Crusaders hitting the right notes

The 2 rounds of Super Rugby since the All Blacks vs France test series has seen the Crusaders start to hit the right form to give them the right momentum and it has been continued into the final's with a demolition of the Queensland Reds 38-9.

We all know the Crusaders history in the Super Rugby competition. In the 18 years of Super Rugby they have made the finals on 15 occasions and going on to win 7 titles in the process. By far the standout team of the competition and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon.

Last Saturday the Crusaders all buy destroyed the Reds marching into a semi final rematch from last year in Hamilton against the NZ Conference winners the Chiefs. Right from the 1st minute mark until the 80th minute the Crusaders were simply in a league of their own. Brutal at the breakdown, finding the seemingly inviting gaps in the Reds defense and scoring some fantastic tries.

The Reds were always going to be on the back foot conceding 20 turnovers against the Crusaders, a team that will always make you pay if you slip up. This was combined with only 2 linebreaks compared to the Crusaders 10, its not hard to see from the post match stats why the Crusaders were so dominant.

It would have been quite difficult to single out a man of the match with some of the Crusaders experienced heads leading the charge.

Ryan Crotty continues on his form, one of the quiet achievers of the side but always manages to back up and finished the game with 2 fantastic tries.

Sam Whitelock continues his career best form, brutal at the breakdown, huge in the lineouts, tackling rate is second to none and with one fantastic line break to set up a try he really must be acknowledged as the best lock in world rugby at this current time.

DC made little work of the Reds defense and out played his counterpart Quade Cooper, to the point where he probably could have slipped his fellow backs into the gaps with his eyes shut. Post June test series, DC has stepped up to some of his best work and will need to be heavily contained tonight against the Chiefs.

Last Saturdays game felt like one of those exciting, passionate and enjoyable games you just didn't want to end. However if you were a Reds fan you probably feel as though 80 mins felt like an eternity.

An absolute blockbuster awaits tonight and will separate the men from the boys. If the Red and Blacks continue on their momentum and hit similar form in tonights game, you cant imagine many teams beating them. 

The most recent encounter in Christchurch was one the Chiefs will not look back on fondly with regard to the scoreboard, however with Liam Messam back into the lineup it would be hard to see the game being as one-sided as the last.

The seasonal poor starters are peaking yet again at the right time and I certainly am hoping for a different result to last years semi final.

Cannot wait for kick off.

Super Rugby at its best.