Super Rugby Pacific Final: Blues v Crusaders
On: Eden Park, Auckland
When: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
TAB Odds: Blues $ 1.80 Crusaders $ 1.92
Live coverage: Sky Sport 1, live updates of things.
The defense wins championships. It is an axiom used over and over again in sports.
Unsurprisingly, then, the two most teasing teams – the Crusaders leaked 268 points and the Blues 284 during the regular season – will face off on Saturday in the Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park.
Whether it’s enduring long forays into the goal line, holding a ball carrier over the line, or going up and down a line break, both sides have shown the kind of despair and endurance worthy of a winner. of the championship.
Think of the Crusaders making a Super Rugby record of 222 innings during their semi-final victory over the Chiefs last week.
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As coach Scott Robertson later put it: “The defense wins championships … and that gives us a chance for next week.”
Think of the Blues rejecting a 26-phase assault on their line to preserve a 22-18 victory over the Force in April, or the desperate confrontation that Rieko Ioane and Dalton Papalii did to Dominic Gardiner the same month, making sure they beat the Crusaders in the Garden. City for the first time in 18 years.
Martin Hunter / Photosport
Blues blockade Luke Romano celebrates after a late defensive stance lifted his side against the Crusaders in Christchurch in April.
It is this kind of work that has caught Robertson’s attention as he plans to beat Leon MacDonald’s Blues and win six titles in as many years.
“They have a good belief. We know it’s been based on a great defensive effort,” Robertson said.
“I know León, I trained with him long enough, to know how our team, everything is built from the back of the big D. They have defended and shuffled and took advantage of key moments to give them opportunities, a drop goal or a late try to keep up. “
Last week, just as the Brumbies were threatening to knock the Blues out of the competition, supporter Ofa Tuungafasi, among all the people, gathered the energy to charge a potential game-winning goal goal to death.
This is the kind of game Robertson is talking about – the big difference between this year’s Blues and previous teams.
They haven’t lost since Ardie Savea’s hurricanes shook them with a final burst in the first round, with a franchise record of 15 straight wins.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Blues coach Leon MacDonald on the left and Crusaders counterpart Scott Robertson will set aside their friendship for 80 minutes on Saturday night.
Including his memorable 27-23 drought-breaking victory over the Crusaders, five of his scalps have been by four or fewer points.
Forget the flashy things they’ve known for a long time. This year’s Blues know how to win ugly, how to close tight matches they would have massacred not long ago.
“The Blues have been exceptional all year. They’re in a hell of a race, the last time they lost at Eden Park … a long time ago. They’ve made the Garden quite special, ”Robertson said.
“So for us, it’s a hell of a week to climb and a hell of a rivalry, just what Super Rugby needs. We’re excited. It’s the perfect opportunity for us.”
In fact, the Crusaders have an impressive 11-4 record in 15 previous finals and have conceded an average of just 13 points in those games.
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Considering all the things, including the rain forecast in Auckland, it’s no wonder that little separates teams from bookmakers, with the hosts paying $ 1.80 and the Crusaders $ 1.92 in betting. face to face.
After leaving the comfort of Christchurch, where he is unbeaten in 27 home playoff games, Robertson downplayed comparisons to 2017, when the Crusaders went to Johannesburg and beat the Lions the last time they played a end on the road.
Peter Meecham / Getty Images
The top two defensive teams in the competition will face off in the final in Auckland on Saturday night.
Fair enough, too. After all, the Crusaders have won 11 of the 19 games between the two teams at Eden Park, and have not lost since 2014.
“It simply came to our notice then. We have had some success in recent years. So probably the context, the narration is a little different. We went there as underprivileged people in Ellis Park, 60,000 people. Hopefully there are 50,000 in Eden Park, so that side is the same.
Croats: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor , George Bower. Reservations: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Mitch Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.
Blues: Stephen Perofeta, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Mark Telea, Beauden Barrett (c), Finlay Christie; Hoskins Sotutu, Adrian Choat, Akira Ioane, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Nepo Laulala, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Soane Vikena, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Luke Romano, Dalton Papalii / James Tucker, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan.