KEY POINTS:
What is your prediction for the clash at Eden Park between the Blues and Crusaders which will start this Super 14 rugby season. Will it be close? Does the Auckland side have an advantage being the home town?
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Here is the latest selection of your predictions:
Sione
The Blues will win, the coach has to get it right and so must the team. If the Blues should play an aerial game, kick and chase, it will give them the best option for an organised defensive team. Our number 10 has very good vision, he creates opportunities and acts accordingly...it helps if you can and have played all positions in the backs. So I would consider him as a target for the opposition.
As a Blues fan, this game will be the ultimate as we face our biggest rivalry of the Super 14, and if my dreams could come true this year, I hope to see our team and the Crusaders in the grand final.
Martin
What an easy question!!!!! of course the Crusaders will win.
Mahaki
I think Auckland by 10 to 15 points. You cannot take that many players out of a team and expect to go to the garden of eden and win.I think that Dan Carter will be sorely missed and not only Auckland but other teams should take advantage of this. Auckland at home will look to start the season strong with a lot of depth they will not suffer as bad. Auckland will only loose this game themselves,they have an all round solid team and will be rewarded if they stick to the basics and play percentage rugby.
Logan
Muzz, you are hysterical. Deans the best coach in the world? Ho ho ho. I love it. (But then again, I guess theres not a lot else to do in Chch other than bang on about rugby. And Auckland. And how crummy the lattes are down there). Blues definitely a comfortable victory, possibly with bonus point. By the way, are any of the Crusaders actually from Canterbury? It looks a lot like Auckland B/Harbour Senior Reserves/assored imports from elsewhere
JP
Who cares! The chiefs will win the super 14.
Alex
Who are you guys kidding? Stephen Brett is not only the future of Canterbury rugby but I rate him as the best 1st 5 to enter the park this weekend for the New Zealand sides. He has too much natural attacking ability. He is constantly a threat with his precision kicking and side steps that run rings around his opposition. The Christchurch Boys High Factory just does not stop producing the goods. Face facts. If you guys havent seen Stephen Brett play rugby - get ready. You are about to feel safe if Daniel Carter ever gets injured.
Bluesfan
Muzz you left of another record, Canterbury import the most players than any other Union! It's no wonder they have won so many times. McCaw...poached from Otago, mate, until Canterbury field their own locally bred players will anyone give a hoot about their records!! The invisible man Thorne is just that....invisible! The Blues need to be coached by an Aucklander end of story if we are to win the title, oh that's right hes the All Black coach now and I guess the ABs are now a winning team!! Muzz take the blinkers off (like a typical cantaburian) and put the shears down for a second, the Crusaders have manipulated the franchise system from the day they came last in the first Super 12 year to suit only themselves, Auckland funnily enough have suffered since the draft system came into play!!
Cynthia Johnson
It is going to be a close game and if I wasnt a one-eyed Cantabrian I would be practical and pick the side with the most experienced players. But I live in Christchurch, live and breathe Rugby and yes, I am a Crusader fan through and through. So I will go with my boys but it will be pretty close.
Allan
Lets look at the record books. Head to head the Blues have more games. Then we add that the Blues are at home. And of course look how many stars are in the blues team, any team that can leave out a player of the class of Luke has to win against an under strength crusaders side. The Blues win with bonus point. And Luke will come on and score the last try.
Todd Swann
The Blues will walk all over them. Even if they lost, they could still hold their heads high for not playing for the armpit of the country.
Patrick Atiga
The crusaders will come through as winners. The management will be a positive influence between the two teams.
Moana Tanielu
CRUSADERS will win against BLUES....
Kritesh
The Crusaders team looks quiet settle and has ability to beat Blues. The last game with Waratahs has given them good lesson. They have learn from their mistake. Robbie Dean is champion in selecting team against his rival. Depth is also seen on the bench. Go Crusaders.
Muzz
Crusaders have 6 Titles in 11 Years - a Record. Crusaders have been to 8 Finals - A Record.Crusaders have McCaw the best player in the world.
Crusaders have Carter the best points scorer in the world. Crusaders have Deans the best coach in the world. Crusaders have Thorne who has been to 8 Finals - a Legend. Crusaders have Canterbury the best place in the world. We needed a new challenge and the NZRU have given us a hard one by taking the best half of our team away for 7 games. This certainly gives other teams a good chance for a title, but we will probably still win. Enough said.
Natasha Gaskin
Go Crusaders!
Tony
The Blues have been an absolute rabble in recent years. While the Robbie Deans men are missing 7 key players they will still have the team cohesiveness that the Blues struggle so much to find and should still win this game. Lokk for Rua Tipoki in particular to have a big game against the team that has treated North Harbour players so shabbily for a long period of time.
Iona
I hope the Blues win, because with the amount of players there missing in that lot & a home game for us. Heck if we cant beat them now, alas we wont be able to beat them ever!
Chari
Blues look more solid in the tight five. Loose forwards from the saders will dominate rucks. Tight call. Blues to eek out a win!!
Simon
Rua Tipoki, Laulala, Pisi, Senio, Ward, Rico Gear. Can we move the Harbour Bridge to Timaru.
Nigel
As probably the biggest All Black supporter in Cape Town, I am shocked at the decision by Nucifora to keep Luke on the bench and start Tuitupo instead, irrespective the fitness issue. Tuitupo is arguably as good as any other world class inside centre, but we all know that Graham Henry wants Luke to get as much gametime as possible with the view to success at the World Cup. Look at Tuitavake? On the wing and Kaino at the base of the scrum instead of the side? Having said all this, I really hope that if Nucifora messes up again this season then he should get the boot. Sean Fitzpatrick is in my view a more committed man and respects the All Black tradition.
Sandra Bojanich
The home advantage and huge crowd turnout, combined with a very strong Blues team will win this game.
Brett
If the blues forwards do the hard yards and create space for the backs then Im backing the Blues, but Stephen Brett is a threat hes a cross between Carter and Gear, skilful and fast so it should be a good game! GO the BLUES.
Simon
Blues will take it with the home advantage.The southern men are broken.
Bondie
Blues forwards are too big and powerful for Cantabs.It will be an easy win for Flavells men. 15 point win to Blues.
Darren Maslin
The All Black forwards of the northern team, should present enough dominance over a talented, but slightly inexperienced, Crusader pack. However, typical Blues lack of focus + A few jokers in the deck for the Red n' Blacks, including rising star Stephen Brett, may surprise the Blues. Crusaders to win in the last 10 minutes.
Rose
I believe in our team of cause- Blues. Of cause the
Blues are going to take the win, why wouldn't they?
Sean
The Blues look to have a strong team, and quite a bit of fire power in the backs. As long as the moves stick then they should win. Still a shame that Luke isnt starting as he is both a strong runner and defender, combined with Nacewa there would have been a lot of midfield breaks.
Peter
It will be very close but once again the Crusaders should take it.
