Crusaders rate Reds attacking playbook

The Queensland Reds' attacking threats have Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder on edge ahead of their Super Rugby playoff match.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder rates the Queensland Reds a clever side who will be difficult to overcome in the Super Rugby elimination final on Saturday.

The Reds haven't won in Christchurch since 1999 but Blackadder wouldn't underestimate a side who welcome back injured pair Will Genia and captain James Horwill.

Halfback Genia always brought the best out of enigmatic five-eighth Quade Cooper, he said.

"They're very smart. They have a really good kicking game and, on attack, they're really flat so if you let their playmakers get over the gain line, you're in for a helluva day.

"We'll be at home which gives us the best opportunity to be ready for them. For us, this is a final, these are one-off games and we are not looking ahead."

The teams haven't met this year but the Reds hold the upper hand in their clashes in recent seasons.

After losing 11 games to the Crusaders from 1999 to 2009, Queensland bounced back to win the next three, including the 2011 final in Brisbane.

The Crusaders stopped the rot last year with a grim 15-11 win in Christchurch, where the Reds scored the only try through hooker James Hanson in the first minute but paid for ill-discipline as Tom Taylor slotted five penalties for the hosts.

"That was just a slugfest," Blackadder said.

"It was a set-piece battle. These games, you are not there for bonus points - you're just there to win them."

All Blacks lock Luke Romano, recovered from an ankle injury, replaces Tom Donnelly in the only change to the Crusaders' starting side who beat the Hurricanes last week.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is among the reserves.

The winners of the game between the fourth-ranked Crusaders and fifth-ranked Reds will travel to play their semi-final, against the top-qualifying Chiefs in Hamilton or the second-ranked Bulls in Pretoria.


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Source: AAP


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