The Star: July 19, 2018

44
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday July 19 2018
Sport
• By Christopher Reive
WINNING THEIR final match
of the Super Rugby season, the
Sharks locked away the eighth
seed. Their reward? A trip
to Christchurch to meet the
Crusaders in the quarter-finals.
The Crusaders haven’t looked
like losing a game since the
Highlanders put them away on
March 17. But when Saturday’s
do or die play-off match arrives,
count the Sharks out at your
folly. There’s something about
facing New Zealand franchises
that brings out the best in them.
The side travelled to New
Zealand twice during the regular
season and put on the best of
their performances away from
home against Kiwi opposition.
They put 63 points on the
Blues at Eden Park, then fell agonisingly
short against the Hurricanes
in Napier – with an Ihaia
West sideline conversion more
than 5min after the hooter had
sounded giving the Hurricanes a
one-point win.
At home, the Sharks were
dominant. Winning six of their
seven home fixtures, they got
the better of both the Chiefs and
the Highlanders along the way.
Of their seven wins this season,
three came against Kiwi teams.
Unlike many other teams, the
Sharks drawing a Kiwi franchise
in the opening round probably
wasn’t the worst case scenario for
them. In 24 matches against New
Zealand sides since the beginning
of 2013, the Sharks have
a 12-12 record. They will also
bring confidence in being the
only South African team to have
beaten the Crusaders at home
since 2001, and one of only two
non-New Zealand teams to win
in Christchurch in the past five
Super Rugby seasons.
Travelling to Christchurch for
a knock-out match is a daunting
task for any side, especially
given the form the Crusaders are
currently in. The hosts will go in
as the clear favourites – as well
they should – and will probably
come out with the win. However,
Local
News
Now
The Star
Sharks not to be taken lightly in quarter-final
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hurricanes v chiefs
2 John McCann 6 81
crusaders v sharks
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