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Crusaders, Sharks shape up for fierce struggle in Durban

Six-time champions Canterbury Crusaders can put the heat on their leading two Super 14 rugby rivals the Auckland Blues and the Wellington Hurricanes by ending the Sharks' unbeaten run in Durban tomorrow.

The Crusaders burst back into title contention with a spectacular 49-28 win over the Cheetahs last weekend, as the Blues and the Hurricanes overtook the Sharks, who had the last weekend off.

Canterbury, the benchmark team in the southern hemisphere provincial tournament, are in fifth place, just one point behind the Sharks heading into the fifth week of the series.

Coach Robbie Deans is urging his Crusaders to be more aggressive against the Sharks in anticipated sweltering conditions.

"If we are going to live with the Sharks on their home patch, we are going to need to be more aggressive and impose ourselves more in the contact area than we've been able to so far this year," Deans said yesterday.

Stiff test

The Sharks, who have beaten the Bulls, NSW Waratahs and Otago Highlanders, all at home, know this will be the stiffest test of their early season flourish.

"This will our toughest match so far," Dick Muir said. "The margin of the win [over the Cheetahs] in Bloemfontein was surprising after the Crusaders had lost to the Lions the week before, but at the same time we knew it was only a matter of time before a team of their pedigree came right."

The Auckland Blues kick off the weekend with a New Zealand derby against Otago Highlanders at home today with winger Rudi Wulf replacing injured Anthony Tuitavake.

Otago, traditionally strong in the forwards, bounced back last week with a 35-24 win over the Stormers in Dunedin to move into sixth place, level on points with Canterbury.

Up against it

The Stormers appear to have a job ahead of them against the second-placed Hurricanes in Palmerston North tomorrow.

The Cape Town-based franchise have just one win in four starts and a difficult schedule over the next month, while the Hurricanes snatched victory after the final siren at home last week against the ACT Brumbies.

The Brumbies will again be without skipper Stirling Mortlock, who is still feeling the effects of a high tackle nearly a fortnight ago, against the Bulls in Canberra tomorrow.

Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham is also out with a chest injury, making way for utility back Julian Huxley.

The Lions are looking for their fourth win on the trot against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane tomorrow, having dispatched the Highlanders, Crusaders and the Force to move into fourth spot.

The injury-hit Waratahs will have their first home game of the season today against the Force with hooker Adam Freier taking over as captain after regular skipper Phil Waugh was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.

In the remaining game, the Cheetahs host the Chiefs in Bloemfontein today.
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