Kiwi semi-final deja vu
By Daniel Gilhooly Kiwi semi-final deja vu | The Daily Telegraph

May 22, 2008 12:00am

DON'T be surprised if a sense of deja vu grips you during Saturday's Super 14 rugby semifinal between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch.

The match is the most regular fixture in Super rugby history, will be controlled by the competition's busiest referee and is at a ground that has seen more playoff encounters than any other.

It will be the 17th match between the two New Zealand powerhouse franchises, surpassing any other combination of teams.

Sitting on 16 are matches between the Crusaders and Highlanders, Crusaders and Brumbies, and Blues and Sharks.

It will be a record fourth playoff match between the Crusaders and Hurricanes and their 10th meeting in Christchurch, also a new mark for one venue.

Australian referee Stu Dickinson will hold the whistle for a record 68th Super rugby match. He is 11 games clear of South African Jonathan Kaplan.

Thanks to the Crusaders' continual success, Christchurch has already 10 hosted semifinals or finals, clear of the eight in Auckland and six in Canberra.

The six-time champion Crusaders' playoff prowess is well documented, having won seven consecutive semifinals before losing to the Bulls in Pretoria last year.

The Hurricanes have reached the semis four times previously but won just once, against the New South Wales Waratahs in 2006, a week before losing the infamous fog-bound final to the Crusaders in Christchurch a week later.

The Christchurch and Wellington-based teams have a history as lop-sided as it is long, with the Crusaders having won 12 of their 16 matches and drawn another.

At home, it is an even more dominant seven win, one loss, one draw record for the Crusaders, with the Hurricanes' sole success coming seven years ago.

Since then the Crusaders' average winning margin has been 18 points, although that average has come down in recent seasons against a more robust Hurricanes outfit.

The Hurricanes last toppled the red and blacks at Wellington in 2004, a match in which some believe captain Tana Umaga secured the All Blacks captaincy such was his dominant display at centre.

The Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to last week's team for the match. In the pack, prop Wyatt Crockett and blindside flanker Kieran Read come in for Ben Franks and Reuben Thorne respectively.

Winger Scott Hamilton returns to the backline where there is a change to the midfield combination, with centre Casey Laulala and inside centre Tim Bateman taking over from Caleb Ralph and Stephen Brett.

Brett, winger Sean Maitland, Thorne and Franks are on the bench. Ralph has been omitted from the match day squad. Deans said changes to the starting 15 that lost 26-14 to the Highlanders last weekend were performance-related.

Further north, only Rodney So'oialo's rib injury will force a change to the Hurricanes line-up. Coach Colin Cooper retained last week's run-on line-up, with All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata named on the bench after serving out a one-match suspension.

Tim Fairbrother and John Schwalger have retained the propping berths after strong performances against the Blues. Though So'oialo was named in the starting team today, Cooper will start with Chris Masoe at No.8 if So'oialo is ruled out and Scott Waldrom will slot in at openside flanker, with Jerry Collins at No 6.



Hurricanes:
Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Willie Ripia, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (or Chris Masoe), Masoe (or Scott Waldrom), Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Fairbrother, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger. Res: Hikawera Elliot, Neemia Tialata, Craig Clarke, Scott Waldrom (or Thomas Waldrom), Alby Mathewson, Jimmy Gopperth, Tamati Ellison.


Crusaders:
Leon MacDonald, Kade Poki, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richard McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Ti'i Paulo, Ben Franks, Reuben Thorne, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland.