The Crusaders will take on the Hurricanes in Christchurch at 3.35 this afternoon in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The Hurricanes are the last team to beat them at home.
Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch has become an impenetrable fortress for the Red and Blacks with just two losses coming at the ground in the last four and half years.
The Hurricanes will be buoyed by the fact both of those losses have come against them.
The most recent was in the last clash between the sides in July 2020.
A Wes Goosen double and five penalty goals from Jordie Barrett helped steer the Hurricanes to a memorable 34-32 win over the eventual champions.
The Hurricanes will no doubt use that victory as inspiration as they seek rare back-to-back victories over the Crusaders.
Super Rugby Aotearoa is stacked full of world-class head-to-head match-ups but not many are as big as the one between flyers Sevu Reece and Julian Savea.
At their peak, both players have been rated among the most devastating finishers in the world.
Julian Savea was arguably at his finest during the 2015 Rugby World Cup while Reece was nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award during his outstanding 2019 season.
This will be the first time the two x-factor stars have crossed paths in Super Rugby and will most certainly be worth the wait.
The Crusaders meet the Hurricanes at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch at 3.35 this afternoon.
Crusaders:
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor (VC) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Scott Barrett (C) 5. Samuel Whitelock 6. Ethan Blackadder 7. Tom Christie 8. Cullen Grace 9. Mitchell Drummond 10. Richie Mo'unga 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku 12. Dallas McLeod 13. Jack Goodhue 14. Sevu Reece 15. David Havili (VC)
Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Sione Havili Talitui, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Will Jordan
Hurricanes:
1: Fraser Armstrong 2: Asafo Aumua 3: Tyrel Lomax 4: James Blackwell 5: Isaia Walker-Leaware 6: Reed Prinsep 7: Du’Plessis Kirifi 8: Ardie Savea © 9: Jonathan Taumateine 10: Jackson Garden-Bachop 11: Julian Savea 12: Ngani Laumape 13: Peter Umaga-Jensen 14: Wes Goosen 15: Jordie Barrett
Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Liam Mitchell, Devan Flanders, Luke Campbell, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi.
[Source: www.superrugby.co.nz]
