Excitement Building in Crusaders Camp Ahead of Semi Final
Behind the doors at Rugby Park a sense of occasion is brewing.
Occasions like this weekend are what the organisation lives and breathes for, with the 13-time Champions set to take on their biggest rivals, the Blues, in front of a (hopefully) sold out crowd at Orangetheory Stadium.
The main feeling behind the green fences is excitement, with Head Coach Scott Robertson relishing in the chance to be involved at the end of another Super Rugby season and backing his players set to take the field on Friday night.
“Any Crusader team that’s named will rise up to the occasion. It’s going to be a hell of a weekend; it’s got that feeling, doesn’t it?
“The crowd, the milestones on both sides, it’s just one of those games you want to play in.
“The rivalry, the history, the occasion’s got everything building for it. That’s why we play and it’s what super rugby needs.”
Crusaders lock Quinten Strange is another player looking forward to Friday night’s kick-off.
“Exciting isn’t it? It’s gonna be intense, there’ll be a good crowd, there’s plenty on the line so it’s exciting.
“Growing up watching it, you have a dream of being involved - and now being involved, I’ve got a job to do for the jersey and for the region, so I’m honoured.”
The Blues come to Christchurch on the wrong side of a 32 and 10 record, also having lost 17 of our last 18 encounters – but this is never a game for Cantabrians to take lightly, especially not in recent years.
Crusaders fans will remember all too well last season when the Blues blew apart the fortress of Orangetheory Stadium in pool play and won 27-23.
Strange knows what to watch out for against a Blues side who have earned their way to the Semi Finals through excellent play all season,
“I think they’ll be hungry, they’ll come at us at the breakdown, you watch that game against the Waratahs, they dominated that area, they’ll be looking to disrupt us there and at set piece so our forward pack will have to be on.”
All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue knows a big defensive effort is required to combat the Blues this weekend.
“We’re expecting them to use their ball carriers well and hold onto possession which means our defence will have to be right on.”
As Super Rugby Pacific 2023 prepares to drop the curtain on another season, players and staff from the Red and Black region are in familiar territory.
However, familiar territory is no less treacherous. When it comes to finals footy, the Crusaders are treating this game with the utmost respect it deserves, as Goodhue said.
“We’ve been here before and we know what it takes to win these tough games. The Blues are going to come down and give it everything, so we need to be well prepared.”
The countdown is on.
Friday 16 June, 7:05pm, Orangetheory Stadium
Korero e Hono ana
