Crusaders relish Bulls challenge

SYDNEY – Crusaders’ Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter are relishing the huge challenge of playing their Super 14 semi-final against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

The All Blacks captain and flyhalf are fully aware of the size of their task in front of 60 000 South African fans after the defending champions surprisingly failed to secure a home semi-final. “If you’re going to come out on the right side of one, to do it there would be pretty special,” McCaw told New Zealand Press Association.”We all realise it’s going to be a bit noisy so the big thing is not to feel lonely.”Sometimes when you get under the pump, it gets tight and you can’t hear the guy beside you, you think you’re on your own.But you’ve just got to realise that you can use that atmosphere to get excited.”The Crusaders have won their last three games against the Bulls, and Carter is confident of another victory.”Early in the game they get pretty fired up and sometimes the best way to get around that is by turning them around,” he said.”It gets their big boys running around the field and not get that physical nature they’re after.”But there is space out wide and other areas to attack so we’ll bring quite a mixture to our game this weekend.”Carter acknowledged that this year’s Bulls are not just a huge pack of forwards.”They’re getting good ball as usual from that forward pack but they’re scoring some great tries from 60-70m out and I guess that’s something they’ve really turned around this year,” Carter said.”It’s not just the big monstrous forward pack to worry about any more.They drive and play territory, which I’m sure they’ll do, but they’ve definitely got those tryscorers out wide.”Carter, prop Wyatt Crockett and scrumhalf Kevin Senio have shaken off minor injuries and are fit to face the Bulls.Nampa-Reuters”If you’re going to come out on the right side of one, to do it there would be pretty special,” McCaw told New Zealand Press Association.”We all realise it’s going to be a bit noisy so the big thing is not to feel lonely.”Sometimes when you get under the pump, it gets tight and you can’t hear the guy beside you, you think you’re on your own.But you’ve just got to realise that you can use that atmosphere to get excited.”The Crusaders have won their last three games against the Bulls, and Carter is confident of another victory.”Early in the game they get pretty fired up and sometimes the best way to get around that is by turning them around,” he said.”It gets their big boys running around the field and not get that physical nature they’re after.”But there is space out wide and other areas to attack so we’ll bring quite a mixture to our game this weekend.”Carter acknowledged that this year’s Bulls are not just a huge pack of forwards.”They’re getting good ball as usual from that forward pack but they’re scoring some great tries from 60-70m out and I guess that’s something they’ve really turned around this year,” Carter said.”It’s not just the big monstrous forward pack to worry about any more.They drive and play territory, which I’m sure they’ll do, but they’ve definitely got those tryscorers out wide.”Carter, prop Wyatt Crockett and scrumhalf Kevin Senio have shaken off minor injuries and are fit to face the Bulls.Nampa-Reuters