Match Preview: Crusaders vs Blues
Rivalry. History. Heritage. It’s all on the line this weekend as the Crusaders head north to take on the Blues at Eden Park. Saturday night footy at its best. We’re still searching for the first W of the season to steady the ship, and what better place to do it than at the Garden.
The boys will be the second cab off the rank on Saturday, storming the field after Matatū take on the Blues earlier in the afternoon. Our girls kick off 4.35pm, the boys kicking off 7.05pm.
Latest Team News
Quinten Strange has been ruled out of the starting XV after sustaining a neck injury in training. He’ll stay home as a precaution.
Ryan Crotty also sustained a minor groin injury during Captain’s Run and has been ruled out of the Blues fixture.
Tahlor Cahill takes Quin’s starting spot. Fletcher Anderson and Johnny McNicholl take spots on the bench, Anderson looking at a debut in the jersey.
Last time we met
We played the Blues in Christchurch for the 2023 Semi Final. The final score was 52-15 to our boys in a dominant performance, one of the best of the season. The Crusaders have won eight of our last 10 games versus our Auckland rivals, they’ve won one. We did draw one 0-0 back in 2020.
The Crusaders have won the last four consecutive Super Rugby games versus the Blues, and the Eden Park locals haven’t beaten us at their home since 2014.
Key match ups
George Bower and Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Two of the All Blacks biggest front rowers go head-to-head in this battle.
Patrick Tuipulotu plays his 100th for the Blues, squaring up against Tahlor Cahill at lock.
Look to the wings for some big match ups. Caleb Clarke and Macca Springer are on their respective left wings. Clarke has proven himself in the black jersey, with Springer on the right road to do the same himself in years to come.
Perhaps the biggest match up to keep an eye on is that of Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a. Explosive and unpredictable.
Need to know
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referee: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
Kick off: 7.05pm