Rugby: Confident Crusaders to repeat high-octane plan

Crusaders first-five Dan Carter has been troubled by an ankle injury but is expected to play on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Confidence and belief aren't in short supply for the Crusaders who say their high-octane game plan of the past fortnight is enough to upset the Bulls in the Super 14 rugby semifinal on Sunday.

The Crusaders were given yesterday off training after a light run on arrival in Johannesburg as they eye the table-topping Bulls at a sold out, 40,000-capacity Orlando Stadium in Soweto for a place in the final.

The tourists expect to name a full-strength side, largely unchanged from their 40-22 dispatch of the Brumbies in Christchurch, with minor ankle problems for pivot Dan Carter and prop Ben Franks the only concerns. Medical staff expect both to train today and weren't rated in doubt, said assistant coach Daryl Gibson.

Gibson said the Bulls had been the Crusaders' focus since their 40-35 defeat in Pretoria in round 13.

"There's a great deal of confidence around this side and a great deal of belief that we can win this game.

"The guys were very disappointed after the last game against the Bulls, they felt they'd done enough to win it. There was a real determination out of the Brumbies game that we wanted to head back and play the Bulls, given the previous result."

Both sides know each other well, having clashed in the semifinals last year which the Bulls won 36-23 en route to hammering the Chiefs in the final.

Gibson said he and head coach Todd Blackadder saw no reason to be too clever and change their tactics against the Victor Matfield-led Bulls who returned to full strength yesterday after coach Frans Ludeke rested 13 frontliners in their 38-10 loss to the second-placed Stormers last weekend.

"We've tried not to over-think this game too much.

"The Bulls are a very set team, they do certain things in certain parts of the field and they've got a very good lineout," Gibson said.

"They kick to exert pressure and we think they won't do anything drastically different. Both teams will go in with game plans largely the same as the last two games. We certainly won't be changing a great deal.

"You saw the Stormers employ similar tactics against them.

"It's really suiting the style we want to play at the moment, we've got a lot of outside backs who want to get the ball in their hands and run.

"We've got a good front eight to exert pressure in the set piece. It's a formula that's worked well and it's one we'll continue to use."

- NZPA