semi final - super 12

[ozbash]

CRUSADERS V STORMERS @ CHCH
BRUMBIES V CHIEFS @ CANBERRA


crusaders \\/
chiefs [-o<

 

[Rudolph]

Crusaders
Cheifs - well i hope so.

 

[choc_soldier]

Great to see the Chiefs finally have a good year, and make the finals. But I think the Brumbies will be way too good for them.

 

[ozbash]

depends a lot on whether byron kelleher is fit.
they missed him on saturday night and if he had been playing the chiefs would have a home semi.

 

[AuckMel]

Crusaders and Brumbies.

 

[Anonymous]

Did the Chiefs end up 4th??? How?

 

[bayrep]

Becuase the Stormers had a better for and aginst record to the Chiefs.

For me it has to be the

Crusaders
Chiefs - (I have heard today that Kelleher is still rated only a 50/50 chance to make the game)

 

[weasel]

Crusaders
Brumbies

And *yawn* another Brumbies vs Crusaders final. If it's not one of those two winning it, it's the Blues. :roll: When is another team going to get good for once.

 

[bayrep]

It reminds me of when Auckland dominated domestic rugby during the early 90's. The only difference between this and back then is that there are atleast 10 teams that could win it on the day except that the Cantabs and ACT are the most consistant at it year and year out.

Bit like the Broncos and Canberra during the 80's and 90's.

 

[ozbash]

if its brumbies v crusaders , who gets the home ground ?

 

[Hazy]

Top team always gets the home ground.

Crusaders
Brumbies

Chiefs lost by three at home, Canberra is whole different kind of place...

but if Kelleher is fit, they may get close(r)

 

[Poida_Raider]

it'd have to be..
Canterbury Crusaders and
ACT Brumbies, in the final. so they're my tips.

 

[ozbash]

Play-offs experience and home ground advantage make the Crusaders and Brumbies heavy favourites for Saturday's Super 12 semifinals.

Both will be huge factors as the 2004 championship reaches it business end.

The Crusaders and Brumbies have been in five semifinals since the championship started in 1996. The Crusaders have won all five and the Brumbies have triumphed four times.

Quite simply, they know all about play-offs pressures.

The Chiefs, as has been well documented, are making their first appearance at this level and the Stormers have been in the semifinals just once when they lost a 1999 play-off at home in Cape Town to the Highlanders.

And the luxury of operating at home will also be influential. It's always been that way with 17 of the 24 playoff matches won by the hosts since 1996.

The Chiefs can point to a 16-13 win in Canberra in 1999, their only success over there, while the Stormers have never won in Christchurch.

There is also the financial windfall of claiming the home status with both the rich Crusaders and Brumbies franchise looking at massive profits from Saturday's showdowns which are both expected to be sell-outs.

Not that the Chiefs and Stormers will go home empty handed. Both will receive about $83,000 for their away efforts this weekend.

Then, of course, there is the lure of trying to nail a spot in the final for even greater rewards.

But not everyone will be rewarded appropriately. Qualifying for the play-offs will certainly solidify the claims of coaches Ian Foster (Chiefs), Robbie Deans (Crusaders) and Gert Smal (Stomers). But Brumbies coach David Nucifora already knows his fate - not even a semifinal victory or a Super 12 title will save his job after being told he's no longer wanted in Canberra next season.

The New Zealand TAB has the Brumbies favourites to win the title at $1.90 followed by the Crusaders ($2.35), Chiefs ($7.50) and Stormers ($15).

How the semifinalists match up:

Crusaders v Stormers
Jade Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday, 7.35pm.
Head-to-head: Crusaders 5-2 (one draw)
2004: Crusaders 24 Stormers 9 at Jade Stadium, May 1
Best finish: Crusaders - champions 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002. Stormers - semifinalists 1999

Brumbies v Chiefs
Canberra Stadium, Saturday, 9.30pm (NZ time)
Head-to-head: Brumbies 6-3
2004: Brumbies 15 Chiefs 12 at Waikato Stadium, May 8
Best finish: Brumbies - champions 2001. Chiefs - fourth 2004

 

[ozbash]

Marshall and that bloody hollywood queen Chris Jack are out.

crusaders better be on the ball.

 

[eastsrule]

There is going to be an upset this weekend, whether it be the Stormers or Chiefs getting up, I am unsure. But both sides have potential to beat their more favoured opponents.

I am looking more towards the Chiefs causing an upset win. The Stormers have staled a wee bit in the past few rounds, and playing at Christchurch which is like a fortress to the Crusaders, it will be a difficult task.

On the other hand, the Chiefs were unlucky against the Brumbies, certainly outplayed, but unlucky. The return of Byron Kelleher (Of whom I am a massive fan of) is an enormous boost for them. The Brumbies are the top team in this competition, no doubt about that, but the Chiefs have ruffled the feathers of the other top teams so this will be an even contest.

The matchup of the weekend, as anyone would agree is Gregan vs. Kelleher. Can't wait to see Kelleher spit on gregan as he palms him off to score the winning try.

Crusaders
Chiefs

 

[ThrashViking]

Crusaders-ACT final

 

[Auckland4ever]

Stormers(??!!)
ACT

 

[AliN]

Marshall's on the bench for the Crusaders... so Cruders to win over Stormers, just
Lauaki's out, Bates in his place. Byron's back, Adrian Cashmore on the bench.
It's going to be cold
The Brumbies are almost unstoppable at home...
GO CHIEFS!!!

Crusaders
Chiefs

 

[ozbash]

CRUSADERS -27 :lol:
STORMERS -16

 

[Poida_Raider]

brumbies - lots
chiefs - not as many.

2 more for me.. but those were easy!!