Crusaders vs Stormers: Super Rugby semi-final
The second semi-final of the Super Rugby Championship 2011 is going to be played between New Zealand derby Crusaders and the South African Stormers, on July 2 in Newlands.
The contest is highly anticipated and most commentators have dubbed this as the toughest competition of the season. Both sides are meeting for the second time in the current championship and the previous match was won by the Crusaders 20-14, on May 7.
The South African conference Stormers ended up the season with second position on the tables and made their place directly into the semi-final stages. On the other hand the Crusaders, who finished third on the tables, had to play a qualifier against the
Sharks on June 25.
The Crusaders, who have sustained huge injuries in the season, are delighted with two timely recoveries for the play-off match. Crusaders welcomed back into their side the versatile campaigner, Sonny Bill Williams last week against the Sharks. Sonny Bill
Williams was suffering from hip injury and he marked his return with a well executed try. Sean Maitland also played the last game against the Sharks after a long absence.
The Crusaders have been boosted further for the big match as their skipper, Richie McCaw, has been declared fit to play. McCaw missed a number of Crusaders games due to an old injury to his foot and has not played any match in June.
The Stormers are on shaky gound as three key players have been ruled out of the match due to various injuries. They will miss Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi and Pieter Louw in the upcoming clash.
The overall history of head to head meetings favour the Crusaders as the New Zealanders have won 11 games out of a total 15 outgoings against the Stormers. In their last ten meetings the Crusaders won eight competitions and Stormers remained victorious
in just two games.
Sonny Bill Williams, Richie McCaw, Sean Maitland and Dan Carter will be players to watch out for from the Crusaders. Meanwhile, Stormers will depend on Jaque Fourie, Schalk Burger and Brok Harris on the day.
The Crusaders are clearly the favourites of the match but they will need to work on their defence if they expect to survive the Stormers onslaught.
Both teams will enter the field with the following players:
Stormers :Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenage, Nick Koster, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (capt), Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Anton van Zyl, Schalk Brits, Louis Schreuder, Juan de Jongh, Johann Sadie.
Crusaders: Wyatt Crockett , Corey Flynn , Owen Franks , Brad Thorn , Sam Whitelock , George Whitelock , Richie McCaw (c) , Kieran Read , Andy Ellis , Dan Carter, Zac Guildford, Sonny Bill Williams , Robbie Fruean , Sean Maitland , Tom Marshall
Replacements : Quentin MacDonald , Ben Franks , Luke Romano , Matt Todd , Kahn Fotuali'i , Matt Berquist , Ryan Crotty
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