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Perth is the location where the Force is looking to beat 2 semi finalists in a row after leaving the Bulls emptyhanded last week. The Crusaders are coming to Perth to recover from their loss against the Highlanders in Nelson. With a 26-18 final score, it didn't even leave them a bonus point and losing that match, made them lose the position on the top of the Conference log.
The Western Force come off a win over the Bulls and their mid-season flow can get another boost with the return of David Pocock, Matt Hodgson and Mitch Inman and all 3 are likely to be able to play this weekend. If the Force manage to beat the Crusaders, it will mean a third win in a row for the Blue Brigade. Especially the return of Pocock and Inman will give the squad a boost. They have been out since the 3rd round when they lost to the Sharks at home.
The Crusaders are in a completely different situation. Having lost to the Highlanders, they struggle with injuries. Reuben Thorne, who played 129 Super Rugby matches and is the most capped Crusader. He last played for the Crusaders in 2008 in the team's Super Rugby final victory over the Waratahs at AMI Stadium.
Andy Ellis and Brad Thorn won't be playing in Perth since they are out with serious injuries. Ellis will be out 6 weeks with a dislocated thumb and Thorn has a calf injury which will force him to sit out at least 3 matches. Kieran Read won't be travelling to Perth but is joining the squad when they go to Cape Town to play the Stormers. Dan Carter is back in the mix and will likely be on the bench to save himself for the Stormers clash.
In the short history of the Western Force, they managed to win last year when playing the Crusaders at home. It was 24-16 after 80 minutes and it was the only time they managed to beat them. In the years before that, the Crusaders won twice, of which once in Perth (2008) and 2 other matches ended in a draw (23-23 in both 2006 and 2009).
2010 Western Force 24 - 16 Crusaders
2009 Crusaders 23 - 23 Western Force
2008 Western Force 24 - 29 Crusaders
2007 Crusaders 53 - 0 Western Force
2006 Western Force 23 - 23 Crusaders
* The Western Force only played Super Rugby since 2006