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Pretoria - The Bulls have the unique distinction of being the only team ever to defeat the Crusaders in a Super rugby semi-final.
The 2007 champions will be looking to repeat that feat when they host the defending champions in their 2009 Super 14 semi-final clash at Loftus Versfeld at 15h00 on Saturday.
The Crusaders have reached the playoffs on 10 occasions between 1998 and 2008 with the only defeat being a 27-12 loss against the Bulls in Pretoria in 2007. They progressed to nine finals during this period, winning a record seven titles.
In 2007, after their hard fought win over the most successful team in Super Rugby, the Bulls went on to secure their first and only Super Rugby title with a 20-19 win over the Sharks in Durban.
The Bulls have appeared in the semi-finals of the competition on four previous occasions, two of these against the Crusaders, in 2007 and also in 2006 when they were defeated 35-15 in Christchurch.
In their previous 16 meetings since the inception of Super Rugby in 1996, the Bulls have won 5 and the Crusaders 11. The Bulls have a 50 percent success rate over the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld with each side having won four of the previous eight encounters at the Bulls’ fortress. In their last meeting at the venue in 2008, the Crusaders won 54-19.
The Bulls’ biggest-ever win over the New Zealanders was a 34-18 win in Christchurch way back in 1996 when they were still known as Northern Transvaal. Their biggest win in recent times was a 35-20 triumph in Pretoria in 2005.
The Crusaders’ biggest victory over the Bulls was a 75-27 thrashing in Christchurch in 2000.
While the Crusaders have been a dominant force in Super Rugby over the past decade, the Bulls have been one of the teams that have come to the fore over the past few seasons. They topped the Super 14 log in 2009 with just three defeats in their 13 league matches.
The Crusaders won 8 out of 13 on their way to claiming fourth place in the standings. The champions have been rebuilding but boast the second best defensive record in the tournament, conceding only 22 tries in 13 matches.
The Bulls, with 37, have scored ten tries more than the Crusaders.
As was the case two seasons back, the Bulls will be carried by the sea of blue in the Loftus stands. If they can settle quickly and put their pack in control they will remain on course for a second final appearance in three seasons.
The 2007 champions will be looking to repeat that feat when they host the defending champions in their 2009 Super 14 semi-final clash at Loftus Versfeld at 15h00 on Saturday.
The Crusaders have reached the playoffs on 10 occasions between 1998 and 2008 with the only defeat being a 27-12 loss against the Bulls in Pretoria in 2007. They progressed to nine finals during this period, winning a record seven titles.
In 2007, after their hard fought win over the most successful team in Super Rugby, the Bulls went on to secure their first and only Super Rugby title with a 20-19 win over the Sharks in Durban.
The Bulls have appeared in the semi-finals of the competition on four previous occasions, two of these against the Crusaders, in 2007 and also in 2006 when they were defeated 35-15 in Christchurch.
In their previous 16 meetings since the inception of Super Rugby in 1996, the Bulls have won 5 and the Crusaders 11. The Bulls have a 50 percent success rate over the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld with each side having won four of the previous eight encounters at the Bulls’ fortress. In their last meeting at the venue in 2008, the Crusaders won 54-19.
The Bulls’ biggest-ever win over the New Zealanders was a 34-18 win in Christchurch way back in 1996 when they were still known as Northern Transvaal. Their biggest win in recent times was a 35-20 triumph in Pretoria in 2005.
The Crusaders’ biggest victory over the Bulls was a 75-27 thrashing in Christchurch in 2000.
While the Crusaders have been a dominant force in Super Rugby over the past decade, the Bulls have been one of the teams that have come to the fore over the past few seasons. They topped the Super 14 log in 2009 with just three defeats in their 13 league matches.
The Crusaders won 8 out of 13 on their way to claiming fourth place in the standings. The champions have been rebuilding but boast the second best defensive record in the tournament, conceding only 22 tries in 13 matches.
The Bulls, with 37, have scored ten tries more than the Crusaders.
As was the case two seasons back, the Bulls will be carried by the sea of blue in the Loftus stands. If they can settle quickly and put their pack in control they will remain on course for a second final appearance in three seasons.
