Both the Chiefs and Crusaders have announced their teams nd squads to contest the Semi-Final at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time) on Saturday 27 July 2013.
Here are the names of the gladiators who will go to war on Saturday:
Chiefs:
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie made seven changes to his team for the Super Rugby semifinal showdown with the Crusaders at the Waikato Stadium this Saturday.
Andrew Horrell and Charlie Ngatai are the starting midfield pair and are joined by Asaeli Tikoirotuma on the wing and Gareth Anscombe at fullback.
Rhys Marshall comes onto the bench, replacing Mahonri Schwalger – who is kept out this week with a knee injury.
Marshall is joined among the replacements by prop Ben Afeaki, Bundee Aki and Robbie Robinson.
Rennie said the right to host this game is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people and that his side is excited by the challenge of keeping their title defence alive against a team who has won the competition seven times before.
“We had an enormous amount of injuries in the first half of the campaign,” Rennie said.
“So to win our conference and finish top seed speaks volumes for the culture and depth of our squad.
“But at this stage of the season, seedings and previous results count for little. Success for us comes down to a willingness to scrap hard for each other for 80 minutes.
“The reward will be a home Final and a shot at another title,” Rennie added.
* There will be a moment’s silence at the beginning of the match to remember New Zealand player Willie Halaifonua from the Takapuna club who passed away this week.
With the weather forecast expected to be fine ticket sales are ahead of the semifinal clash from last year, with tickets still available in all areas.
There have been nearly 19,000 tickets sold for the match.
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Matt Vant Leven, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Bundee Aki, 22 Robbie Robinson.
Crusaders:
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder selected an unchanged matchday 22 for what is being described as a ‘Test match’.
The Crusaders travel to Hamilton on Saturday to face the defending Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs, in the first of the day’s two semifinals.
The Bulls host the Brumbies in the other in Pretoria.
Blackadder’s decision to leave the team unchanged means All Black captain Richie McCaw will again play off the bench, although he is likely to get more than just the 15-minute cameo he had in the 38-9 demolition of the Reds last week.
With both sides vying to secure themselves a place in the Super Rugby Final it will be an intense, physical and passionate battle.
With some great match up’s on the cards: Ben Afeaki / Ben Tameifuna versus Wyatt Crockett, Brodie Retallick versus Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd versus Sam Cane and Kerr-Barlow versus Ellis it is billed as the ‘Test match’ of the New Zealand conference.
However it all may come down to the battle of the flyhalves – Dan Carter versus Aaron Cruden.
Who will come out on top?
Either way it is set to be an intense and physical game with the victors going through to the Super Rugby Final.
The Crusaders previously met the Chiefs on 21 occasions, with the Crusaders winning two-thirds of these encounters and scoring on average nine points more a game than their Waikato counterparts.
However, the Chiefs have won the last three of the four encounters and won when it counted, in last year’s semifinal, putting an end to the Crusaders title hopes.
The two sides have met twice this season and have come out level pegging with a win a piece.
They last met in Round 19 of the competition when the Crusaders came away with emphatic 43-15 win.
Since then the Crusaders have hit their straps and have won their last five matches in a row.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Luke Whitelock, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Adam Whitelock.
Match Details:
Date: Saturday 27 July 2013
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off:09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
It’s going to be war…. but I think the Crusaders have more guns and more ammo.
dont be fooled by the last meeting between these two sides, Sadists had it all to play for then..
Chiefs to win imho, Rennie will have them primed, the only disadvantage I see is the week off last weekend
they will then beat the brumbies in the final
The biggest factor last year when the Chiefs beat them in the play off was SBW and a very poor Carter on the day.
Don’t see Carter having another off day like that, and no SBW
The game the Chiefs won earlier the year in Hamilton was also courtesy of two charge down tries, can’t see the Saders gifting them 12 easy points this time round.
@ nga puhi:
Chiefs are defending champions – check
Chiefs are log leaders – check
Chiefs play at home – check
This will be no push over
Crusaders will take this one, easily!
Hmmm, will wait and see – stranger things have happened in S15, like the Stormers beating the mighty Bulls recently, easily
@ grootblousmile:
dont think the saders will have it all their own way GBS, Rennie and Smith are very astute coaches and they will have a plan to counter the saders.
biggest wiorry for me is Anscombe at the back for the chiefs, hasnt played for quite a while so not sure how he’ll handle what should be a frenetic pace.
I remember when he (Anscombe) single handedly beat the Bulls at Loftus last year though 😀
7 @ nga puhi:
I just have this itchy feeling that the Crusaders will win and it is certainly not impossible that they tear the Chiefs a whole new oriface.
I trust in your judgment though as a man more in feeling with teams from your neck of the woods… so my Bru pick will be tempered by your input… Saders by only 5…
Regarding the Bulls, whatever happens I am already happy with the season as I expected the Bulls to only reach mid-table this season. 3 Years in a row now (post 2011 World Cup, then again end of 2012 and now at the end of Super Rugby 2013) the Bulls are losing a huge number of players to overseas, so I expect a difficult 2014 for them.
That said, the Bulls are in the ideal position to go to the final this year, with a home semi against the Brumbies who have not impressed me in the 2nd part of this season… and a final at home might mean that they lift themselves one final time at home to take a 4th title, before the string of players depart.
Gooooooooooo Bulls!
2 @ nga puhi:
Howzit Nga,
I mentioned that on keo to some of the kiwi bloggers there. They all thought Saders would take it. I did say it is a derby and anything can happen and I felt that Chiefs could sneak it. Chiefs will definitely be up for it for sure, as they know they win that they have a final at home.
I will go with Saders on bru as think everyone will go with Saders so if they lose then I don’t really fall behind too much. Then again if I go with Chiefs and they win I will climb quite a bit…..hahaha.
4 @ Gena_ZA:
Agree.
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