DURBAN - The Crusaders and Blues are the semifinal kings of Super rugby, an historical tag that will be tested to the full in South Africa this weekend.
Between them the two New Zealand franchises have appeared in 12 semifinals and have won all 12, although only oneof them was an away match.
The Blues, who face the Sharks in Durban in the first of the Super 14 semifinals on Sunday morning (NZ time), are four from four.
Every one of those victories was recorded at Eden Park, with three coming in the first three years of the Super 12 when the Blues were a dominant franchise. The other was 2003, when they went on to claim a third title.
The Crusaders, who play the Bulls in Pretoria, are an impeccable eight from eight. All those matches have been in Christchurch apart from their 1999 defeat of the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
Unquestionably the premier team in the competition's history, the Crusaders' record in finals reads six from eight.
In comparison, the Bulls and Sharks boast modest semifinal records, with six of their seven appearances played away from home.
The Bulls have failed in all three semifinal forays -- including each of the last two seasons -- while the Sharks have won two from four.
The Sharks' first win was in the competition's debut year, 1996, when playing as Natal, they went on to lose to the Blues in the final. Their other success was in Durban, over the Cats in 2001, but the ACT Brumbies were too good in that year's final.
Super rugby has nearly come full circle, with three of the current four semifinalists also reaching the 1996 playoffs. The exception was the Crusaders, who finished last that year.
Against the Bulls, the Crusaders have been dominant of late, winning their last three matches comfortably.
They have forged a 9-4 lead in meetings between the franchises, although that record stands at 3-3 for games at Pretoria.
The Blues and Sharks are also 3-3 for clashes in Durban while the Blues lead their overall head-to-head tally 8-6.
