Without even winning a game the Crusaders are still favourites to win the Super 15 again for an eighth time my friends.
Hopefully the lads won't get licked to death by the Cheetahs this weekend. Big cats can be dangerous but a little pussy never hurt anyone.
You're kidding yourelf and so are the Bookies with regard to the odds of the Crusties, surely it can only be based on reputation seeing as without Dan the man they are a different side. While realistically no-one expects the Cheetahs to win I still expect them to put up a nice tussle and ask some questions of the Crusties.
The Crusaders are not looking very promising; definitely a case of reputation keeping their standing so high. That said, we cannot underestimate them. Things often change from the first five rounds onwards, so we could see very easily see a resurgence from them (just look at the Bulls last year!).
The Cheetahs have the firepower to beat the Saders, in fact, they are one of the best attacking teams in the competition. It's more a matter of retaining some structure to our game and maintaining the physicality to dominate the tackle area and breakdown. Last year we got it right, and even snuffed SBW and Dan Carter out of the game, but our away record is a horror show. I'm not really sure which way to call this one. On one hand the Cheetahs are playing great rugby, on the other hand the Saders are due a win. I think in the end pragmatism will win the day, Saders by 10. I hope I'm wrong. From there they face the Lions away, the Bulls and Stormers at home. I think that will allow them to build some momemtum.The only South African side to defeat the Saders away from home were Eloff's Lions in 2007! So they will probably pick up all three games.
The assistant coach Daryl Gibson was impressed by the Cheetahs last two matches in Australia, a dubious last-minute scrum penalty consigning them to a one-point loss to the Brumbies before a 33-26 win over the Rebels in Melbourne on Sunday.
"We've respected what they've done in the last two games. They've played really well and are not a team to be under-estimated," Gibson said, adding that he the Cheetahs had taken the game to the Crusaders when winning 33-20 in Bloemfontein last year.
"Of the five South African teams they probably chance their arm the most."
Is it so hard to imagine that the Crusaders are just not a good enough side this year? Seriously, all teams have periods where they just aren't competative. And If my memory serves me correctly (Which it may well not) the Cheetahs have beaten the Crusaders twice in the last 3 years. I think the Crusaders are down on confidence and the Cheetahs are on the rise in that department. I think the Cheetahs will win this one because I just don't think the Crusaders are competative without McCaw and Carter....and that is why they are milling about in no man's land on the log.
Go Cheetahs!!!
Go Cheetahs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
However realistically I think the Crusaders pack will win the game for the crusties. The crusties wil be hugely motivated and watch out for the ref as the crusties have to win this one and the ref knows that!
The Cheetahs will need to play out of their skins to win this one. Hope they do!
Thankfully against the Rebels the ref knew another dubious penalty that caused the Cheetahs to lose again a tthe death would have sparked a huge outcry so while one waited for the inevitable penalty to win the game for the opposition it never came.
Congrats to all in SARFU who got the investigation going re the Cheetahs/Brumbies game.
The Saders do have some hard edge up front, of that there is no question. I still believe that this one is there for the taking. I would be feelimg more optimistic if we weren't going into this with a leaky defence. We can hurt them, but can we close up shop? That's the question.
Why is WP Nel not on the bench at least. Must be injured?
The Cheetahs will not win it by taking on the Crusaders pack. They are not playing their best front row. No Juan smith and Ashley Johnston on the bench. Cheetahs must play attacking rugby.
How's them pussycats gunna beat the Crusaders ? I don't know either.
Crusaders are still down a couple of loosies so i give the Cheetahs a fighting chance given their ability to accelerate quickly . But i've done my research on the Cheetahs and found they are extremely fast however they tire quickly and can only keep up their top speed for a few minutes before they 're out of breath.
According to the likes of bluebok and Denny this is an amazing opportunity to make some good money given the 3 /1 odds on the Crusaders winning this year so see how you get on with that.
The Cheetahs are actually quite a fit side. Their problem has not been fitness, but consistency on defence; we've allowed teams to come back into the game when should have closed them out. That's been the story of the Cheetahs over the last four years. Added to that, the Cheetahs were good enough last year to close out both Dan Carter and SBW, so it's not nearly as outrageous a feat as you make it out to be.
Don't know much about the Cheetahs but winning away from home will be a first against the Crusaders if they can pull it off. The Crusaders will miss Brad Thorn this year i think but the mainlanders have good depth with DC and Ryan Crotty also coming back to boost their chances this weekend so should be a good game.
I think the Cheetahs are fit but they run themselvess ragged and fade in the closing minutes as has been observed by many. They need to take the odd breather in the game and mangage their fuel resources.
Go Cheetahs give the abc a severe snotklap!.
Brad Thorn was over the hill so the Crusties will be better off with him gone. I see Dan is back and will play off the bench. Brussouw you know what to do.
Anybody know anything about WP Nel being ommitted from the match 22? Heand Coenie are usually the only big men in the pack and get througha mountain of work. Cant see barring injury how he could be left out of the match 22.
Good workout for the Crusaders christening the new home ground in style. ABs fullback position in safe hands with Israel Dagg by the looks and good to see the boys back on track with the win rejuvenating the Crusaders campaign. Timely return for DC and Ryan Crotty, both instrumental in the Crusaders tries. Crusaders travelling next to play the Bulls and Lions so look forward to those away clashes.
As anticipated the no name brand Cheatahs really asked some tough questions of your muched hyped up Crusties.
Yeah mate they were tested and they past the test. Are the bookies still crazy or will you be amending your view point ?
"While realistically no-one expects the Cheetahs to win I still expect them to put up a nice tussle and ask some questions of the Crusties."
My viewpoint stands and on that basis your team fails the test.
I take winning the game was'nt part of the criteria for your dodgy assessment therefore that slight technical inadequacy invalidates your argument my friend.
There is nothing 'dodgy' about my "assesment".... it was an opinion I expressed prior to the game which has been proven to be correct. To invalidate my post is utter garbage because it is factually correct.
Sounds like a load of cods wollop to me mate.
Pray tell me....what exactly is so hard to understand about the following statement which has been factually substantiated.
"While realistically no-one expects the Cheetahs to win I still expect them to put up a nice tussle and ask some questions of the Crusties."
Asked you if you wanted to amend your original statement about the bookies "You're kidding yourelf and so are the Bookies with regard to the odds of the Crusties, surely it can only be based on reputation seeing as without Dan the man they are a different side"
You said your viewpoint stands. Then i said they passed the test by winning which you denied which falsely indicated they lost and seemed an attempt to devalue their achievement so of course i'm going to have issues with your interpretation of the facts.
I too, do not see why the this hype about the Crusaders. They only really dominated the Super 12,and that was it. How many Super 14 titles have they won? They certainly did not dominate the Super 14 series. It is just a media hype.
Not sure whether its 7 or 8 Super Rugby championships my friend - more than double the achievement of any other team but this could be your teams year you never know
It would be silly to underestimate the Crusties given their rich history but I hesitate to pin them as favourites to win S15. To date they have not been the same side, things will change when Dan steps up but there are other missing elements to consider like their set pieces and ruthlessness at the breakdown. The Cheatahs, a no name brand exposed some of those weaknesses by taking the attack to them and for awhile the Crusties looked ragged. Right now as we speak the competition unlike previous years is wide open, the Bulls, if they do well on their away leg could land a surprise so to the Stormers.
black adder
Member
Posts: 35 RE: Crusaders still 3/1 Super 15 favourites
March 24, 2012, 23:38:12
Not sure whether its 7 or 8 Super Rugby championships my friend - more than double the achievement of any other team but this could be your teams year you never know
OK, let me try again and this time I will put the important parts in bold............... just for you.
"I too, do not see why the this hype about the Crusaders. They only really dominated the Super 12,and that was it. How many Super 14 titles have they won? They certainly did not dominate the Super 14 series. It is just a media hype."
Let me explain what I am trying to say. Sure they dominated the Super 12 series. The last Super 12 season was in 2005. That was 7 years ago. The Super 12 was followed by the Super 14 from 2006, and in the Super 14 series, they won two of the 5 Super 14 titles. That is hardly dominating it now, is it? They did reache the final last year, but before that their last Super Rugby final was in 2008. The Crusaders "dominance" of Super Rugby is history my friend. Michael Schumacher is the only seven times F1 World Champion, and even though he is still driving, his domination of the sport is also history. Get it?
Thats the beauty of this forum my friend . Everyone gets to express their opinion no matter how half baked , ridiculous or fantastical it may be.
Looks like Crusaders are still 3/1 Super 15 favourites
