A question that's lingered over the past two Super Rugby campaigns is again rearing its black and red head: How can the Crusaders be stopped?
On Friday the Crusaders locked themselves in for a 22nd home play-off in the form of a semifinal when they host either the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Should they win, which has been the case since 1998, they'll host their sixth Super Rugby final.
The ones they hosted in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2018 all went their way in various ways.
It's clear the Crusaders can be beaten, but are they due a day off in a home play-off?
The indisputable fact is that they were the best team.
Away play-offs have been a different story but when they beat the Lions in the 2017 final, a myth was finally debunked.
With those home and away boxes ticked, what can actually stop the Crusaders from collecting a 10th title?
It'll have to be an inflated sense of self-belief.
If there was a bubble this season, it's been pricked three times by the Waratahs in Sydney, the Chiefs in Suva and the Sharks at home. The significant thing for the Crusaders is that they didn't lose to the Sharks at home, even though that 21-all draw posed some uncomfortable questions.
The 20-12 Waratahs loss on March 23 was their first game since the Christchurch terrorist shooting. Mentally, they didn't rock up for that game. The 40-27 defeat to the Chiefs on June 1 was a case of the Crusaders falling asleep after a 20-0 lead and the Chiefs showing more desire.
It's clear the Crusaders can be beaten, but are they due a day off in a home play-off?
That hasn't been the case since 1998 and nothing in the present suggests the trend will change.
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