Super 14 final: Crusaders - Waratahs

The Crusaders and the Waratahs have shown just what the regular season suggested, that they are the best teams as both teams have made the final with certain ease.


It is going to be a very special game for Robbie Deans, who will try to leave the Crusaders with a last win, at home, in Christchurch.



Crusaders 33 - Hurricanes 22
Waratahs 28 - Sharks 13

the "other" semifinal

My blood boils when I read the predictions at www.rugby365.com . If you read the predictions, only one out of ten has given the Waratahs as winners. Why? I read the poll in the website about what will be the final and

• around 40% believe it is going to be Sharks. Crusaders
• aorund 40% believe otherwise, it is going to be Sharks vs Hurricanes

I mean, what the f....

The you come down to reasonings, like Steve Farrell tries to do and... oh! surprise!!! his prediction is that the Sharks will win by five!!!

Ok, I am no Waratahs supporter, but ademittedly, few teams have shown the consistency that the 'tahs have shown during this season. Not the Sharks, for sure. I feel that I must give some realistic data over the Waratahs chances to go to the semifinal.

1. Since 1996, only 4 times out of 24 (17%) a Super Rugby semifinal game has been won by an "away" team.
2. From 2003 on, no team has won an "away" Super Rugby semifinal.
3. In 2008 the both Waratahs and Sharks have won every single game at home, but only 3 out of 7 games played away.
4. Their game in Sydney earlier this year resulted in Sharks second loss of the season by 25-10
5. The Sharks have managed to win just three times (out of ten games) against the Waratahs.

I think this semifinal will be very very very close. Both teams are excellent at defending but I think the Waratahs have a better attack. I don't expect a clear winner but in the end, the home soil can be a decissive factor.

Of course, the Sharks have their own chances but what I think is nonsense is this absolute certainty of certain media in the Sharks triumph.

Waratahs to the semifinals

The Waratahs have defeated the Reds at Brisbane and haved booked a place for the semifinals. Blues and Hurricanes have to wait.

Reds 11 - Waratahs 18

Preseason coming to and end

Preseason games are over. In 7 days time the franchises must be ready. It ends in a roll for Waratahs and Hurricanes while it may leave a few headaches to Nucifora's Blues and Deans' Crusaders.

If you can just leave aside all what is not strictly rugby in this article, you may realise what one of the main problems for the 'saders can be: the second five eighths. What will Deans try for the starting game against the Brumbies?

I am glad of what the 'canes have shown.

Jason Eaton is back and is a promise of a powerful forward pack for the Hurricanes. Something that will undoubtedly give Piri Weepu a lot of play.

Outside the two islands, a question mark over the Waratahs real power. What will Timana Tahu show? Can he lift the 'tahs up to 2006 and 2005 standards? Fisher's Brumbies have not showed their best but... are they really the force they used to be?

Meanwhile in another continent, we hear that Cheetahs and Lions could end up struggling because of an alarmant lack of depth. Not certainly the thing you would like your side to show in a season where a lot of emphasis on physical condition is expected.

What now? Who's going to make the semifinals? What are your picks? I still expect a lot of Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes.