Nope. I will be surprised if you can get more that $1.30 to back the Saders.
If there's one thing to come out of this season, it is the side that takes thier opposition lightly gets beaten.Crusaders are currently $1.23 to $4.20 for the Bulls on sportsbet. I would say this is pretty accurate with the Bulls having to travel so far and assuming the Crusaders have a fully fit side. Crusaders by 8 and the same goes for the Reds against the Sharks basically. Both those SA sides are capable though, so they'll be great games to watch hopefully.
Anybody giving the Bulls a chance?
The only teams the Bulls have beaten since round 12 were their perennial bitches the Lions and Cheetahs and should consider themselves lucky they also got to play the Rebels, Waratahs, Blues and Higlanders. They may have had the most favourable draw to get into the finals.
Hosting the Bulls is likely to punch the Crusaders in the pocket.
Although Saturday night's Super Rugby qualifying final at AMI Stadium offers the franchise the chance to earn extra revenue through gate takings, it is likely to be offset by a series of large fees.
Sanzar dictates teams hosting a qualifying final must pay the visiting side $96,000.
This increases to $128,000 for the semis and $160,000 for the grand final. In addition to paying the Bulls the visitors' fee, the Crusaders must meet the South African team's flights, accommodation and food costs.
When the Crusaders hosted the Durban-based Sharks for last year's qualifying final in Nelson, the transport, accommodation and food bill hit $126,000.
In addition, they drew a crowd of only 12,000 at Trafalgar Park.
Although the Bulls' expenses will be less because there will be no need for as many connecting flights, they will still be significant.
To aid their recovery following last weekend's match against the Lions, the South Africans are entitled to travel business or first-class and will stay at the Clearwater Resort on the outskirts of Christchurch.
Bulls have every chance to beat them.
Bulls have every chance to beat them.
The home crowd don't appear to care, so long as their team wins. Far too many booed the referee at the weekend when he quite correctly disallowed two tries, one for a grotesquely forward pass, the other when Adam Whitelock was in danger of getting to the tryline ahead of the ball, he was so far offside.
Despite plenty of individual brilliance and decency, the Crusaders have become an unappealing bunch. Maybe something decent died when Brad Thorn left.
Whatever the cause, I hope the Crusaders lose and come back next season with a proper respect for referees.
bhaha i read this atrtical first thing this morning. there was 1 comment saying this will rattle a few cages there is now over 400 comment haha touchie much
source:http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/7296554/Serial-cheats-Crusaders-prosper-by-conning-refs
Added for Curry flavour.
Do you really think so?IMHO, the Bulls will also be vulnerable having had a more physically demanding run up to the finals. This will tell in the last 20 minutes.