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Super 14 Semifinal Tips and Selections
BLUES v SHARKS
Semifinal 1 - Saturday May 12, 11.00pm (AEDT)
Absa Stadium, Durban
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (AUS)
Head-to-head: Played 14, Blues 8, Sharks 6, Drawn 0
In Durban: Played 6, Sharks 3, Blues 3, Drawn 0
Last meeting: Round 11 - April 14 2007 - Sharks 32 d Blues 25 at North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Blues must meet fire with fire
The Blues don't need to look far for inspiration in the build-up to the franchise's first Super Rugby playoff appearance since the victorious 2003 final at Eden Park
Indeed, their opponents in this semifinal scored an unlikely 32-25 victory when the teams met at North Harbour Stadium a month ago.
The scoreline flattered the Blues as it was a game the Sharks, who became the first South African team to top the ladder when they thumped the Stormers in Cape Town last week, out-muscled and out-thought the then competition leaders from the outset, upsetting the home side's rhythm with a classic display of energy-charged in-your-face rugby.
And that, in a nutshell, is what the Blues need to do - fight fire with fire - to win this one.
They can forget about beating the Sharks if they make the schoolboy error of getting caught in an arm wrestle with AJ Venter and co. They will need to set the early tempo this time, with the onus on seasoned campaigners like Troy Flavell, Daniel Braid and Keven Mealamu to lead by example in the tight exchanges.
In the backs, Francois Steyn is as dangerous on the wing as he as at pivot, so the Blues will have to keep close tabs on the young sensation, regardless of the number he wears.
Isaia Toeava needs to take this game by the scruff of the neck to show the All Blacks selectors that he is indeed the No 1 contender for the No 13 jersey at the World Cup.
The battle between Doug Howlett and JP Pietersen, two of the form wingers in the competition, should be an absolute cracker. The loss of Luke McAlister to injury will hurt the Blues, though.
The Albany loss was when the rot started to set in for the David Nucifora-coached Blues. Back to back losses to the Stormers and the Bulls followed in the Republic, before they finally awoke from their slumber to record a 33-6 demolition of the Force in Perth.
The Sharks, meanwhile, finished the round robin on the top of the standings after only losing three of their 13 qualifying games.
BULLS v CRUSADERS
Semifinal 2 - Sunday May 13, 1.30am (AEDT)
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Matt Goddard (AUS)
Head-to-head: Played 13, Crusaders 9, Bulls 4, Drawn 0
In Pretoria: Played 6, Bulls 3, Crusaders 3, Drawn 0
Last meeting: Round 7 - March 17 2007 - Crusaders 32 d Bulls 10 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
Into the Loftus cauldron
Talk about contrasting fortunes.
The Bulls posted the biggest winning margin in Super Rugby history last weekend (92-3 against the Reds), while the Crusaders' epic streak of 26 home victories finally came to an end after they were defeated by the resurgent Chiefs at Jade Stadium.
But, last week's results will count for nothing when these traditional heavyweights meet in what has all the makings of an epic encounter at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls had two choices against the Reds: beat them with a bonus point to set up a semifinal against the Sharks in Durban, or beat them by 72 points or more to secure a home semi against the Blues. They won by 89 points, racking up 13 unanswered tries and eclipsing the old record winning margin of 77 set by the Crusaders against the Waratahs in 2002 in the process.
That Heyneke Meyer's side set out to achieve the more difficult task speaks volumes about the Bulls of '07. Likewise the fact that it was achieved with 10 minutes to spare.
The Bulls are playing with confidence rarely seen among teams from the Republic.
While they have made the playoffs for the last two years running, this is easily the best chance they have ever had to become the first SA team to win a Super Rugby title.
However, the Crusaders have a good away record against the Bulls in Pretoria, winning 50 percent of the games between the sides. They will also be buoyed by the return of All Blacks Dan Carter and Rico Gear, as well as Wyatt Crockett, after the trio missed the Chiefs encounter.
But while the Crusaders have taken part in nine semifinals, they have never contested a playoff in South Africa. So it's going to be unknown territory for them.
Recent form is against the Crusaders, but they are due a big game after disappointing losses to the Brumbies and the Chiefs. They will host a third straight final at Jade Stadium if they win this game and the Blues beat the Sharks in Durban.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.