Super Rugby team by team preview Semi-finals

Super Rugby has reached the Semi-final stage which means that eleven teams out of the fifteen have been eliminated and there are just four teams remaining.

The Crusaders and Lions finished the regular season as the two highest ranked teams so after winning their Quarter-finals they will host their Semi-finals.

Depending on how results go this weekend the 2018 Super rugby final could be hosted in Christchurch, Johannesburg or Sydney. The Hurricanes cannot host the final so if they win this weekend they will have to travel.

If the Crusaders win their Super rugby semi-final they will host the 2018 Super rugby grand final next weekend.

If the Crusaders lose their match the winner of the Lions vs Waratahs match will host the Super rugby final.

Crusaders v Hurricanes Super Rugby Preview

Current Super rugby champions the Crusaders host the first Super rugby Semi-final at their Christchurch home in a titanic battle against the Hurricanes.

The Crusaders finished the regular season 12 points ahead of their rivals but while the Lions finished second the Hurricanes actually finished the season with the second highest number of points.

These two teams have already met twice this year and both matches were won by the team that had home advantage.

Overall the Crusaders have played the Hurricanes 34 times in Super rugby and they have won 19, drawn 3 and lost 12 which gives them a record of winning 56% of their matches.

These teams have met 18 times in Christchurch and the Crusaders have won 12, drawn 1 and lost 5. That gives the Crusaders a record of winning 67% of their home matches against the Hurricanes.

The average score when the Crusaders play the Hurricanes in Christchurch the score is : Crusaders 27 Hurricanes 20

This season the Crusaders have played 17 matches and won 15. The Crusaders have played 9 matches at home and won all 9.

The Hurricanes have played 17 matches and they have won 12. The Hurricanes have played 8 matches away from home and won just three.

The Crusaders have played in 17 Semi-finals and won 12. They have won their last two Semi-finals.

The Hurricanes have played in 9 Super rugby Semi-finals and won 3.

The Bookies have given the Hurricanes a 9 point start for this Match. With home advantage and as they have yet to lose at home this season the Crusaders should win this by 6.

Average score:

Fri, 25 May 2018 Crusaders v Hurricanes 24-13 Christchurch
Sat, 10 Mar 2018 Crusaders v Hurricanes 19-29 Wellington
Sat, 15 Jul 2017 Crusaders v Hurricanes 22-31 Wellington
Sat, 13 May 2017 Crusaders v Hurricanes 20-12 Christchurch
Sat, 16 Jul 2016 Crusaders v Hurricanes 10-35 Christchurch

Crusaders overall record against the Hurricanes
Played 34,Wins 19,Losses 12, Draws 3

Match Officials and details
Date : Saturday 28 July
Venue : AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick Off local: 19.35
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2:Ben O’Keeffe
TMO : Shane McDermott

Teams

Crusaders

1. Joe Moody ,2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock (C) , 6. Jordan Taufua , 7. Matt Todd (VC) , 8. Kieran Read ,9. Bryn Hall ,10. Richie Mo’unga , 11. George Bridge , 12. Ryan Crotty (VC) , 13. Jack Goodhue , 14. Seta Tamanivalu , 15. David Havili.

Replacements: 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Tim Perry, 18. Michael Alaalatoa ,19. Luke Romano,20. Pete Samu,21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt,23. Braydon Ennor

Hurricanes

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett,9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Gareth Evans, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements : 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea or Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West ,23 Wes Goosen

Lions v Waratahs Super Rugby Preview

South Africa’s Lions host the second Super rugby semi-final at altitude in Johannesburg against the Waratahs who they have beaten in their last three matches.

The Lions have already played the Waratahs this season and in that match was won 29-0 by the Lions in Sydney. That result is the Waratahs biggest loss this season.

Overall the Lions have played the Waratahs 18 times in Super rugby and they have won 4 matches and lost 14.

The Lions have played the Waratahs just 6 times in Johannesburg and in those 6 matches the Lions have won three and lost three. The last Waratahs victory in Johannesburg was in May 2009.

The average score when the Lions play the Waratahs in Johannesburg is Lions 30 Waratahs 30.

This year the Lions have played 17 Super rugby matches and won 10. The Lions have played 9 matches at home in 2018 and won 7.

The Waratahs have played 17 matches as well this season and they have won 10, drawn one and lost six. The Waratahs only match in 2018 played in South Africa was against the Sharks and they drew 24 all. Technically this makes the Waratahs unbeaten on South African soil in 2018.

The Lions have played in four Semi-finals since 2000 and they have won two and lost two. The Waratahs have played in 7 Super rugby Semi-finals since 2002 and they have won three.

The Waratahs have not beaten the Lions since May 2014 – the year they went on to win their first ever Super rugby title.

The Bookies have given the Waratahs a 10 point start for this Match. The Lions will be playing at home and will have the altitude in their favour. The Waratahs also had to travel for this match so the Lions should win by 8.

Average score: Lions 20 Waratahs 36

Last five results
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 Lions v Waratahs 29-0 Sydney
Sat, 04 Mar 2017 Lions v Waratahs 55-36 Johannesburg
Sat, 30 May 2015 Lions v Waratahs 27-22 Johannesburg
Sun, 18 May 2014 Lions v Waratahs 13-41 Sydney
Sat, 21 May 2011 Lions v Waratahs 12-29 Sydney

Lions overall record against the Waratahs
Played 18 ,Wins 4 ,Losses 14, Draws 0

Match Officials and details
Date : Saturday 28 July
Venue : Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Kick Off local: 15.05
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 1: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Ref 2:Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO :Marius Jonker

Teams

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Louren Erasmus, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Replacements : 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Hacjivah Dayimani, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Courtnall Skosan, 23 Howard Mnisi

Waratahs

15 Israel Folau, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley (c), 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Will Miller, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Tom Robertson

Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Cam Clark