Stormers v Crusaders: Teams

The Crusaders will look to repeat their heroics from 1999 when they take on the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.

It was 12 years ago that the last side won an away Super Rugby semi-final - the Crusaders beating Queensland Reds 28-22 at Brisbane before overcoming the Highlanders in the final.

The Stormers were the ones who earned themselves a two-week break after finishing in the top positions at the end of the regular-season, but it is not they who are rested and boosted by returning players. In fact they are minus powerful back-row Duane Vermeulen while the Crusaders welcome back Richie McCaw.

Crusaders backs coach Daryl Gibson has already revealed that the travelling New Zealanders are boosted by the knowledge they have already won in Cape Town this season, with a depleted XV no less. For those who don't remember, it was when Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland, Kahn Fotuali'i and Adam Whitelock departed injured.

Praise

That game on Saturday, May 7 poked a lot of holes in the Stormers side, who were themselves missing a key player in the shape of playmaker Peter Grant. They now realise they would not get a better chance to beat these Kiwis. They blew it, plain and simple, but that shouldn't rule them out of repeating their 2010 win this week.

The visitors come into this clash arguably one player shy of their strongest XV. That man is full-back Dagg but even he would have been impressed with the form understudy Tom Marshall has been displaying during recent weeks. Marshall is similar to Dagg in that he is a gliding runner and backs himself for a gap. He'll join forces for the second week in succession with Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland, who'll look to pick off any spaces available in this stingy Stormers' defensive line.

And what a win it would be for the Kiwis in the aftermath of the earthquake tragedy in Christchurch, something Todd Blackadder cannot praise his players for enough.

"We are a beacon of hope for the community and the guys want to do well for the Crusaders supporters when they're going through such hardships," he said.

"To make excuses is not what we're about and I've not heard one excuse from any of our guys, which shows how committed they are to the cause."

Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Schalk Brits, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Johann Sadie.

Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Ryan Crotty.