WHEN the Bulls and Crusaders run out on to the Orlando Stadium pitch tomorrow afternoon in the first semifinal of this year's Super 14 competition, history will favour the home side.
WHEN the Bulls and Crusaders run out on to the Orlando Stadium pitch tomorrow afternoon in the first semifinal of this year's Super 14 competition, history will favour the home side.
The last time a team won a semifinal away from home was in Sydney, Australia, back in 2002 when the Brumbies beat the Waratahs 52-10.
Another fact that favours the Bulls is that in the past nine years, on only four occasions have the No 1 side on the log not gone on to claim the trophy.
But history has a funny way of making fools of sportsmen and women and if the Bulls believe all they have to do is turn up at Orlando Stadium at 5pm for the kickoff, they could be a very sorry lot when the final whistle sounds.
The Bulls have only had one practice this week, but coach Frans Ludeke believes it is enough.
"The guys are fit and rested and we've covered everything. Our supporters will be here and at the end of the day we are still playing within four lines," the coach said.
In flyhalf Morne Steyn, the Bulls have a match winner. Steyn already has 219 points to his name, just three points away from setting a Super 14 record for points in a season, which is held by his opposite number tomorrow, Dan Carter.
Also in the Crusaders line-up and looking to make a big impression is the captain, Richie McCaw.
He was outplayed by his opposite number Deon Stegmann when they clashed two weeks ago at Loftus, but McCaw is the player for the big occasion.
l The Stormers and Waratahs will fight it out at Newlands, Cape Town, in the second semifinal, starting at 7.10pm.
History favours Bulls to win the Super 14
WHEN the Bulls and Crusaders run out on to the Orlando Stadium pitch tomorrow afternoon in the first semifinal of this year's Super 14 competition, history will favour the home side.
WHEN the Bulls and Crusaders run out on to the Orlando Stadium pitch tomorrow afternoon in the first semifinal of this year's Super 14 competition, history will favour the home side.
The last time a team won a semifinal away from home was in Sydney, Australia, back in 2002 when the Brumbies beat the Waratahs 52-10.
Another fact that favours the Bulls is that in the past nine years, on only four occasions have the No 1 side on the log not gone on to claim the trophy.
But history has a funny way of making fools of sportsmen and women and if the Bulls believe all they have to do is turn up at Orlando Stadium at 5pm for the kickoff, they could be a very sorry lot when the final whistle sounds.
The Bulls have only had one practice this week, but coach Frans Ludeke believes it is enough.
"The guys are fit and rested and we've covered everything. Our supporters will be here and at the end of the day we are still playing within four lines," the coach said.
In flyhalf Morne Steyn, the Bulls have a match winner. Steyn already has 219 points to his name, just three points away from setting a Super 14 record for points in a season, which is held by his opposite number tomorrow, Dan Carter.
Also in the Crusaders line-up and looking to make a big impression is the captain, Richie McCaw.
He was outplayed by his opposite number Deon Stegmann when they clashed two weeks ago at Loftus, but McCaw is the player for the big occasion.
l The Stormers and Waratahs will fight it out at Newlands, Cape Town, in the second semifinal, starting at 7.10pm.
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