Crusaders hold edge against Bulls – Rugby news
Crusaders after their historic encounter of first ever SANZAR match played outside the Southern Hemisphere will be playing against the Super Rugby Champions Bulls, at Timaru.
A match that will definitely attend lots of home team support particularly as the Crusaders are returning to play on the home soil after three rounds of super rugby.
Canterbury Crusaders, famously renowned as Crusaders have a favourable records against any team from South Africa. They have hosted the visiting teams 37 times and end up on the losing side only twice. This provides Crusaders’ with an impressive winning
percentage of 89% while playing at home. Crusaders have twice played a drawn with both draws 14 years ago. First draw came in 1996 when Western Province draw 16 – 16 in the allotted time and second came a year later during 1997 season when Sharks secure a
draw with scorecard reading 26 – all at the end of the second half.
The match promised to provide the fans with an opportunity to see the on field performances of Morne Steyn and Dan Carter. However, the later been dropped from the Crusaders teams due to an injury. The contest got the limelight when Mattfield has hailed
Morne Steyn as the world’s best Fly Half over the likes of Dan Carter who is widely believed to be the best fly half playing in the game.
Crusaders and Bulls played each other 17 times with Crusaders ending on the winning side in 11 of those occasions. Four out of six games that Bulls have won over the Crusaders came after the 2007 however the interestingly Bulls most of this time have enjoyed
the home advantage.
Bulls have won last three consecutive games against the Crusaders however; they have never been able to secure a victory over the Crusaders while playing in New Zealand. The fact that definitely will be worrying for the Bulls. Crusaders previously has hosted
the Bulls seven times and denied visitors from the win. Not only this, hosts on average has piled up some massive victories as the average score in these seven games is 40 – 17 in favour of Crusaders.
To add to their worries, it almost 10 years when the current New Zealand conference leaders Crusaders have last lost a game from any South African team while playing in New Zealand. 15 years ago, Bulls then known as Northern Transvaal were able to finish
on top against the Crusaders while playing in the South Africa.
Crusaders are coming from a week’s lay off as they enjoyed a Super Rugby Bye, but they cannot be expected to be rusty, as they already have shown us in their game against the Waratahs.
Although, Crusaders will be without the services of their All Black Star Dan Carter still Bulls are favourites to concede the game by 10 – 14 runs. Bulls would definitely be hoping for at least a close contest to secure a losing bonus point. Bulls’ closest
scored while playing against the Crusaders in New Zealand is 13 – 16, which they were able to achieve two seasons ago.
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