Read looking for spotless display; Rugby 365

Kieran Read is well aware of the strangling techniques the Sharks possess and in a game of tight margins he is looking for a disciplined game from his charges. The Sharks game plan is no secret, but it remains difficult to counter. Squeezing the life out of the opposition while chipping away with penalties is a speciality of the Durban-based team. The return of Pat Lambie and the ever present booming boot of Frans Steyn is something that the Crusaders captain has been focusing on in the lead up to the semifinal in CHristchurch. "We have spoken about that all week," Read told stuff NZ "They kick a lot of penalties and on the back of penalties they get field position with their line-out drives as well.  "I know it is going to be a big test for us not to give them any free 'outs' there." If the Crusaders are to break the shackles of the Sharks gameplan, Read knows that silly mistakes and ill discipline will need to be cut from their play. "We don't want to be giving away cheap penalties, really," he added. "We want to give nothing away to them because if we do he [Steyn] will just knock them over and keep the scoreboard ticking. "I'm certainly expecting them to keep to their strengths which is their scrum, their line-out maul and knocking over penalties. I don't think too much will change. "Hopefully if we have the conditions to suit us we will be able to play a bit of footy." Should the Crusaders beat the Sharks and the Waratahs go on to overcome the Brumbies those two teams will go on to contest the Final in Sydney. However, the Sharks still have a chance at a home Final. If the Waratahs falter at home and the Sharks succeed in Christchurch, then it would be the Brumbies heading to Durban for the final match.

I think having the weee Lamb at fly-half will improve the back line of the sharks. They were really bad so there is a lot of room for improvement. 
Saders backline will be much better but as we all know it will be a matter of if the saders can get decent ball. The saders back line has been clicking lately - they are not longer running side-to-side & with Carter and Slade they have good options. 

the fact we lost the last encounter...should only strengthen our chances of winning this one...make sense?....does to me....  

 Crusaders will have to crank it right up for the first half and run the Sharks off their feet. Travel factor in the final quarter could play a role and the Crusaders will need to contain them, the Sharks will look to dictate the terms in the first half and get a good point advantage to build on before they start to blow their asses late in the 2nd half.
McCaw will be pumped for this the Crusaders have never lost a Semi at home. SA teams have never won one in NZ. McCaw has not had a lot of game time since his injury so should be interesting to see how the old veteran copes. Nadola is another man who needs to get stuck in and hunt for the ball, Nadola could do some serious damage with the ball in hand.
Lambie and Steyn VS Slade and Carter, decision making will be critical for this match and could come down to the performance of either combination. Crusaders scrum will contest the Sharks far better than the Highlanders and it wont buckle. Set piece for both teams is excellent and they could neutralize each other.
2014: Sharks won 30-25 in Chris tchurch
2013: Sharks won 21-17 in Durban
2011: Crusaders won 36-8 in Nelson
2011: Crusaders won 44-28 at Twickenham
2010: Crusaders won 35-6 in Christchurch
2009: Crusaders won 13-10 in Durban

Glad those of us who can get to the live games take advantage of it and go. Me, well it's internet streaming & some good banter on-line but I make do, lol

 

I will see about going to London for the RWC. Still waiting for the invite from Saffex

 Crusaders team that plays tomorrow is much more mature than the one that lost to the Sharks.  Sharks will have to play at their very best just to have a chance. Hope they can do it, but they've only have a 20% chance at best.
GO SHAAARKS!!!!!

 I am worried about Dan. With one eye on Bissie and the other on Frans he will miss the  Deysel torpedo! Hope that foot heals wondrously Cloudy. 

 The Sharks achieved a Super Rugby record last weekend by landing their 74th penalty goal for the season. But their strategy is somewhat limited when opposition teams don't make mistakes and the Crusaders have conceded fewer penalties than any other team in the competition, an average of just 9.5 per game this season.

That said, the Sharks' winning record on the road this year speaks for itself and although their style can't be described as pretty, it is highly effective and difficult to combat, as the Crusaders have already found out.