SupeRugby Knock-Outs Recap:

The first ever SupeRugby Wildcard Knock-Outs are complete and we have our four Semi-Finalists locked and loaded for this weekend.

• The Blues stepped up to the plate in fine form as they beat the Waratahs convincingly. All was pretty much said and done in the 62nd minute when the Blues were 23-8 ahead. The Waratahs just couldn't seem to get their game on and were beating by a very solid Blues. Blues winning 26-13
• The Sharks succumbed to the most successful team in SupeRugby history and I can only wonder how it would have turned out if the Sharks had not made so many silly mistakes in the first 20 minutes. Dan Carter was extremely solid and you felt the Crusaders were just biding their time and executing their game plan.  Crusaders winning 36-8

Team of the Week: Blues and Crusaders (No Brainer)
Player of the Week: Dan Carter
WTF of the Week: Bryce Lawrence's retarded call of dangerous play against Sharks scrum

Looking at the four teams in the Semi's, as a neutral, you can only be happy that the four top teams have made it.  This weeks games are going to be epic encounters and all the teams will be deserved finalists, whoever makes it.

SupeRugby PreJudgement: Crusaders v Sharks

V

The Sharks take on the Crusaders in Nelson on Saturday to break a hoodoo that borders on the impossible. The Sharks have never beaten the Crusaders in a 'home' game in 15 years. The Crusaders have never lost a home knock-out game in their history. Record Breakers or Record Holders?                                                

SA Players Abroad: Scott Mathie (Leeds Carnegie)

At 1.79m and weighing just shy of 90kg's Scott Mathie was born in Durban early in 1983. Mathie has played for Leeds since 2008 but prior to that played Currie Cup and SupeRugby for the Sharks.
At the Sharks he played behind Ruan Pienaar and Rory Kockott in his first few seasons there. After Kockott injured himself Mathie forced his way back into the first team set up. 
Leeds Carnegie are at the bottom of the Aviva Premiership and face relegation, Head Coach Neil Back has also quit citing he has done all in his power and can do no more.

SA Players Abroad: BJ Botha (Ulster)

Botha is a Durban boy through and through. Born and bread in Durban he was schooled at Durban High School and Kloof High School. All Currie Cup and SupeRugby (Super 14) was played at the Sharks who he represented from 2001-2008.

Botha received a Springbok call up in 2006 and has represented the National team 18 times. He signed for Ulster in 2008 and is currently still playing in Ireland. He faces a tough challenge in Brian Mujati of Northampton Saints in this weekends Heineken Cup Quarter Finals.

SA Players Abroad: Brian Mujati (Northampton Saints)

Mujati is a Zimbabwean born Springbok Rugby player. Ironically he went to the same school as the Springboks 'other' import, Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira who is currently playing for the Sharks. Mujati started his career at the Lions and played there for two seasons before moving to the Stormers.
He has been capped 12 times for the Springboks at prop. 2009 saw him moving to the northern hemisphere to play for the Saints where he has played 33 games for the Club and cemented himself as a first choice player in the team.. He faced a long ban last season as he was accused of pushing referee Nigel Owens in their Heineken Cup Defeat to Perpignan.
Mujati will be hoping this this years Heineken Cup fairs better than last seasons as the Saints are in the last Eight and Face Pedrie Wannenberg's Ulster team in the Quarters. See Fixtures here.

SupeRugby game at Twickenham

Twickers - The Cabbage Patch

This Sunday at 4pm (5pm South African Time) history will be made as Twickenham will host its first SupeRugby game. The game between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Sharks.
The game has been moved due to the Crusaders being unable to use their home ground after the devastating earthquake a few weeks ago.
There are at least 10 billion South African and New Zealand expats in London alone so I can imagine the ticket sales will be interesting especially since over 30 000 tickets were sold in just under a day and a half.
The Sharks will be without star flyhalf Patrick Lambie who is replaced by new signing Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
The Crusaders have come off some monster wins and are really getting into their stride which, is a problem for every team they play right now.