Auckland - The All Blacks coach is not sitting on the fence when it comes to New Zealand's sole involvement in the weekend's Super 14 semi-finals.
Graham Henry is tipping the Crusaders to upset the defending champions, Bulls, in Soweto on Saturday.
"I think they'll win," said Henry when asked his thoughts on the Crusaders' chances of ending a run of two straight semi-final exits at the hands of the Bulls.
"I've been very impressed by the way they've played over the last couple of weeks. I think they've played the game bloody well.
"If I was a betting man, I would pick the Crusaders to play the Stormers in the final, but I know very little about the game as you know," Henry said with his trademark wry grin.
Teams:
Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Derick Kuün, 20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21. Stephan Dippenaar, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg
Crusaders:
15. Colin Slade, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Daniel Bowden, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (captain), 6. George Whitelock, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Ti’i Paulo, 1. Ben Franks
Substitutes: 16. Daniel Perrin, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Chris Jack, 19. Thomas Waldrom, 20. Kahn Fotuali’i, 21. Tim Bateman, 22. Jared Payne
Graham Henry is tipping the Crusaders to upset the defending champions, Bulls, in Soweto on Saturday.
"I think they'll win," said Henry when asked his thoughts on the Crusaders' chances of ending a run of two straight semi-final exits at the hands of the Bulls.
"I've been very impressed by the way they've played over the last couple of weeks. I think they've played the game bloody well.
"If I was a betting man, I would pick the Crusaders to play the Stormers in the final, but I know very little about the game as you know," Henry said with his trademark wry grin.
Teams:
Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Derick Kuün, 20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21. Stephan Dippenaar, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg
Crusaders:
15. Colin Slade, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Daniel Bowden, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (captain), 6. George Whitelock, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Ti’i Paulo, 1. Ben Franks
Substitutes: 16. Daniel Perrin, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Chris Jack, 19. Thomas Waldrom, 20. Kahn Fotuali’i, 21. Tim Bateman, 22. Jared Payne