Super rugby’s reigning champions the Crusaders start this weekend’s Super rugby final as strong favourites to defend the title they won last year by beating the same opposition as they will face this weekend.
The Crusaders host the Lions in a rematch of the 2017 Super rugby final although this time the Crusaders have the added benefit of having home advantage against a team that have had to travel and had less time to prepare.
Super rugby’s reigning champions the Crusaders start this weekend’s Super rugby final as strong favourites to defend the title they won last year by beating the same opposition as they will face this weekend.
The Crusaders host the Lions in a rematch of the 2017 Super rugby final although this time the Crusaders have the added benefit of having home advantage against a team that have had to travel and had less time to prepare.
The Lions played their Semi-final after the Crusaders so while they have both reached the final the Lions had almost a day less to prepare for this match and have also had to fly across the Southern Hemisphere.
If home advantage and the Lions having to travel are not enough to swing the odds in favour of the Crusaders then a glance at the results between the teams is enough to scare even the strongest of Lions fans.
The Crusaders beat the Lions 25-17 in last year’s final and then more recently 14-8 and in both of those matches the Lions had home advantage and were playing at altitude.
Overall these teams have met 20 times in Super rugby and the Crusaders have won all but four matches. The teams have met 6 times in Christchurch and the Crusaders have won all six matches.
The average score when the Crusaders play the Lions in Christchurch is Crusaders 43 Lions 13.
This will be the Lions third consecutive Super rugby final which is quite some achievement even though they have lost both finals. Quite incredibly though this will be the Crusaders 13th appearance in a Super rugby final since 1998.
In the past twelve Super rugby finals the Crusaders have won 8 and lost four. The Crusaders have played four finals at home and have never lost in Christchurch.
Although the Crusaders have been regulars in Super rugby finals this will be the first time they have played a Final on home soil since 2008.
On average when the Crusaders play in a Super rugby final at home in Christchurch they win by a margin of ten points.
In 2018 the Lions have played 8 matches away from home and won three. They have also won their last three matches against all opposition.
The Crusaders have played 10 matches at home and won all 10. They have won their last 14 matches against all opposition.
Average Score: Crusaders 34 Lions 24
Last 5 Results
Sun, 01 Apr 2018 Crusaders v Lions 14-8 Johannesburg
Sat, 05 Aug 2017 Final Crusaders v Lions 25-17 Johannesburg
Sat, 23 Jul 2016 Crusaders v Lions 25-42 Johannesburg
Fri, 01 Apr 2016 Crusaders v Lions 43-37 Johannesburg
Sat, 14 Mar 2015 Crusaders v Lions 34-6 Christchurch
Sat, 05 Apr 2014 Crusaders v Lions 28-7 Johannesburg
Saders Lions Record
Played 20, Wins 16, Losses 4 , Draws 0
Match Officials & Details
Date : 4 August 2018
Venue : AMI
Stadium, Christchurch
Kick Off local: 19:35
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1:Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 2:Nic Berry
TMO : Shane McDermott
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody , 2. Codie Taylor , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Scott Barrett , 5. Sam Whitelock (C) , 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis , 7. Matt Todd (VC), 8. Kieran Read,9. Bryn Hall, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty (VC), 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David Havili
Replacements : 16. Sam Anderson-Heather, 17. Tim Perry, 18. Michael Alaalatoa,19. Luke Romano, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Braydon Ennor
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Howard Mnisi
Read more: http://www.superxv.com/2018-super-rugby-final-preview-crusaders-v-lions/#ixzz5N449vUa0
In spite of all the positives I have spoken about the Lions, travel and the fact that they play in New Zealand mean this is an inevitable defeat. It would take an extraordinary effort to overcome the Saders. The Saders willare good for 4 or 5 tries in what I expect to be an open game.
Prediction: Crusaders (37) vs Lions (22)
