Crusaders crack into top gear
1 Jun 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that the Crusaders were at their brutal and clinical best in the 51-18 hammering of the Highlanders in Christchurch.
The battle at the breakdown was a barney of the fiercest order. Both sets of forwards powered into the tackle point, and referee Steve Walsh was forced to blow his whistle far too many times in the first half.
Initially, it was the Highlanders who dominated the collisions and the Crusaders who resorted to illegal tactics as a means of killing the visitors’ momentum. Walsh eventually lost his patience with the Crusaders in the 16th minute, sending George Whitelock to the sin bin for repeated team infringements.
The shorthanded Crusaders then proceeded to concede 10 points during the period of sanction, allowing the Highlanders to edge 13-10 in front. Centre Tamati Ellison showed impressive power to shrug off one tackle attempt, fend another would-be defender and jet in for what would be a seven-pointer.
But while the Highlanders had done well to cash in, they couldn’t compare to the Crusaders for clinical efficiency. Just as Whitelock returned from the sidelines, Highlanders loose forward James Haskell was yellow-carded for a similar offence. In the ensuing 10 minutes, the Crusaders amassed 19 match-winning points.
Two tries were scored by Zac Guildford in this period, and Dan Carter featured prominently in the creation of both. The Highlanders defence rushed the Crusaders who were pinned back in their own 22, but Carter didn’t panic, weighing in with a short grubber that was smartly collected by reserve hooker Quentin MacDonald, who then transferred the ball to Guildford. The winger still had plenty to do, and showed good awareness and pace to finish.
Guildford’s second strike was down to a fantastic forward platform, although Carter once again produced a magic, defence-breaching touch. A great lineout win was followed by a powerful series of hit-ups and offloads. When the Highlanders’ defenders were caught in the uncertainty of whether to advance or retreat, Carter slipped through another grubber for Guildford to chase.
The Crusaders scored from the subsequent kickoff. A Highlanders defensive error allowed the hosts to obtain the necessary momentum before unleashing their free-running backs. Ryan Crotty rounded off what was the bonus-point try, and at 32-13, the game was over as a contest.
The Highlanders employed a more expansive approach in an attempt to reduce the massive deficit, but this only served to play into the Crusaders’ hands.
The hosts scored after the break through Richie McCaw, the captain finishing another great team surge. There were more opportunities to score in the build up to the 60-minute mark, and after a few misfires, the Crusaders finally grabbed their sixth through prop Wyatt Crockett.
To their credit, they never relented, and a seventh try in the 73rd minute as well as another conversion by Carter brought up the half century.
The performance is an encouraging one for a Crusaders outfit that has blown hot and cold over the past four or five rounds. They will head into the break in a powerful position.
Conversely, this result has seen the Highlanders’ play-off prospects sustaining a decisive knock. They remain outside the top six with two league matches to play, and there has been nothing in their recent showings to suggest they will beat their remaining opponents (the Chiefs and Reds).
168 Comments
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1 Jun 2012, 16:47 pm
So how did the Rebels beat the Crusaders again? Also the Blues over the Bulls?! They often say that “this is the loss they needed” and since then, they have mowed down alluvial ovals with a run rate superior to the black caps. Carter is back and in a big way. Could only imagine having Dagg, Ben Smith and Andre Taylor as the ABs back three, the counter attack would be insane!
1 Jun 2012, 16:49 pm
How polite was the conversations between Walsh and McCaw? Was as if the ref was asking McCaw if he had any objections about any decisions against the Crusaders.
“Hi Richie. One of your players have been transgressing at the breakdown point three or four times. Sooner or later I will be forced to take action. Can you please talk to him? Oh, and can I please get my yellow card signed by you after the game? It is for my son.”
1 Jun 2012, 19:43 pm
@Big Jack(Big Jack)-152: Yawn,another Richie hater, change your name to Big Jackie,you girls blouse.
1 Jun 2012, 19:51 pm
@bokke baiter(bokke baiter)-153: yawn another kiwi with fantasies of reechee putting his hand into the ruck.
its all so top gun its sickening.
1 Jun 2012, 20:04 pm
@bokke baiter(bokke baiter)-153: Yawn, another Bokke hater, change your name to Bokkie baiter, you girls blouse.
1 Jun 2012, 20:41 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-154: @Big Jack(Big Jack)-155: Yawn. Two more Safwits with delusions of rugby grandeur. Come on ,you both have wet dreams about Richie monstering you in a tackle,turning the ball over and leaving you lying on the dirt with a big Safwit chump smile on your face.
1 Jun 2012, 20:48 pm
@bokke baiter(bokke baiter)-156: so much yawning you should go to bed and have a sweet dream of your hero you big girl.
1 Jun 2012, 21:12 pm
@bokke baiter(bokke baiter)-156:
Serious question. Why pick the name [Baiter] aka [Troll] ? Bokke Troll? Much the same as Bok Troll or Bok Tril.
See where I’m going?
Naah, Richie is an okay Baiter. Don’t worry about that.
1 Jun 2012, 21:28 pm
@Big Jack(Big Jack)-158: because that’s what he is! he has no delusions about the kind of scum he is.
his existence is just to be a pest nothing more
1 Jun 2012, 21:29 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-159:
Bokke baiter or Richie?
1 Jun 2012, 21:38 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-159: The transformation isn’t working your still a Safwit
1 Jun 2012, 21:53 pm
@bokke baiter(bokke baiter)-161: and you a kiwifruit.
1 Jun 2012, 22:29 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-162: he said he was – wait for it – Canadian & supports the Reds
how pathetic…an aussie team gatkruiping, bok envious canuck?
2 Jun 2012, 06:09 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-163: Wires crossed transformerfag,stay away from the maple syrup it’s clouding your feeble mind
2 Jun 2012, 06:47 am
Well,
My bottom is sore from having it spanked so brutally by the Crush.
Lucky they are my 2nd favourite team!
Haskill showed what a moron he is. Gets binned & costs us all our scrum ball, no one is corner flagging & the grubber leads 2 2 tries. Game was over right then.
Our tight 5 is weak, 6, 8, 9 12 & up are good players, but we are pretenders til we get our set piece going.
Am officially switching alegiance back to the Crush (as I have every year for the last 8 years!)
2 Jun 2012, 07:50 am
Not sure why they bothered to play… the result was in the bag with McWalsh and McCheat.
Some of the worst decisions all season just broke the back of the Highlanders.
2 Jun 2012, 13:32 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-166:
You want a tissue you big sook lol
4 Jun 2012, 08:46 am
@viewer(viewer)-10: Watched the game and still havent stop celebrating , at last we have hit 4th gear … no to step it up for the finals
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