History beckons for Crusadors

History is in the making at Jade Stadium on Saturday night. Not only will either the Crusaders or Hurricanes be crowned the inaugural Super 14 champions at the conclusion of Saturday’s final, but the Crusaders will create some history of their own if they are successful.
A win on Saturday night will give the Crusaders their 21st consecutive home victory eclipsing the previous Super rugby record set by the Blues between 1996 and 1998. The five-time champions have not been beaten at home since February 27 2004 when the Blues knocked over the red’n blacks 38-29. The 20 straight wins to date includes two victories at alternate home venues from Christchurch’s Jade Stadium – one in Nelson and one in Timaru.

The Crusaders’ previous best home record stood at 15 victories achieved between 2002 and 2004. Despite this remarkable run of home victories, Saturday’s final will be only the third Super rugby final to be hosted by the Crusaders – the other two being 2002 and last year. It will however be the Crusaders’ eighth appearance in a Super rugby final and their fifth consecutive final. They will be chasing their sixth Super rugby title from the 11 years of Super 12 and 14 competitions.

The Crusaders’ current home winning run:
2004
Beat Highlanders 46-29
Beat Brumbies 47-28
Beat Bulls 40-21
Beat Stormers 24-9
Beat Stormers (semifinal) 27-16

2005
Beat Chiefs 50-18
Beat Reds in Nelson 59-24
Beat Cats 40-36
Beat Sharks 77-34
Beat Hurricanes 40-20
Beat Hurricanes (semi) 47-7
Beat Waratahs (final) 35-25

2006
Beat Highlanders 38-15
Beat Sharks in Timaru 22-20
Beat Blues 39-10
Beat Cats 43-15
Beat Waratahs 17-11
Beat Cheetahs 53-17
Beat Brumbies 33-3
Beat Bulls (semi) 35-15

News source: http://www.crfu.co.nz/crfu_anx/index.cfm/1,111,html