The Hurricanes will call on every iota of guile, experience and aggression to win Saturday’s Super 12 rugby semifinal in Christchurch, says Crusaders coach Robbie Deans.
Ahead of the Jade Stadium showdown between the best two New Zealand teams in this year’s competition, Dean said his side know what to expect from the Hurricanes.
”No doubt they are looking to use their physical game to get themselves into the match early — in attack and defence,” he said.
Earlier this week, All Blacks lock Chris Jack reiterated Deans’s words by saying the Crusaders will relish a confrontational match.
The Crusaders are preparing for their seventh semifinal in eight years, and with veterans such as halfback Justin Marshall and loosehead Dave Hewett on their last campaigns, they will be eager to see them into the final for a fairy-tale finish.
However, Deans said being used to making the play-offs may not necessarily be of benefit.
”Experience is a relative thing,” Deans said. ”It only has value if you take something out of it. If experience leads to a loss of excitement because you have been there and done that, then it’s not much help.
”But if these players weren’t excited about it, they wouldn’t be there.”
The majority of the Crusaders players have had finals experience, they have the most productive backline in the competition, their forward pack has the ability to play the game tight or range wide, and in recent weeks their defence has stiffened considerably.
For the Hurricanes, much will depend on whether second five-eighth Tana Umaga and blindside flanker Jerry Collins can inspire the rest of their men to follow them.
Both were rested for last weekend’s round-robin match between the two sides — which the Crusaders won 40-20.
It has been generally accepted neither side were at full throttle last week and the forward and defensive exchanges are expected to be a lot more physical on Saturday.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper signalled his intentions by dropping openside flanker Ben Herring for the bigger, more rugged Chris Masoe to counter Crusaders captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown.
Collins’s reputation, especially in defence, speaks for itself and he has formed an effective unit with number eight Rodney So’oialo this season.
With Hewett back and Greg Somerville at tighthead, the Crusaders scrum will target a weakened Hurricanes front row, and Marshall last week proved his value at assessing his options and popping passes from second phase.
With Umaga back and Ma’a Nonu on the left wing, the Hurricanes have two game-breakers who can beat defences and may target the Crusaders midfield of Aaron Mauger and Caleb Ralph.
Mauger has been suspect at times this season, but last week Ralph — who replaced Casey Laulala at late notice — proved he can make his tackles stick. Both can expect a searching examination. — Sapa-NZPA