Rugby: The Crusade goes on

All eyes will be on Crusaders star Dan Carter during their Super 14 semifinal. Photo / Getty Images

The Super 14 rematch between the sitting Bulls and the frequent flyer Crusaders is a tantalising prospect accompanied by several significant changes for the best sides from South Africa and New Zealand.

This time the series heavyweights will duel on neutral turf in Soweto, at the Orlando Stadium in a knockout semifinal controlled by Australian referee Stu Dickinson.

The Crusaders felt they got the rough end of rulings from referee Marius Jonker when the same sides met in Pretoria 10 days ago, but they were also flummoxed by Dickinson's rulings the week before in their game against the Stormers.

The seven-time champions flew out yesterday, less than seven days since they returned from the republic and their thrilling 35-40 loss to the Bulls.

They were to stay overnight in Sydney then fly on to Johannesburg, a day after the other semifinalists, the Waratahs, flew out for their weekend match against the Stormers.

Meanwhile, coach Frans Ludeke benched the bulk of his regular Bulls combination for their last pool match against the Stormers. He figured it was better they have a break and recharge for the semifinals.

Rest and rotation, eh? Sounds familiar. It's a formula which has been used in other tournaments with unspectacular results.

Former Crusaders' supremo Robbie Deans did not endorse the tactic when quizzed before the weekend.

He accepted it was the Bulls' prerogative but wondered about the potential loss of momentum.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but, if it was myself, I would be looking to tax the Stormers as much as possible and even so much to force them to fly across the ocean a couple of times [for an away semi] before you potentially met them again.

"But ultimately the merit in their decision will be resolved in how far they go."

Travel and playing at altitude fall into the taboo category these days. Coaches and players dismiss those subjects as just part of their natural programme.

The Crusaders were treating their latest journey as a semi-sanctuary.

"The week back home has been chaotic," Blackadder said. "When we get on the road it is invaluable time together; we can rest the players and make sure we are in the best shape for the game."

The Crusaders had not been in a hurry to head away.

They made sure they recovered well after their must-win match against the Brumbies. They spent some time at home and were ready to go about their business.

"There was no great rush. It is at the end of the season.

"The guys are in a good space - they know what they have to do, and we will be operating a pretty simple gameplan," Blackadder said.

Playing at the 40,000-capacity ground in Soweto would be a great experience for both teams, Blackadder said.

The novelty would remove any familiarity the Bulls felt at their Loftus stronghold.

Officials are confident the match will be a sell-out in the township near Johannesburg.

The semifinal has been shifted because Loftus is being prepared for the Soccer World Cup.

BUT NOT FOR THIS LOT

Away from Crusaders HQ, the other Kiwi teams were looking ahead to Mad Monday, their end-of-season reviews and the anxious wait to see if higher honours - the All Blacks or the Maori - would beckon. And if that phone call from Graham Henry or Maori coach Jamie Joseph never comes, there's always an agent with contacts in France keen to chat...

Chiefs (4-1-8)

* POSITION: 11th

* BEST MOMENT: You have to turn back the clock to round one, where the Chiefs shocked the Sharks with a last-minute penalty, winning 19-18. There were ugly scenes at King's Park, where Stephen Donald had a jug of beer thrown at him as he lined up a late kick.

* NADIR: Drawing 25-25 with the Cheetahs in Hamilton, while going zero from eight from the kicking tee. To add injury to insult, Stephen Donald left the field and did not return again during the season.

* PLAYERS OF THE SEASON: Well it's not Sione Lauaki. By a process of elimination you're left with two backs, Jackson Willison and Tim Nanai-Williams (left). The scary thing is neither would have expected to have a huge role to play this season, which shows how badly the Chiefs' big guns went missing, through injury, stupidity and form.

Highlanders (3-10)

* POSITION: 12th

* BEST MOMENT: Beating the Waratahs 26-10. Invercargill turned on a beautiful evening and the home team did the rest, battering the frozen visitors into submission.

* NADIR: The last 10 minutes against the Force in the holiday mecca of Queenstown. In front of a paltry crowd, the Highlanders simply folded in the final quarter, gifting the until-then points-shy force a 41-27 victory. According to reports, things did not go so well for the Highlanders off the field in Queenstown either.

* PLAYERS OF THE SEASON: Adam Thomson (left) was peerless in a forward pack that always struggled, while it now seems an inevitability that Israel Dagg's light will shine even brighter in a competitive franchise either one or two stops north of Dunedin.

Blues (7-6)

* POSITION: 7th

* BEST MOMENT: Beating the bulls 32-17 on Eden Park. It might have been just a two-tries-to-one victory, but the Blues turned the Bulls over in every facet. It should have ushered in a new era of Blues physicality, but was in fact a false dawn.

* NADIR: Perhaps no game exemplified the Blues better than their season opener, lost 20-34 against the Hurricanes. In the first spell the Blues, guided expertly by Stephen Brett, could do no wrong. In the second, Brett's flakiness was exposed and so were the Blues.

* PLAYERS OF THE SEASON: Alby Mathewson (left) was a sparky presence and a guy Lam will be looking to build around next season. Jerome Kaino was the most impressive figure in the forwards.

Hurricanes (7-1-5)

* POSITION: 8th

* BEST MOMENT: Beating the Brumbies in Canberra, 23-13. It was the sort of ugly, gritty, pragmatic performance they needed on Saturday, but could not muster. The Hurricanes won despite spending just 17 seconds inside the Brumbies 22 all match.

* NADIR: Conceding an after-the-hooter penalty to the Sharks while drawing 26-26. Ruan Pienaar kicked it from halfway, making it four losses in four weeks to South African sides. The following week they would have a win stolen at the death by the Crusaders.

* PLAYERS OF THE SEASON: Hosea Gear had a couple of hot weeks, but in terms of consistency forwards Andrew Hore (left) and Michael Paterson would take this honour.

- compiled by Dylan Cleaver

SEMIFINALS

Bulls v Crusaders

* Soweto

* Sunday, 3.05am

Stormers v Waratahs

* Capetown
* Sunday 5.10am