Saders edge Hamilton epic
6 Jul 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on a compelling spectacle in which the Crusaders survived a late onslaught to win 28-21 against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
This match lacked for nothing, purists and thrill-seekers alike having plenty to satisfy their respective tastes. An excellent advertisement for Super Rugby and a showcase of everything that is great about New Zealand rugby, this match kept you riveted until the very end, where the Saders’ refusal to allow their determined opponents a path to goal was heroic.
Brutal collisions, breathtaking individual and collective skills, appreciable tactical intelligence, resillience and passion, bags of it, this match made you wish the suits at Sanzar would put aside commercial interests and personal aspirations and reduce the number of teams in the tournament, pitting only the strongest teams against each other so that these types of showcases become more commonplace, not rare gems in an otherwise barren landscape.
That fanciful idea aside, the Saders did much to advance their cause for a play-off spot. This was always going to be the measure of their credentials and establish whether they are genuine contenders or just posturing pretenders. There can be no question now that they have all the attributes of champions. If they realise that goal it will have to be through a number of away wins like this one, but you wouldn’t bet against them.
Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden nearly got his side off to the perfect start when he broke free early in the match, only to be scragged short of the tryline. The youngster’s transition from a talented but raw pivot into a truly world-class one is progressing nicely. Experience will refine him, but he is already a formidable opponent and indispensable asset to his franchise.
He got the scoreboard going with a penalty, but the Saders dominated for a large period thereafter, feeding off numerous Chiefs errors. The hosts look back at that passage as being decisive to the outcome.
Dan Carter banked a penalty to level the scores and soon thereafter converted a Kieran Read try in which they kept the ball alive brilliantly through multiple phases. Cruden responded with a penalty, but Carter’s experience told when he dropped a goal to keep the Saders ahead.
The visitors stretched their lead to 14 points when Andy Ellis broke blind and put in a delicate grubber which rebounded off a Chiefs player into the path of Luke Ramano. The second rower scooped the loose ball up and drove over the chalk, Carter adding the extras.
But the Chiefs refused to be steamrolled, and rebounded from the Saders’ flurry with a counter of their own, Brodie Retallick powering over from close range. Cruden’s conversion was the last score of the half, the Saders leading 20-16.
There was an unrelenting urgency and intensity about both sides after the break, Ellis scoring a contentious try but the Chiefs again coming up with a telling rebuttal – Sonny Bill Williams negotiating the attention of four defenders and, clutching the ball in one hand, he reached desperately over a mass of bodies to score.
The Chiefs had opportunities to cut into the Saders’ lead, but a combination of poor decision making in good positions, a misfiring lineout and inspiring scrambling on defence denied them. They would also have hoped for a strong bench to galvanise them, and although you could not fault those players’ effort, the Saders’ mettle under pressure came to the fore to deny their determined opponents.
There was a golden opportunity with the siren having sounded, the Chiefs having created a two-man overlap. But Williams failed to pass the ball, instead going in search of his second. The play broke down and referee Steve Walsh ended a captivating contest.
574 Comments
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6 Jul 2012, 17:31 pm
@Puma(Puma)-540:
That’s correct Puma, the Bookies have the same opinion and they believe it isn’t a coincidence at all (the selection),,,,
Trouble is under Kaplan the Bulls are usuall bitten but Kaplan is away in Australia today and some said it by design?
6 Jul 2012, 17:33 pm
I am very nervous about this game. It obviously could go either way, but Sharks has to go in as slight favorites.
6 Jul 2012, 17:36 pm
@Puma(Puma)-548:
What is the weather like in Durbs?
I see they are predicting thunderstorms in Bloem tomorrow.
Thunderstorms and Craig Joubert to overcome- could be a long afternoon for the Stormers- if your team does it tonight my nerves will be much more settled, so I am holding thumbs for my fellow coastal brothers
6 Jul 2012, 17:38 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-546: I know. Crazy.
Another thing I am thinking here. Bulls will be so pumped up to win tonight they will be on extra adrenaline..hahaha. Think about it. If they beat us they will definitely beat the Lions next week. Will get a home quarter and probably only have to make a 2 hour flight to Cape Town for the final. That could happen. Well Stormers have to pick up 5 points tomorrow or Chiefs stay top of the log. Stormers will get the 5 points next week though, doubt Chiefs will against the Canes. So thinking Stormers should top the log. Bulls will be thinking the same. So if they DO win tonight they may not have to travel overseas for the S15 again this year.
Now doubt our Sharks have the same motivating factor as Bulls. We win but face a travel is from hell. To Oz, if we win there, straight back to Cape Town, if we win there straight on the next flight to NZ. Now that is horrendous.
I am being pessimistic but realistic too.
6 Jul 2012, 17:40 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-553: Great weather today and right now. A little wind picking up but that is it.
6 Jul 2012, 17:41 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-534: Yes I don’t think he took formal songwriting credit but both have admitted in interviews that they collaborated on the song one evening.
Not sure what else was involved….
6 Jul 2012, 17:43 pm
Good luck to all the Sharks. I’ll try to pop in after the game.
6 Jul 2012, 17:45 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-553: HAHAHAHA. So we (all of a sudden) your coastal brothers..
Actually most where I live, everyone here have said they will support the Stormers once the Sharks are out. NONE will support the Bulls though.
Actually always thought the coastal teams would support each other. Only reading this site it seems different with some.
Doubt you need worry about Joubert you won with him the last time. Also you get Mark Lawerence enough….lol not to complain.
6 Jul 2012, 17:46 pm
@Puma(Puma)-555:
Well, thanks, nice to catch up, and good luck tonight for your team.
I am also looking forward to see how Frans will perform at Super 15 level- i am not sure Whitehead is really so good at 13, I do rate him more as a 12.
But maybe Frans and the Frenchie can create some fireworks between them, lets hope.
6 Jul 2012, 17:46 pm
@Puma(Puma)-558: Lawrence
6 Jul 2012, 17:46 pm
ok off to go spend time with the better half, catch up laters , enjoy
6 Jul 2012, 17:47 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-559: Tim is actually a outside centre Rob. He played there once or twice for us this season and done really well. He will be fine, have no worry with Tim at 13.
Okay that is me too out of here now.
Good to catch up. Cheers bud.
6 Jul 2012, 17:48 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-561: Cheers bro.
Catch up later or tomorrow.
Go Sharks.
6 Jul 2012, 17:54 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-550: I know Dusky. Though last year who ever won that game at Loftus had to travel. Sure they wanted it but I can tell you they will want this win badly. So will we, but if they win they might not have to travel overseas again for the S15. They will play Saders at Loftus and probably Stormers at Newlands in the final.
Now if Sharks beat the Lions we would have been in that position. Then with out a doubt I would think we would win. I think we may win tonight but not with a bonus. That then is useless to us for this tourney, but it will give us pride that is for sure. So I am hoping we do win, bonus or not. Not going against my team there in my post, just stating what I think (could) happen.
Okay out of here now.
Good luck to our Sharks. Really do hope we can beat the Bulls.
6 Jul 2012, 18:00 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-532:
If the Stormers can do it at Loftus, with a worse injury problem and youngsters, surely the Sharks can at home.
6 Jul 2012, 18:11 pm
@Puma(Puma)-564:
You’re forgetting the Brumbies., who’re guaranteed 3rd place. So 3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5. Who the Bulls play if they win tonight is still very open.
6 Jul 2012, 18:16 pm
Go moer each other Sarks and Pinksters. Will be interesting to see how the overrated lard@ss and meisiekind front up to each other.
6 Jul 2012, 18:45 pm
@David(David)-566: No have not forgotten Brumbies. They will play against either: Sharks, Reds or Canes. Saders are on 57 and play the Force next week. They will end 2nd in their conference and either 4th or 5th on the overall log. If Bulls win tonight they go to 58 with a bonus point to 59. They play Lions next week so could end on 62 or 63. It will be a Bulls/Saders play off if Bulls WIN tonight. If they lose then it could all change. I am talking if Bulls win what will happen.
If Sharks win with a bonus point and go to 55 and don’t allow Bulls a losing bonus point and we both pick up 5 points next week. Then Sharks go to 5th play off and Bulls will end on 6th. Bulls should beat Lions with a bonus point.
Saders are on 56 points and they will beat the Force so if Bulls lose tonight Saders will end on 4th.
6 Jul 2012, 18:47 pm
@Puma(Puma)-568: Sharks will only go to 54 if we pick up a bonus not 55. Sorry got it wrong there and Saders are on 56 right now not 57.
Okay going to watch the game now. Catch up later or tomorrow.
6 Jul 2012, 22:34 pm
Just watched the game on delay. Good God Read is a beast. How has no one figured out how to counter that low driving 10m kickoff that Carter and Read have mastered? All Blacks have been doing it since 2010. I remember once in a 3N match they must have done that 5x to the Aussies.
7 Jul 2012, 00:06 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-419:
No
your team was utter sh*t. Most teams could win 3 games with that much pill.
7 Jul 2012, 14:48 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-186: It’s a close call but you probably are the thickest Safwit on this site.
Dos’nt matter how many people are sitting in the stands ,it’s all about international television money and the advertising that comes with this.
It’s immaterial that Safwit grounds get more spectators,although watching some of the Lions and Cheetahs games,even this is dubious.
Being forced to play night games in the middle of winter to appease international TV dos’nt help NZs cause
If we were to use your analogy,the Bulls should get twice as much money as the Lions or Cheetahs,based on attendance figures alone ,but I guess you didnt think it through properly did you thickO.
9 Jul 2012, 00:50 am
Geez, SBW really butchered that try at teh end huh? the Chiefs could have won that easily. I wonder if it will cost them first spot?
9 Jul 2012, 07:32 am
did craig clarke play in this game?
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