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

  • 101.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:31 am

    @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-97:
    you have lost many times at loftus before

    same skill set

  • 102.willievz: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:31 am

    Crusaders.

    I hate them, but dammit I respect them.

  • 103.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:31 am

    Decent crowd.

    Must be 10 or 12,000 there for this top of the table clash.

  • 104.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:31 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-95: love it..!

  • 105.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:32 am

    @stew(stew)-100:

    No.

  • 106.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:32 am

    @willievz(willievz)-102:

    Indeed.

    I must admit I have often fantasized about Dan Carter playing flyhalf for the Stormers and Springboks.

  • 107.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:33 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-98: Mr Chinnery?

  • 108.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:34 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-103: Indeed. Must have bused some in from out of town to get the number that high.

  • 109.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:35 am

    chiefs scrumming well

    dont think they’ll get 60 put on them again any time soon

  • 110.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:36 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-107:

    Indeed.

    Perhaps you are a naturally slothful person, sluggish and indolent, a dawdling flaneur, content to waste his life spread eagled on pillows forever indulging himself in the pleasures of the palm.

  • 111.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:36 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-99: The poms have a way of saying things…..

  • 112.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:37 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-108:

    Well it’s handy that the New Zealand Cowbell festival is taking place in Hamilton this week.

  • 113.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:37 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-103: Yes the telly must be on the blink.

  • 114.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:39 am

    now that was a great scrum by the saders…

  • 115.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:39 am

    What a great match. The speed and skills of the NZ derbies are on another level. Havent seen a bad one yet in contrast the the dire Aussie derbies in particular.

  • 116.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:39 am

    crusaders went early

    good ‘walking around’

  • 117.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:40 am

    wheeling

  • 118.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:40 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-110: Ha ha. My favourite is 1981 Eurovision finalist band Crème Brûlée’s sad and regret-filled former rhythm guitarist, Les McQueen.

    “It’s a sht business. I’m glad I’m out of it.”

  • 119.Gtown: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:41 am

    chiefs lineout is KAAAAAAK!

  • 120.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:42 am

    no try

  • 121.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:43 am

    Good pressure by Crusaders.

    And still Panasonic Bill Williams is completely anonymous.

  • 122.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:43 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-112: Is it true they trucked in a set of traffic lights from Auckland specially for this weekend?

  • 123.XhosaKid: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:43 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-103: We are carrying these guys, 12 000 crowd is what you get at schools derby game, not at professional level

  • 124.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-118:

    “Everyone knew me round here, I’d walk in a urinal and heads would turn.”

  • 125.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    Bryce is trying to make good with Saders after last week…

  • 126.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    @galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-117: Lol, all you see is Saders dis, Saders dat all day. Must be really nervous.

  • 127.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-122:

    No.

    They used a mule train.

  • 128.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    @XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-123:

    fuckoff then, you win more in the NH

  • 129.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    @XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-123: And almost 10% of that is non-paying WAG’s.

  • 130.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:45 am

    @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-55: Read is just outstanding. Superb rugby brain to go with uncompromsing physicality and great skills. One of the great All Blacks in a key position.

  • 131.UptheGuts: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:46 am

    Bryce Lawrence is one incompetent twat!

  • 132.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:46 am

    Bryce probably messed up this time. Bad decision.

  • 133.niknaks: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:46 am

    Ha ha! Old Brycie is absolutely clueless!! He can’t even get the TMO decisons right. What a plonker…

  • 134.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:47 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-124: Ha ha. The band managed to ditch Les for their reunion, but still got him to fork out his savings to pay for their recording. Here they are performing their hit “Voodoo Lady” in a pub in Royston Vasey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPE7bOmdP9w

  • 135.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:47 am

    HAHA. What a finish !!!!

  • 136.Gtown: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:47 am

    @Nils(Nils)-121:

    ahem…

  • 137.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:47 am

    Wow, Panasonic Bill scores. Justice wins.

  • 138.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:48 am

    Thats not true, WO would have scored as well.

  • 139.onerb: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:49 am

    Don’t you love that there’s 2 sets of rules in rugby: one for everyone and one for bryce lawrence. Nz ref of the year. What a disgrace.

  • 140.galileo, roundness, union, coach...: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:50 am

    fark you bryce

  • 141.jeest: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

    The NZRU will want 2 teams in the finals – watch them do everything they can to ensure the Saders make it.

  • 142.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

    Bruce is protected by his daddy and the POB cabal.

    Cosa Nostril

  • 143.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-134:

    It’s a **** business.

  • 144.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:52 am

    @jeest(jeest)-141:

    we used to have 3

  • 145.spartan: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    What the hell didn’t even know Sonny-boy was on the field

  • 146.onerb: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    Last year in the quarter beast were penalized for dangerous scrumming when the scrum was not yet engaged…..guess who the ref was that day.

  • 147.Nils: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    @onerb(onerb)-139: Cmon, he may be peculiar, but definitely not the only one around. I remember even Kaplan messing up big time awarding bogus try (like Hurricanes v Crusaders a few years ago).

  • 148.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    great rugby…hard…confrontational…no one backing down, a pleasure to watch.

  • 149.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    Chiefs or Crusaders will win it this year.

  • 150.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    6 Jul 2012, 10:54 am

    Wish we had Wayne Smith coaching the Boks. The stuff dreams are made of.

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.