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Sydney - Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder says he cannot believe the Waratahs agreed to move the Super Rugby final away from their regular home ground.
The Waratahs host the Crusaders in Saturday’s final but the men from Sydney have opted not to play it at the ground were they have been unbeaten all season.
The Waratahs opted not to play the match at their regular ground, the 44 000-capacity Sydney Football Stadium. It will instead be held at the Olympic Stadium, which holds 83 500 fans. The Waratahs have already sold 50 000 tickets for the final and could break the record of 54 000 that was set at Kings Park in 2007, when the Bulls beat the Sharks.
Blackadder said the Crusaders will look to capitalise on the fact that the final will be played on a ground where neither team have played this year.
"There is no way I would ever give up home advantage to anyone," he told AFP.
"I don't think it will make a difference to them ... but for us it is just the psychological aspect. Going to a neutral stadium is just fantastic."
Saturday's final kicks off at 11:40 (SA time).
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes (from): 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 24 Peter Betham
Crusaders:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Kieron Fonotia, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Johnny McNicholl
The Waratahs host the Crusaders in Saturday’s final but the men from Sydney have opted not to play it at the ground were they have been unbeaten all season.
The Waratahs opted not to play the match at their regular ground, the 44 000-capacity Sydney Football Stadium. It will instead be held at the Olympic Stadium, which holds 83 500 fans. The Waratahs have already sold 50 000 tickets for the final and could break the record of 54 000 that was set at Kings Park in 2007, when the Bulls beat the Sharks.
Blackadder said the Crusaders will look to capitalise on the fact that the final will be played on a ground where neither team have played this year.
"There is no way I would ever give up home advantage to anyone," he told AFP.
"I don't think it will make a difference to them ... but for us it is just the psychological aspect. Going to a neutral stadium is just fantastic."
Saturday's final kicks off at 11:40 (SA time).
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes (from): 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 24 Peter Betham
Crusaders:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Kieron Fonotia, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Johnny McNicholl
