Now for the Semi-finals

I am not very happy about the Crusaders today - they played well, but the show put up by the Bulls was abysmal,    Nothing much can be taken from this game as a basis for prediction of the outcome of the Chiefs - Crusader game.   My initial reaction was that the outcome would go either way - but I think that the Chiefs will come out on top and win by a margin of circa 6 points.

Insofar as the Stormers - Sharks game is concerned I believe that if the Sharks play like they did today - they would be the favourites to beat the Stormers - but anotherr trip from Brisbane to Cape Town would be a major factor.   Because of the amount of travelling to Australia and back for one game only - the issue of jet lag comes into the picture.   Because of the latter factor the Stormers will beat them by a small margin of less than 7 points.

The Chiefs playing the Stormers in the final then Clever Mike ? Crusaders might have other plans. Still think the Sharks who have already beaten the Stormers could easily meet the Crusaders who've already beaten the Chiefs. Both semis could go either way. Nothing much seperating the Kiwi sides or the South Africans is there?

Nice to see we've converted another yarpie into a Chiefs follower not so clever mike. You're more clever than Brycy gave you credit.

Go the Almighty Chiefs...Mooloo Magic

Wow I am just so amazed how the Sharks played. This might be very controversial but its was so "New Zealand" in the style in how they played with a lot of flair and off loaded like the kiwiw teams seem to do at random. Is it me or is it the fact that the Sharks kiwi coach John Plumtree is starting to ingrain some new trains of thoughts and playing patterns that are starting to work with the Sharks.

If this is so then watch out world and Meyer please pay attention - BULLS - SHARKS choose wisely for the future of our rugby

Well done Sharks very well done - Bulls well donne to get to the quarter finals and at least compete.

However what I am concerned about and the rugby format that SA wanted implemented will now play against us in every way. The Sharks will now travel back to SA and TBH face a massive task to beat the Stormers. However based on their performance against the Reds they will leave nothing on the field next week and are well capable of beating the Stormers. If this happens then they will travel to New Zealand for a mission impossible to take on either the Chiefs or Saders. The Crusaders if they win wont be in any as jet lagged as they play there next game still in NZ.

Next week will be interesting in my opinion it would be favourable for the Stormers to win as the trip back to NZ will be too much for the Sharks. If the Crusaders get to travel to Stormer land then its game on and the Stormers will have a massive advantage of home along with the weeks break

Sorry Brycy to disappoint you - I predict outcomes of games based on performances and not on sentiment.   Pesonally I think factors such as jet lag have an inpact as well.   Basically I like the way the new Zealand teams play - and that includes the Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes - but they make mistakes in letting balls lie around and against a strong team that could be fatal.   My preference for the Chiefs against the Crusaders are influenced by the performance of the Crusaders in the game against the Bulls - where they allowed the poorly performing Bulls to score two tries against them - but more importantly the Hurricanes games both teams played against.   Personally I think the Chiefs played better against the Hurricanes than the Crusaders did - end of story. 

@mike,

Jet lag will play a big part on the end results and if they Sharks win this week then they will face a battle against their own fatigue in travelling back to NZ to play either the Crusties or Chiefs.

We saw this happen to the Crusders last year who had to do the same and fell on the last hurdle against the Reds. Nonetheless didnt hear them blame the travel so have to give them a bit of cred's.

Mike I dont really think it matters that the Bulls scored two tries to one as no one gives a crap when its finals rugby. The Stormers are leading the comp with the least amount of tries scored for bonus points. The Bulls were the highest scoring try team behind the Hurricanes but look where they are now

You will see teams play differently and the Crusties were very physical. The Bullie showed some intent in the ten minutes in the second half but TBH they were smashed back just as hard. I noted more than 3 times in earlier posts that the Bulls will suffer from leadership and experience and composure when they really need it due to the fact of losing Matfield and Co. The Crusties still have a heap of experience and their captain was prettty good on the night. We also had a a good ref for once so the field was even hehe

As I have said more than once before when a SA team is matched physically what else do we offer? That is why I was so excited what I saw coming from the Sharks - now that was exciting as not only did they play running, passing and offloading rufby but they also mucsled up and defended as good as any team has this year. Their win is the result of some belief in their game plan and the skill set to execute it.

I think the Chiefs/Crusders game will be a cracker but the Crusaders looked like they played within themselves once they established a 13 point lead. They tackled hard and they played smarter rugby and yes even dan carter missed 3 touch finder penalties so hope everyone lays of Morne a bit...lol. However whether the Chiefs played better than the Crusties against the Hurricanes means absolutely nothing.....whats the point your trying convey as it doesnt make sense? We can say the same about the Sharks losing to the Lions and the Bulls destroying them, it doesnt mean anything.

 

just a little note Mike when the Crusties won they showed very little emotion and I simply put that down to experience and the fact that they know that they are only 1 part through 3 parts, cool calm and collective. We skip to the Sharks and it was evident that they were very joyous and bounding and slapping hands and chest beating as if they had already put their hands on the trophy hhhhhmmmm hope they stay grounded Im sure they will as next weeks game against the Stormers will be huge.

Interesting if the Sharks win playing the same style that beat the Reds against a Stormers team that is playing  Bulls type rugby. If so then the light will be certainly shining bright for SA to move more to this style?....maybe Heyneke Meyer is taking it on board we will see when he selects his Test Squad what his trains of thoughts are as his selection if full of Bulls will point directly to our traditional 10 man  style,

Finally mike an honest question here but as much as I wont the Sharks to win it would not be in our interest for them to do so as they face a near improbable task of turning around and heading back to New Zealand to take the SUPER XV trophy.

However the silver lining could be that HM may see the framework and playing style that could take the Boks to the very top and keep us there for a very very long time???????

Radtad

I agree with you nearly 100% - and I am very worried about the outcome of the games coming Friday and Saturday,   The Sharks hit form at the latter stages of Super 15 - they must now regret very much about losing to the Lions - if they won that the play-off's would have been vastly different.   But the same could have been said about the Crusaders losing to the Rebels.   However, that is water under the bridge.

I guess nobody could really say what will happen in the game betweem the Crusaders and the Chiefs.   I tried to find some thread to distill a projected result - but if Els can win the Open - then anything is possible.   However, I do not believe the Crusaders are as serious a threat as they were a decade ago.   They may end up losing against the Chiefs - but as I said earlier - there is no real indications as to the outcome.

Insofar as the Sharks are concerned - they have beaten the Stormers this year - and anything is possible.   I admire the Sharks way of play very much and hope Meyer takes note of that.   However, I think that the Stormers is at long last back to their strongest combination with both Etzebeth and Vermeulen scheduled to play.   After the game in Brsibane - the Sharks may have a huge fight on their hands.

Taking into account that the only two teams who beat the Stormers this year was the Crusaders and the Sharks there is always a chance that the Sharks could win.   However, the odds are against that happening.   If the Crusaders and the Stormers win - and the final is in Cape Town - I would give the Crusaders nothing more than a 30% to beat the Stormers.   The other way around - with a final in Chrischurch the decks are strongly stacked agains the Sharks winning

Good points Mike and one things for sure finals rugby is so different and the "anything possible" can occur. However this competition hasnt shown that very much and the only team I think that has one a final on the road more than once is the Crusties and the Bulls

Agree that the advantage would be stacked in favour of the Stormers if the Crusties were to win and travel to Newlands. However I dont think it will be in favour of 30% to them as they are the one team that has consistently beaten the Stormes at home and after all they do hold 7 titles so we need to acknowledge that against the Stormers 1 title.  It wont be a given if they do arrive at oir shores and if we think that then the crusties will take it straight off us.

I agree they are not the powerhouse of years gone and please I am not a Crusties fan but I do recognise class and a team unit full of confidence and whether we like it or not every single year over the last ten years the crusties have either won the damn thing been in a final or a semi final and if we disrespect that as being weak then as I said above they will come here and take it away from us and laugh all the way to NZ.

What a massive two weeks of rugby we have......and then we start a little tournament called the Rugby Chamionship...wow......hoepfully we then go on our Northern tour and dominate!!!

radstad1 stormers 1 title ???? to my knowledge they have won not one major cup in 12 odd years. conf cup and vodacom cup does not really count as n major cup. with that being said the stormers do love to choke on the big stage so this weekend will be a great test to see if a jet laged sharks can crack a stormer defence