Crusaders aim to boost Super Rugby image in London
The Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has reiterated his stand to uplift Super Rugby image in London.
His team is in London to take on the Sharks on March 27, 2011 at the Twickenham stadium. Blackadder is sure to present Super Rugby in a much better way to the Europeans who give it less importance.
It will be the start of sixth week for both of the teams of the current Super Rugby championship. As many as 50,000 supporters are expected to come out on the day that would surely provide a better chance to display quality play. Furthermore, it would be
the first match of Super Rugby to be played at other than SANZAR soil.
Super Rugby has been formatted recently by the SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) with some positive changes. It allows five teams from each member country to participate in the championship and 75% of the matches were supposed to be
played within home derbies and remaining 25% across the border. The upcoming match was relocated in London after a deadly tremor in Christchurch that hit on February 22, 2011.
The devastating quake played havoc in the middle and suburban areas of Christchurch. The disaster also deprived the city from its allocated Rugby World Cup matches. The AMI stadium in Christchurch was opted to host seven matches of the World Cup kicking
off later this year in September.
This is the home match of the Crusaders that was initially scheduled to be played at the AMI stadium among the other four matches but unluckily the Crusaders were left nomads after the quake and matches have been shifted to other venues.
Blackadder said, “It is pretty exciting, it is a first and it feels a bit funny to call it a home game. We are very excited about it. Whoever would have thought a month ago, or even two weeks ago, that we would be here. There is a real buzz about coming
to London.”
Crusaders coach Blackadder talked media in London and said that this match has provided us rare chance to prove Super Rugby in Europe.
He added, “This will be great, it will be new and if it gives us other opportunities that will be fantastic as well. If the powers that be decide they would like to see other Super 15 games here and the northern hemisphere enjoys Super Rugby that would be
good for our sport.”
This is also going to be tight match between two teams. The Crusaders are a bit behind from Sharks with 3 victories out of five matches whereas the Sharks have won four of its five matches. The Crusaders have lost one match and they withdrew from the other
one after the quake against the Hurricanes.
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