Saders edge Hamilton epic

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

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 12 » Show All

  • 1.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 08:50 am

    Red and Black Dragons !

  • 2.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 08:54 am

    do it chiefs

  • 3.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 08:57 am

    Go Crusaders!

  • 4.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 08:59 am

    HG and Fern: I have stumbled across a Shark’s website. To my amusement, I see that those who frequent this Sharky site are a little more grounded than you fellows.

    In fact, this extract from an article written by a dude called ‘Big Fish’ says it all, does it not?

    “The Sharks do not have the pedigree of the Bulls (great history and awesome set-up), WP (incredible talent-pool) or the Cheetahs (Grey College – say no more). We are a jumped up team of B-Divisioners who bought our way to the A-Division and had the audacity to stick around. We will have to be very clever if we hope to compete with the natural leaders in SA rugby. And sadly, right now we are not being that.”

    Big Fish – Sharksworld.

    :)

  • 5.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:00 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-4: that’s the rooibaard talking

  • 6.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:06 am

    Saders jou lekka ding haha :)

  • 7.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:08 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-4: Well Said

  • 8.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:08 am

    Do or die this morning … Cant believe we have a meeting

  • 9.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:09 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-4:
    haha

    fish much

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:15 am

    @stew(stew)-8: me too. would have loved to follow this game

  • 11.BishopsOD: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:18 am

    Today the Sharks and Crusaders are the greatest rugby teams on earth.

    Love,
    Everyone, Cape Town

  • 12.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:19 am

    @BishopsOD(BishopsOD)-11: Thanks we will enjoy today !!!!! lol

  • 13.Tarlo: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:19 am

    Apparently Cruden’s out??? There goes my fantasy weekend…

  • 14.Tarlo: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:20 am

    OK never mind, Supersport guys confused me…

  • 15.RainbowBanana: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:26 am

    I’m hoping for a draw, and no bonus points! :)

  • 16.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:30 am

    Feeling the Chiefs tonight. Crusaders to score four tries and come close by six points.

  • 17.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:30 am

    Crusaders to win, preferably both getting bonus points.

  • 18.BishopsOD: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:31 am

    @stew(stew)-12: The things we are willing to do for number one! :-)

    @RainbowBanana(RainbowBanana)-15: Dude, what else do you want, Megan Fox and 50 million dollars!?!? Would be appreciated, though!

  • 19.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:32 am

    @Nils(Nils)-17: Here we go !

  • 20.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:37 am

    At work…have drifta…awesome…!

  • 21.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:38 am

    cracking start from the Chiefs…

  • 22.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:38 am

    toddy vs the incredabrain…

  • 23.HHS: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:38 am

    I’m no Justin Marshall fan… but old Bob and friends can get some tips from him commentating on rugby games.

  • 24.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:38 am

    BOOM!

    I hope I picked the chiefs.

    Even if they have half dressed men for cheerleaders.

  • 25.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:38 am

    Every time I see Kieran run out I ask myself why the Boks have been stuck with Morph the Plasticine man at 8 for 50 games. Then I see Cruden doing what he is doing now – and Carter strutting round on the other end, and I feel even worse…..we have the Stain. Nee man.

  • 26.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:39 am

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-23: He is my fave. Out of all the commentators in all the lands……He just GETS IT.

  • 27.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:40 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-4:

    :-)

    Big Fish is clearly a rational Sharks fan.

  • 28.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:40 am

    @stew(stew)-19: A must win game for the Crusaders, otherwise they will have to pray really hard for the Bulls win tonight – only to have hopes to meet them and recently Loftus is not a happy hunting ground for the Crusaders unlike the ABs.

    So Crusaders must win to cheer rather for Sharkies for a home playoff.

  • 29.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:42 am

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-23: agree HHS…he really is a pleasure to listen to…

  • 30.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    @Nils(Nils)-28: We will have to face the Cheifs sometime – let it be now

  • 31.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    bloody great rugger…!

  • 32.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:45 am

    try…!

  • 33.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    Crusaders look really really mean. That’s nice.

    TRY!

  • 34.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:47 am

    Sofar very promising start for the game, fast and furious from both sides.

  • 35.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    nows the time to keep calm and carry on chiefs

  • 36.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    @Nils(Nils)-33: Go Read

  • 37.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-24: are those folks maori?

  • 38.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    @galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-35: No negative waves from you Bakkies please !

  • 39.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    loblocking and obstruction from the vuilsaders

    as per usual

  • 40.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:51 am

    @stew(stew)-38:
    too late

    i blame the saders :grin:

  • 41.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:52 am

    @stew(stew)-38:

    lol he’s stabbing his McCaw voodoo doll as we type

  • 42.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-41: ha ha he will come to the dark side of the force one day

  • 43.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-37:

    Im not sure transie.

    We will need Poops to give us official verification.

    They look pretty authentic to me.

    :lol:

  • 44.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    thats the spirit chiefs

    hold your heads

    these cheats are beatable

  • 45.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:55 am

    @stew(stew)-42:

    How good is Read, Spies is in for some niggle this year when they meet.

  • 46.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:56 am

    mmm…The saders looking good…sigh, Kieran Read is just a powerhouse…i want one for the bokke!

  • 47.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    20 mins gone and the only mentioning about SBW has been wondering whether he is playing. :D

  • 48.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    ‘get outta there 7 red..way quicker than that…’

    larf

  • 49.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    TRY again!

    Crusaders are on a mission today.

  • 50.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 09:58 am

    offsides freebie

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 12 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.