The 2010 Super 14 semi finals are upon us. It’s been a great season thus far,and one of the most evenly contested Super Rugby seasons ever, with a number of teams making a strong statement throughout the season, but at the end of the day, it can only come down to four.

Let’s have a look at a few of the match-ups and see who’s who for Saturday’s games. First things first:

Bulls VS Crusaders:

The Crusaders are the all time most successful team in Super Rugby, winning the competition 7 times in total, with their closest rivals (the Blues) on only 3 wins.

The Bulls, on the other hand, have been one of the teams who have dominated Super rugby over the last few years, winning the competition in 2007, annihilating the Chiefs in the 2009 final, and leading the log most of the way this year.

Factors to take into account:

  • The Loftus Factor: Possibly the biggest factor in the first of Saturday’s semi finals will be the fact that the Bulls are not playing their home semi at fortress Loftus. Although they will still be playing at altitude, Loftus is to them what Samson’s hair was to him, their strength.
  • The horned Bulls’ faithful: The Bulls are perhaps the most widely supported team in the competition, and their supporters will be treking to Orlando in droves, giving their players the support they need to pull through the toughest of match-ups.
  • The near loss: The Crusaders had the Bulls’ number in he last match-up between these two teams, with the Bull only just snatching the victory in the dying moments of the game. The Crusaders were livid about what they thought was a dodgy call, but either way, they learned a lot about how to beat the Bulls during that game.
  • The Bakkies Botha Suspension: The Bull would definitely have been looking forward to the impact of Botha, the enforcer, but their are also those who think Russouw should have ahead the nod ahead of Botha to begin with.
  • Defence: This is semi final rugby, and one defensive error could cost you a place in the final. The Bulls’ defense has been alarmingly bad at times this season.

Head to head:

  • Gary Botha VS Tii Paulo: Both #2′s have been in great form all season, both are no nonsense, hard players who play well with ball in hand. i put them on even terms. Should be a great battle.
  • Danie Russouw VS Brad Thorn: Brad Thorn is he All Black equivalent of the enforcer, but is getting to his sell by date. Russouw is no spring chicken himself, but is a better ball carrier than Thorn. Both are tough in the tight play and scrum well. Should be one of the best match-ups of the game.
  • Spies et al VS McCaw et al: Each team has a formidable loose trio. Richie McCaw is the stalwart of the Crusaders’ team, whilst Pierre Spies is the definition of machine. Potgieter and Ried are both decent players, an both will be on the international scene or some time to come. Whitelock is a relative new comer, but won’t let his side down, whilst Stegman is a decent fetcher, but is hot headed and a penalty liability, and that counts in a semi.
  • du Preez and Steyn VS Ellis and Carter: Both half back combinations have a lot of experience playing together, both are international combinations and each consist of one of the best players in the game. Not much between the two, should be a great pre Tri Nations match up.
  • Francois Hougaard VS Zac Guildford: (I know they won’t be facing each other directly, but are sure to come head to head in the interplay) Each wing is a relative youngster, each has played representative rugby for their respective country at age group levels and each has been on fire this season, with Hougaard being the hero of their last match-up, and Guildford set to become a superstar for years to come. I would love to see a one on one footrace between these two young superstars.

Where we put them at the begining of the season:

No surprises here…

  • BSR’s prediction for the Bulls’ best possible finish: definite playoff contenders [full article here]
  • BSR’s prediction for the Crusaders’ best possible finish: definite playoff contenders [full article here]

Our prediction for the Orlando clash:

It is going to be a tough game, possibly one of the toughest the competition has ever seen, but if you’re a betting man you’ll know that the Bulls will go into the game as favourites. The question will be whether they come out of it the same. I’ll put the Bulls to take it, but only just. By 6 or less.