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Crusaders expecting a 'Johannesburg sort of feel' at sold-out Eden Park for final
Not only is Eden Park sold out for this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific final between the Blues and the Crusaders, but additional standing space has also been set aside as a throwback to the past – all of which should help contribute to an exceptional atmosphere in Auckland.
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The game will mark the first time the Crusaders have played a grand final match away from home since Scott Robertson’s first year in charge of the team back in 2017, when the side had to travel to Johannesburg in South Africa to take on the top-seeded Lions.
Despite a typically partisan crowd, the Crusaders emerged as victors from that match, triumphing 25-17 to score grab their first Super Rugby title since 2008, and have dominated the competition ever since.
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett is hoping for a similar atmosphere at Eden Park this weekend as when he won his first title, in that 2017 fixture with the Lions.
“It’s huge,” he said of Eden Park’s sold-out status. “It will almost have like a Johannesburg sort of feel about it where everyone’s cheering against you so you hopefully keep that crowd quiet for most of the game and we can get a result. It’s hugely exciting.”
While Barrett has enjoyed plenty of wins over the Blues since his Super Rugby debut in 2014, Saturday’s match will mark the first time the rivaly has played out in a finals game since 2003 – when the Blues triumphed 21-17.
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The rivalry may have lost some of its lustre in recent years thanks to the Crusaders’ dominance, but the Blues’ win in Christchurch earlier this season combined with their top-seeding means there will be plenty of feeling in the grand final.
“I was thinking about it this morning,” Barrett said. “Played a Crusaders Knights game up there and watched the Blues-Crusaders afterwards as a young player and I was like, ‘Wow, this is what it’s about’. Big rivalry and huge stadium and fast-flowing rugby. Certainly looking forward to this week.”
Despite Barrett’s comparisons to playing the Lions in Johannesburg, coach Robertson suggested there were also some stark differences between the finals of 2022 and 2017.
“We hadn’t won it in nine years, that time,” he said. “We’ve had some success in the last few years so probably the context of it, the narrative is a little bit different.
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“We sort of went over there as extreme underdogs and Ellis Park, 60-odd thousand people – hopefully it’s 50-odd thousand at Eden Park so that side of it’s the same but probably the narrative this year has been a bit different.
“The Blues have been exceptional all year, they’re on a hell of a run. The last time they lost at Eden Park… It’s been a while. They’ve made their garden pretty special.
“It’s a hell of a week to go up there and a hell of a rivalry – just what Super Rugby needs. We’re excited. It’s the perfect occasion for us.”
Saturday night’s final is set to kick off at 7:05pm NZT from Eden Park in Auckland.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments