Rugby: Read set to boost Crusaders

Sonny Bill Williams will ask plenty of questions of the Stormers' midfield. Photo / Getty Images

Two cracking New Zealand derbies loom this week for normal Super rugby viewing consumption.

The Blues head to the capital on Friday to face the unpredictable Hurricanes before the Chiefs and Highlanders duel the next night in Hamilton.

But if an alarm clock is your friend, the Crusaders' early Sunday meeting with the Stormers in Cape Town offers the most intrigue.

The Crusaders, the consistent flagship New Zealand side for many seasons, meet the Stormers who have become a brick wall in Cape Town.

This year the Crusaders have claimed 36 tries and conceded 18 while the Stormers have scored 16 times but yielded only six tries.

The Sharks are not short of attacking clout but they became the latest side to feel that defensive clamp yesterday when they were restricted to four penalty successes in their visit to Cape Town.

Next up: the Crusaders, a side chockful of test players, venom and a history of success.

They had a close squeak yesterday in Perth, starting like a firestorm with Israel Dagg in peerless touch, losing their way then surging again to a 42-30 win with two late converted tries.

Opensider Richie McCaw was back from his foot injury, sinbinned for ruck offences by referee Vinny Munro but got in some invaluable match practice against another returning gladiator David Pocock. Lungs good, foot fine, was McCaw's verdict. Bewdy.

His return and an expected reappearance from captain Kieran Read will bolster the side for a massive looseforward confrontation this week.

Schalk Burger has been in rumbustious form leading the Stormers' defensive line with Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen.

Then there will be the midfield markup between Sonny Bill Williams and Jean de Villiers, the frontrow scrap, the lineout comparisons. The list goes on.

One more element has to be mentioned, though.

Daniel Carter's hamstring injury is improving and his inclusion this weekend will slip another factor into the match predictions.

First up, though: the leaders. The Blues produced a pragmatic template to outduel the Highlanders at Carisbrook. It is not a formula the Blues have been able to produce with any consistency but they stuck to their plan and, backed by Luke McAlister's strong goalkicking, claimed the prize.

Now they set off to challenge the Hurricanes, a side who celebrated captain Andrew Hore's 100th game with a win on the back of Aaron Cruden's injury-time penalty.

The five eighths had missed several other chances but nailed this one to see off the high-rolling Reds.

It was a decent result, one they had to work hard for after sailing out to handy halftime advantage.

They will need to be much sharper to sort out the Blues but most thought the Hurricanes would also struggle against the Reds.

The erratic Chiefs are on their way back from South Africa, with a rugged next exam from the Highlanders.

At one stage, the Chiefs bolted to a 20-3 lead against the Bulls. But then in everyone's language and every mathematician's workings, they conceded a huge scoreline.

They yielded 40 points while collecting just seven as the holes in their tight five were exposed in a shabby period after halftime.

Three converted tries in eight minutes took the game away from them as the Bulls' driving play splintered the visitors.

That frailty will have warmed the next expectation from Jamie Joseph and his Highlanders.

Dave Rennie's job next year with the Chiefs seems to expand with every inspection.