The Crusaders still lead the 2008 Super 14 and remain unbeaten after thumping the Waratahs, but the Hurricanes are set to give them their toughest test yet when they travel to Wellington this weekend.
The Crusaders extended their unbeaten streak and lead in the 2008 Super 14 standings with a hard fought 34-7 victory over the Waratahs in Christchurch, but they are expected to face their toughest test yet when they take on the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend.
The Hurricanes, fresh from their bye, will be in a confident mood after their last outing against the Brumbies when they were so impressive in Canberra. But this Friday’s clash at the Westpac Trust Stadium will be a huge mountain to conquer for Rodney Sooialo’s troops.
The Crusaders are in devastating form behind their All Black pivot Dan Carter, the competition’s leading points scorer and in form players such as locks Brad Thorn and Ali Williams, No 8 Mose Tuialii, halfback Andy Ellis and centre Casey Laulala. The absence of the injured Stephen Brett in the midfield did not have any effect against the Waratahs last weekend as the home team absorbed a furious first half challenge to finish them off in the last quarter.
Intriguing match ups will see Ellis and halfback Piri Weepu face off, Tuialii against Sooialo, Conrad Smith against Laulala and Carter versus an inform Jimmy Gopperth.
However, the battle will no doubt be decided up front where the Hurricanes must control a rampant Crusaders pack.
Another home derby sees the back to form Chiefs at home against the struggling Highlanders. The Chiefs seem to have shaken off the rust after smashing last year’s champions the Bulls 43-27 last weekend. The Highlanders had another close loss against the rapid improvers the Western Force. But their Tongan wing Fetu’u Vainikolo continues to win admirers after dotting down for his third try of the season, a spectacular 60 metre display of power, pace and wizardry, which reminded many of Rupeni Caucaunibuca.
The Blues face the Bulls this week with their confidence restored despite struggling to put away the Stormers 17-14 at Eden Park. Ben Atiga’s boot proved the difference, but the win puts the Blues in 3rd place behind the Crusaders and the Sharks. The Sharks come back from their bye to play the improving Reds in Durban this weekend, a game they should win to maintain their second place on the table.
The Waratahs slumped to seventh after their loss to the Crusaders but will look to get their campaign back on track when they host the struggling Cheetahs in Sydney.
The big game between the Force and Stormers in Perth is shaping up as a beauty with the Force in fourth place and hoping to maintain their momentum, while the Stormers will be looking to rectify their loss to the Blues and move back into striking distance of the top four.
Super 14 Results after Round 6
Crusaders 34 – NSW Waratahs 7
CRUSADERS 34 (Wyatt Crockett, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Mose Tuiali'i tries Daniel Carter 4 cons 2 pens) bt NSW WARATAHS 7 (Wycliff Palu try Kurtley Beale con) at AMI Stadium. Referee: Craig Joubert.
Brumbies 29 – Cheetahs 23
BRUMBIES 29 (Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Peter Playford, Tyrone Smith tries Mark Gerrard 3 cons pen) bt CHEETAHS 23 (Tewis de Bruyn, Jongi Nokwe tries Conrad Barnard, Jacques-Louis Potgieter cons Barnard 2, Potgieter pens) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Steve Walsh (Nzl).
Western Force 36 – Highlanders 28
WESTERN FORCE 36 (Richard Brown, Ryan Cross, Tom Hockings tries Matt Giteau 3 cons Giteau 3, Cameron Shepherd 2 pens) bt HIGHLANDERS 28 (Aaron Bancroft, Fetu'u Vanikolo, Paul Williams tries Daniel Bowden 2 cons 3 pens) at Queenstown Oval. Referee: Mark Lawrence (Rsa).
Blues 17 – Stormers 14
BLUES 17 (Danny Lee try Ben Atiga 4 pens) bt STORMERS 14 (Conrad Jantjes try Peter Grant 3 pens) at Eden Park. Referee: Paul Marks (Aus).
Chiefs 43 – Bulls 27
CHIEFS 43 (Brendon Leonard 2, Callum Bruce, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Dwayne Sweeney tries Stephen Donald 5 cons pen) bt BULLS 27 (Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Deon Stegmann tries Derick Hougaard 3 cons pen drop goal) at Rotorua Intl Stadium. Referee: James Leckie (Aus).
Lions 24 – Queensland Reds 24
LIONS 24 (Rayno Benjamin, Joe van Niekerk tries Jano Vermaak con 3 pens Jaco van Schalkwyk drop goal) drew QUEENSLAND REDS 24 (Rodney Blake, Peter Hynes, Chris Latham tries Clinton Schifcofske 3 cons pen) at Ellis Park. Referee: Paul Honiss (Nzl). Bye - Hurricanes, Sharks
Points Ladder
1. Crusaders 29
2. Sharks 21
3. Blues 20
4. Western Force 19
5. Hurricanes 18
6. Brumbies 15
7. NSW Waratahs 13
8. Stormers 13
9. Chiefs 13
10. Queensland Reds 12
11. Bulls 8
12. Lions 7
13. Cheetahs 5
14. Highlanders 4
Top point scorers:
Daniel Carter (Crusaders) 93
Nick Evans (Blues) 66
Peter Grant (Stormers) 62
Stephen Donald (Chiefs) 59
Derick Hougaard (Bulls) 59
Clinton Schifcofske (Reds) 55
Matt Giteau (Force) 54
Mark Gerrard (Brumbies) 39
Jimmy Gopperth (Hurricanes) 38
Rory Kockott (Sharks) 36
Leading Tryscorers:
5: John Roe (Reds)
4: Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Casey Laulala (Crusaders), Joe Rokocoko (Blues)
3: Richard Brown (Force), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), Keegan Daniel (Sharks), Andrew Ellis (Crusaders), Scott Hamilton (Crusaders), Chris Latham (Reds), Brendon Leonard (Chiefs), Chris Masoe (Hurricanes), Liam Messam (Chiefs), Akona Ndungane (Bulls), Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs), Peter Playford (Brumbies), Mose Tuiali'i (Crusaders), Fetu'u Vainikolo (H'landers)
Round 7 Draw:
Mar 28 Hurricanes - Crusaders Wellington 7:35 PM
Mar 28 Waratahs - Cheetahs Sydney 9:40 PM
Mar 29 Force - Stormers Perth 12:00 AM
Mar 29 Chiefs - Highlanders Hamilton 5:30 PM
Mar 29 Blues - Bulls tbc 7:35 PM
Mar 30 Sharks - Reds Durban 4:00 AM
Bye Brumbies, Lions
Times NZT
