Blues surge into Super Rugby semi-final grudge match with Crusaders
June 12 (Reuters) - The Auckland Blues threw a huge spanner into the works of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs last week and on Friday will be out to do what no team has done in three decades of the competition as they battle for a spot in the final.
The defending champion Blues scraped into the playoffs with only six wins from 14 regular season games but hit their powerful stride last week to pip the top-seeded Waikato Chiefs by a point in Hamilton.
That earned them a trip to Christchurch to face the 12-times champion Crusaders, who last week extended their perfect home playoff record to 30 games with a convincing victory over the Queensland Reds.
The Crusaders are now the top seeds and will host the final if they can get past Vern Cotter's side in the latest edition of New Zealand's biggest grudge match, a fierce provincial rivalry that long precedes Super Rugby.
"There's been a Crusaders-Blues rivalry since Super began, but I think what's really etched into that, and runs right through that, is the Canterbury-Auckland rivalry," Crusaders assistant Brad Mooar said on Thursday.
"The icons of the game have had moments in those games and now it's this group's opportunity to be in the sun. The eyes are shining, lump in the throat."
Crusaders coach Rob Penney has made one enforced change for the clash with injured loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams replaced by fellow All Black George Bower. The Blues also made one change, Zarn Sullivan replacing Corey Evans at fullback.
"We're putting things together at the right time of the year," said Cotter. "The guys know how to win big games and that's our goal again on Friday night."
The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, are still alive in the competition as "lucky losers" and they host the ACT Brumbies at Waikato Stadium in Saturday's second semi-final.
The Brumbies, as with all Australian teams, have never won a playoff match in New Zealand but feel their win over the Wellington Hurricanes last week shows they have the stuff to break their run of three consecutive semi-final losses.
"There's full belief that if we come out on Saturday and deliver our game, we're able to put in a good performance," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said on Thursday.
"(It'll be) a physical game, for sure. It's going to be one on small margins, the physicality around the breakdown, and your carry intent. It's going to be a good battle."
The Brumbies have named an unchanged team studded with Wallabies as they look for their first win over the Chiefs in three years.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has captain Luke Jacobson back at flanker after injury and was able to name Quinn Tupaea in his side after the All Blacks centre recovered from a nasty gash to his eye and concussion.
"They're hardened, well-drilled and know how to close out a tight contest," McMillan said of the Brumbies. "Their performance against the Hurricanes shows they can be clinical and composed under pressure."
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