KEY POINTS:
Don't be surprised if a sense of deja vu grips you during Saturday's Super 14 rugby semifinal between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch.
The match is the most regular fixture in Super rugby history, will be controlled by the competition's busiest referee and is at a ground that has seen more playoff encounters than any other.
It will be the 17th match between the two New Zealand powerhouse franchises, surpassing any other combination of teams.
Sitting on 16 are matches between the Crusaders and Highlanders, Crusaders and Brumbies, and Blues and Sharks.
It will be a record fourth playoff match between the Crusaders and Hurricanes and their 10th meeting in Christchurch, also a new mark for one venue.
Australian referee Stu Dickinson will hold the whistle for a record 68th Super rugby match. He is 11 games clear of South African Jonathan Kaplan.
Thanks to the Crusaders' continual success, Christchurch has already 10 hosted semifinals or finals, clear of the eight in Auckland and six in Canberra.
The six-time champion Crusaders' playoff prowess is well documented, having won seven consecutive semifinals before losing to the Bulls in Pretoria last year.
The Hurricanes have reached the semis four times previously but won just once, against the New South Wales Waratahs in 2006, a week before losing the infamous fog-bound final to the Crusaders in Christchurch a week later.
The Christchurch and Wellington-based teams have a history as lop-sided as it is long, with the Crusaders having won 12 of their 16 matches and drawn another.
At home, it is an even more dominant seven win, one loss, one draw record for the Crusaders, with the Hurricanes' sole success coming seven years ago.
Since then the Crusaders' average winning margin has been 18 points, although that average has come down in recent seasons against a more robust Hurricanes outfit.
The Hurricanes last toppled the red and blacks at Wellington in 2004, a match in which some believe captain Tana Umaga secured the All Blacks captaincy such was his dominant display at centre.
CRUSADERS V HURRICANES
Record:
Played 16. Crusaders 12, Hurricanes 3, Drawn 1.
In Christchurch:
Played 9. Crusaders 7, Hurricanes 1, Drawn 1.
In playoffs:
Played 3. Crusaders 3, Hurricanes 0, Drawn 0.
Points: Crusaders 476 Hurricanes 304
Tries: Crusaders 52 Hurricanes 32
Results
2008: Crusaders 20 Hurricanes 13, at Wellington.
2007: Crusaders 23 Huricanes 13, at Christhchurch
2006: Crusaders 19 Hurricanes 12, at Christchurch (final)
Crusaders 20 Hurricanes 11, at Wellington
2005: Crusaders 47 Hurricanes 7, at Christchurch (semifinal)
Crusaders 40 Hurricanes 20, at Christchurch
2004: Hurricanes 37 Crusaders 20, at Wellington
2003: Crusaders 39 Hurricanes 16, at Christchurch (semifinal)
Crusaders 37 Hurricanes 21, at Christchurch
2002: Crusaders 48 Hurricanes 20, at Wellington
2001: Hurricanes 41 Crusaders 29, at Christchurch
2000: Hurricanes 28 Crusaders 22, at Wellington
1999: Crusaders 18 Hurricanes 18, at Christchurch
1998: Crusaders 39 Hurricanes 17, at Napier
1997: Crusaders 19 Hurricanes 17, at Christchurch
1996: Crusaders 36 Hurricanes 13, at New Plymouth
- NZPA
