History bodes badly for Bulls

2006-05-19 11:07

Christchurch - Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer hoped the media would spend this week writing off his team's Super 14 rugby semi-final chances to fire up his players.

But he need only to refer his men to the history books to make them realise they are massive underdogs against the Crusaders at Jade stadium.

Perhaps the most weighty of all the statistics pointing to a Crusaders victory is their semi-final record in the Super 12.

They have won all seven appearances in the semi-finals, a remarkable achievement dating back to 1998.

They have played in every final since then except in 2001, when they failed to reach the play-offs.

The Bulls have reached just two previous semi-finals, both away from home. They were thrashed by the Blues in the competition's inaugural year, 1996, and last year went down heavily to the Waratahs.

It was also 1996 when the Bulls, known then as Northern Transvaal, last won in Christchurch.

They have lost the four subsequent visits, with the average score reading 49-21 to the hosts. That was boosted by the South African franchise's heaviest-ever defeat, 75-27 in 2000.

The Crusaders have won their last 19 home games dating back to a loss to the Blues in February 2004. That defeat stands alone among 33 wins in their last 34 matches at home.

Aside from their tight win over the Waratahs, the Crusaders have been at least 23 points better than all their opponents at Jade stadium this year.

- Rugby Heaven