CRUSADERS v REDS -Game of the weekend Sunday 6am SA time

When: Sunday May 6,
Where: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Head-to-Head: Played 18, Crusaders 12, Reds 6
In Christchurch: Played 6, Crusaders 5, Reds 1
Last match: Final, July 9, 2011: Reds beat Crusaders 18-13 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

We have a replay of the 2011 Super Rugby final, and it throws up all sorts of possibilities and prospects.

A Crusaders unit that is starting to hum – with consecutive impressive victories over the Stormers, Hurricanes and Waratahs to work off – up against the defending champs, who have been mediocre for much of the year, but scored an important, if ugly, 23-11 win in Auckland.

Halfback Will Genia and No 8 Scott Higginbotham took charge in the crucial area that links the backs and the forwards. The result was a clear implementation of the game plan.

They will again need to step forward if the Reds are to be a chance against the home-town boys. The Genia-Andy Ellis battle is sure to be intense.

Afternoon rugby agrees with both teams, and the Crusaders relished playing under the sun in a 37-33 win over the Waratahs in Sydney. Some of the defence was less than watertight, but give the ball to Robbie Fruean and he has game, as a colleague pointed out during his two-try demolition of the ’Tahs.

Digby Ioane will love the challenge of taking Fruean on with the ball, but will have to steel himself without it if they clash head-on.

And while Dan Carter feels his way back into top gear, Richie McCaw has made his long-awaited return. It was a solid return too, and opens the door for him to start this weekend to combat the Liam Gill-Beau Robinson fetching duo that has been so effective for the Reds of late.

This is still a must-win affair for both sides, the Crusaders anxious not to lose ground to the Chiefs and Highlanders, who keep winning, while the Reds know they are just six adrift of the Brumbies in the weak Australian Conference.

My prediction: Crusaders 13+

source rugbynews.co.nz