Chris Rattue: Crusaders need more bang to put Bulls to the sword

Todd Blackadder needs to change the Crusaders' style of play if they are to beat the Bulls in Pretoria. Photo / Getty Images

The best form of attacking a Super 14 title defence has proved so far to be defence, but the Crusaders will need to lose their zeal for caution if they are to upset the Bulls in the semifinal at Pretoria.

The transitional Crusaders have cut their cloth to fit as only they can do in this year's Super 14, but they should try a more flamboyant garment for size as they haul themselves over to South Africa this week.

The mighty men from down south will need to stir their legs into more enterprising action if they are to score enough points to knock over a Bulls side who are red-hot favourites to win their second title.

The Crusaders need to hit Loftus Versfeld with an almighty bang, because the Bulls will roar home on fresher legs and with a huge crowd behind them.

Rookie Super 14 coach Todd Blackadder, a lion-hearted footballer who rose to captain his country, has taken low-risk rugby to new highs, or lows, as he uses a generous inheritance to build his own foundations.

That the prototype Blackadder outfit has made it to the semifinals, before the frills are added, says much about the Crusaders' quality and the rites of rugby as laid down by the stupendous Robbie Deans.

As for entertainment, though, Blackadder's Crusaders are about as interesting as Wise without Morecambe, and this could cost them dearly in Pretoria.

The Crusaders' who-doesn't-dare-wins mission succeeded against Pat Lam's hopeless Blues but the match was about as exciting as watching the World Cup decorating paint drying on the old stadium.

Upping the attacking ante is in the Crusaders' own interests now because it is unlikely that their reliance on a clinging defence, breakdown aggression and dedicated kick-chasing game will do the job.

Blackadder's men have done a remarkable job after a losing streak early in the season and will be hailed for their death-defying run into the semifinals. Having lost their all-conquering coach and the game's best first five-eighths, they are still in the hunt, thanks to a relentless pack that has to cover for a rookie backline.

The Richie McCaw-led pack will carry New Zealand hopes in more ways than one in Pretoria. Not only are they eyeing an amazing eighth title, but the victor from the Chiefs-Hurricanes semifinal will be hoping for a home final. The old powerhouse, whose great coach was outrageously snubbed by the power brokers, is again the darling of the New Zealand game, the underdogs this time as they once again fly the Kiwi rugby flag.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder in evaluating the Crusaders.

If an English team arrived here and played as the Crusaders do, they would be greeted with a mixture of mirth and derision. Furthermore, rugby of the standard we have seen from Eden Park and Waikato Stadium over the past week would be scorned by Kiwi fans if it wasn't in the name of defeating the enemy.

The much-debated, much-trialled and much discussed experimental laws were designed to prevent the limited type of rugby that the Crusaders have relied on this season. What the Crusaders have shown is that the rules only go so far in encouraging an entertaining game. Skill and intent are far more important.

Yes, the Crusaders may have been denied a fair try at Eden Park, but the chances of being denied are high when you attack the tryline in a pile.

The Crusaders believe that moving the ball around too much is far too risky with their present line-up, and relish hunting down opponents when they do have the ball. The Blues fired up on defence but weren't up to the task overall.

The result: a game that was, in the main, as depressingly grey as the Hurricanes uniform in Brisbane.

As for the Hurricanes themselves, they were lively at times against the weak Reds, but looked frail in terms of being strong title contenders.

In contrast, the South Africans lit up the Super 14 in Durban with a match being hailed as one of the greats.

Their biggest test is this week, against the Crusaders.

The Hurricanes, semifinal regulars, are in about the same place they have always been. The Chiefs have made a bit of progress but not enough to win a final in Pretoria.

My picks for the final - the Bulls and Chiefs, with the Bulls to win well.