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Home teams hold the aces in Super Rugby
By Online Editors
All roads are expected to lead through Christchurch to claim the Super Rugby crown, although the Brumbies have the small matter of a Buenos Aires long haul to negotiate first.
The competition quarter-finals didn't offer a single surprise result as the top four qualifiers notched wins on home soil, with the Brumbies the most emphatic via a 38-13 drubbing of the Sharks.
The other three games were at least more competitive before the annual finals travelling hex kicked in.
The Crusaders powered away from the Highlanders (38-14), the Jaguares ground past the Chiefs (21-16) and the Hurricanes held out the fast-finishing Bulls (35-28) to end South African involvement.
Those who opine Super Rugby has become too predictable will say the Crusaders have got a third-straight title in the bag, given their phenomenal record and the home advantage that comes with qualifying first.
A Hurricanes semi-final win would be the first by any team in Christchurch since they achieved the feat themselves three years ago.
Furthermore, no team has ever won a play-off game on Crusaders' home soil.
There have been 22 such games and only three times have the opposition come within single figures.
Hurricanes coach John Plumtree said such records are made to be broken, although bringing down an empire will take something special.
They were outmanoeuvred 30-12 in the equivalent game last year before the Crusaders went on to clinch a ninth title.
Then-coach Chris Boyd declared the red and black machine at that stage was on a different level to every team.
"We've been down there a lot this time of year and come away with nothing, so we need to really dig deep next week," Plumtree told reporters.
"I don't think they've lost down there for the last 26, 27 times. That's pretty amazing.
"The pressure will be on them and we can just go down there and have a real crack."
The Brumbies will take irrepressible form and a seven-match winning streak to Argentina.
The Jaguares have won 10 of their past 11 but are in unknown territory, having booked a last-four berth for the first time.
However, the maturity shown by the Pumas-laden team against the Chiefs was textbook play-off rugby, defending steadfastly and preying on mistakes.
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Latest Comments
I think it was a better rugby destination for him.
He was developed in Melbourne and had a relatively brief stint there. I think he was possibly dropped out of the squad for the return of someone like To'omua (also a Melbourne local) in 2019 ahead of the RWC. But then he wasn't picked up by another Australian team and went to play in Japan when he only really seemed to play a hat full of top level games (maybe injured for long periods??) before he went on to Scotland. But it was only in Scotland that he started to get a lot of consistent game time and selection.
The thing is, no one talked about him being a missed opportunity in Australia before he left - a little like Mac Hansen. But he has been able to forge a top level career since leaving. Both men only had a handful (5 or 6?) games at Super Rugby level before they made a decision to leave (or had it made for them I suppose). Other countries have gone on to develop them and that is great for them and it is probably good for the global game as it means the best players are rising to the top - if not in their birth country than in another. I think there are a lot of issues with poor player development in Australia but I don't know if these two blokes are very good examples of it.
Go to commentsOk I understand. Give them my number please Nick.
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