin Slade and Willi Heinz are on the list of players who may never appear on a rugby field in the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand.

Carter, Slade, Taylor and Heinz have all announced that they will be heading offshore after this season.

McCaw has also indicated that it could be his final season, which means it could be the last chance for Christchurch fans to see them in action for the Crusaders.

Friday marks the team's final game in Christchurch this season, unless they qualify for the play-offs and, by some miracle, earn the right to host the match.

The other Friday encounter is between the vastly improved Rebels against the struggling Blues in Melbourne.

We look at Friday's matches!

Friday, May 8

Crusaders v Reds

(AMI Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.35; 17.35 AEST, 07.35 GMT)

Richie McCaw desperately attempted to play down the focus on him and fellow All Black legend Dan Carter.

He is adamant the team's focus has been on winning the game and trying to salvage the Crusaders' season.

Preview: S15 Round 13, Part OnePreview: S15 Round 13, Part One"We've still got a season to go yet so you don't want to start thinking like that," McCaw told Radio Sport.

McCaw missed last week's loss to the Hurricanes after being knocked-out against the Blues the week before.

Although named on the bench this week, he is determined to play a role in the drive to get the ninth-placed Crusaders' campaign back on track and help them secure a play-off spot.

"Stranger things have happened," McCaw said, adding: "We could have another game back here [in Christchurch] if we do it right.

"When you reflect on things later down the track, if you've performed well, you'd be pretty happy.

"You don't want to get too caught up in 'What might be'."

The Reds and Crusaders have a lengthy history and Reds coach Richard Graham said the side would travel to Christchurch with the knowledge of how formidable the Crusaders are to play at home.

"This is a strong rivalry that goes back to the beginning of the professional era," Grahams said.

"When people think of Reds versus Crusaders, most would probably have 2011 at the forefront of their mind, but there were many matches played against the Crusaders in the 1990s that were incredible contests," he added.

Recent results:

2014: Crusaders won 57-29, Brisbane

2013: Crusaders won 38-9, Christchurch (preliminary play-off match)

2012: Crusaders won 15-11, Christchurch

2011: Reds won 18-13, Brisbane (Final)

2011: Reds won 17-16, Brisbane

2010: Reds won 41-20, Brisbane

Prediction: The Reds accounted for the Crusaders' largest ever Super Rugby loss; a 16-52 defeat in Queensland in Round Three of the inaugural season.  The Crusaders have won three in a row against the Reds at an aggregate score of 110-49.  The Reds won the previous three but lost the 11 before that against the New Zealanders. Both these sides have lost three of their last four matches. Only the Reds' Adam Thomson (seven) and Marco Wentzel of the Sharks (eight) have produced more line-out steals than Crusader Luke Romano (6) this season. The Reds rank second for line-out success (90 percent) this season but the Crusaders have averaged more steals (2.5) than any other side.  Their opponents have an average success rate of a competition-low 79 percent. The emotion around the departing players (yes, we think the play-offs are a bridge too far) will rally the Crusaders, who will win by 15 to 20 points.

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Joe Moody, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Richie McCaw, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Kieron Fonotia, 23 Jone Macilai.

Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Nick Frisby, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Lolo Fakaosilea, 21 Scott Gale, 22 Ben Tapuai, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Referee: Mike Fraser

Assistant referees: Nick Briant, Paul Williams

TMO :Vinny Munro

Rebels v Blues

(AAMI Park, Rebels – Kick-off: 19.40; 21.40 NZST, 09.40 GMT)

The Rebels  are looking to go back-to-back against New Zealand opposition – also winning two home wins within six days.

However, coach Tony McGahan has played down talk of the much-improved Rebels team being play-off contenders – despite knocking over the highly-rated Chiefs last week.

Preview: S15 Round 13, Part OnePreview: S15 Round 13, Part OneSitting in 10th place with five wins from 10 matches with six games left, the Rebels could reach the play-offs if results fall their way.

But McGahan, ecstatic after Melbourne overcame a severely disrupted preparation to beat the Chiefs 16-15, says the finals are "a long way away".

"We feel like we've got a good enough side to play in the knock-out stages, absolutely," he told the Herald Sun.

"But whether that's here or in the future, we've got too much in front of us to worry about that.

"All we know is that we've got the Blues this week and that's enough for us at this stage."

The Blues, who are even lower down the rankings and already out of the play-off race, has turned to Steven Luatua in the absence of the injured Jerome Kaino to lead his side out of the doldrums.

Luatua said he was looking forward to his new role as leader, adding that there is much pride to salvage.

"We want to finish strongly," he told the NZ Herald.

"I've got the skipper's armband now and I want to keep a 100 percent record."

The mounting injury toll at the Blues will not help Luatua's task.

Flank Luke Braid's immediate future is uncertain due to his third concussion of the season, with flyhalf Dan Bowden also out with a groin strain and fullback Charles Piutau sidelined by a knee injury.

Luatua, 24, said the victory over the Force last week – only their second win in 11 starts – would give the Blues confidence and that every player had to stand up in the wake of the injuries.

"The guys who might not have got many minutes, they know this is their time," Luatua said.

Previous results:

2013: Blues won 36-32, Auckland

2012: Rebels won 34-23, Melbourne

2011: Blues won 40-23, Albany

Prediction: The Rebels have won three of their last four games; their best ever run of form in Super Rugby.  The Rebels have not won by more than 10 points since Round Three of 2014. Their five wins this season have been at an aggregate margin of 28 points. The three previous clashes between these sides have all been won by the home side on the day. They have produced aggregate scores of 63, 57 and 68 points respectively. The Blues have lost the most rucks this season, an average of 5.3. However, opponents of the Rebels enjoy a better ruck success rate (96 percent) than against any other side. The Blues have scored just one try after 7+ phases of play, a joint-low in the competition. The Rebels meanwhile have scored a tournament-high 29 percent (5/17) of their tries after seven or more phases. The Blues have not been consistent enough this season to be worthy of a punt. The Rebels have some solid form and should win by more than one score – eight points.

Teams:

Rebels: Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Tom English, 13 Dom Shipperley, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Sefanaia Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Jordy Reid, 6 Colby Fainga'a, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Telusa Veainu.

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Francis Saili, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Steven Luatua (captain), 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Sam Prattley, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Joe Edwards, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Hamish Northcott.

Referee: Angus Gardner

Assistant referees: James Leckie, Graham Cooper

TMO: Ian Smith

Compiled by Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com

Statistical information provided by Opta Sports

Preview: S15 Round 13, Part One

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