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, 11:20 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-179: Exactly, but Burger stays of execution trumps it.
But why let the facts stand in the way of usual whingeing.
6 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
watafuckinfinish!!
6 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
the one time an offload from sbw was really needed
6 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
Crusaders (albeit slightly controversially) are in. Good game, bad Bryce.
Now go Sharks!
6 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
Money Bill Williams.
You big cockeater. Tried to be the big hero once again. Fluffed it.
6 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
SBW better than Nonu
YEAH RIGHT!!!!!
6 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
Eventhough Sonnybill shuduv passed, that was yet another penalty tho. Cynical killing of the ball, but that’s the way they roll isn’t it
6 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
Another win for Bryce. Useless incompetent Paddy c@cksmoker!
6 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-189: he allowed beast to bore in on vickery!
6 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
the cynical play by the crusaders in their red zone time and again
walsh doing nothing about it
6 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
Perfect result.
6 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
phew…i was the only one in my pools on superbru that went Crusaders…
6 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
The TMO robbed the Chiefs on the Andy Ellis try. Steve is still an iffy ref & although I’m a fan, the ‘saders aren’t the same team they were under Robbie Deans.
Chiefs line-out was diabolical
6 Jul 2012, 11:24 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-210:
great result see you in the playoffs, Carter V Steyn Read V Spies going to be epic
6 Jul 2012, 11:25 am
Got it!
Both result and margin, Walsh is in the same despicables, corrupted referees’ league of Brycie, Jonker, Joubert Et el
6 Jul 2012, 11:25 am
Great game of rugby!Jan Serfontein’s hero cost the Chiefs right at the end.
6 Jul 2012, 11:27 am
So for a change the glory boys came up short..First Ronaldo saving himself for the ‘winning’ penalty that never happened and now Igshaan Behaardien Willams chooses to go for the tryline on his own with a four man overlap. When will these characters realize that it’s a TEAM sport?!?!?!?!?!?!?
6 Jul 2012, 11:27 am
That was a great game, cane v Mccaw, Carter v Cruden, front row battle etc, that was epic.
6 Jul 2012, 11:28 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-214:
despicable
but to be expected really
only way can win is dirty
filth
6 Jul 2012, 11:29 am
C’mon Sharkies stuff the Bulls.
6 Jul 2012, 11:30 am
Walsh is a pansy
6 Jul 2012, 11:30 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-216: I beg to differ. Walsh cost them rather than Sonny. Crusaders had no intention to play within the laws those last few minutes. But like the Kiwi bloggers on here like to tell us, its only transgressing if you get caught.
6 Jul 2012, 11:30 am
Nonu would of given that pass with the overlap, no doubt in my mind.
6 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-221:
really?
what is bryce?
6 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
you cant blame ref Steve. Blame the TMO ********. great game. Pity Chiefs lost. Surprised the way the game ended. Thought ref gave Chiefs a penalty.
6 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-219:
why so worried you’ve said many times you’ll take the Crusaders at Loftus, if you do it’ll be a sweet victory
6 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
Tipped Reds in the next game
6 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-215:
Were you a ref in a past life
6 Jul 2012, 11:32 am
Overall, apart from dubious Bryce decision, it was a great game with right result.
6 Jul 2012, 11:32 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-222:
you should play amongst yourselves then and go to church on Sundays
6 Jul 2012, 11:32 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-207:
yip
only way they know how
this comp is a farce
filth
6 Jul 2012, 11:33 am
In their epic drive to the Saders line, the Chiefs dropped the ball at least 3 times past the 80st minute under Walsh watch, I have the feeling that the NZRU’s marketing people were rooting for the Chiefs?
Too transparent
6 Jul 2012, 11:33 am
Now for the Sharks to beat the Bulls.
6 Jul 2012, 11:34 am
for me the best part of the game was when young Cane grabbed McCaw by the scruff of his neck and dumped him. McCaw did not like that. Cane might be out of the Test team now. lol
6 Jul 2012, 11:34 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-226:
i am not worried, chinchin
only disgusted by the filth on show
will back the bulls to beat them at home
6 Jul 2012, 11:35 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-235:
good for you and then you can take the long flight to Hamilton
6 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
whats this Bryce bit. Dont tell me he was the TMO ref?
6 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
No one to blame, it is what it is. SBW stuffed the winning opportunity that was presented for them at the end, great game nonetheless. Tameifuna is something special for a prop so young.
6 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-230: Why? Your game is based on cheating mate. Plain and simple. Only reason you get away with it, is because incompetent ref’s are to **** scared to make waves and upset God’s gift to rugby.
6 Jul 2012, 11:39 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-222: I beg to differ.With a Four-man overlap?If he had off-loaded we would not be talking about the ref ,now would we?Poor play from SBW…end of story.
6 Jul 2012, 11:41 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-236:
good
anyone but the crusaders
6 Jul 2012, 11:42 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-231:
Listen
Will you stop calling people filth
It’s getting really old really fast
6 Jul 2012, 11:43 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-238:
bullshit
that many infringements was worthy of a penalty try
but we know the script
6 Jul 2012, 11:44 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-239:
funny in 09′ when you were winning the refs were great including Brycie, start winning and KEO.whine will stop, I have to go great result tonight a NZ team will win the comp this year
6 Jul 2012, 11:45 am
Fu8@ing ref stuffed it up…we told him in the memo..’Chiefs to not get any bonus points’ Bloody cheat!!!!! Now the Stormers have to score four fu@&ing tries!!!! Totally spoiled my weekend
6 Jul 2012, 11:46 am
Oh you are kidding me.
The same spolit little brats crying again about cheating etc.
lol
I have never seen such a sad bunch of ballsack supporters in my life.
Are some of you ever happy?
If you hate the game or lets be honest here, hate Kiwis, dont watch the game.
6 Jul 2012, 11:46 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-238: Draw at least…
6 Jul 2012, 11:47 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-231:
Well if a South African team wins this comp, i will remember what you said.
6 Jul 2012, 11:47 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-242:
look, i dont mean to offend you dawn.
they, the people, are not filth but they are filthy cheaters
and i hate it
i hate how low they have brought the game
it is the truth and i am only stating it
6 Jul 2012, 11:47 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-240: Only thing I can agree with is the fact he shuduv passed, but when he didn’t, the opportunity was gone. BUT he set up yet another breakdown and the Crusaders killed the ball yet again. Williams didn’t die with it. If Walsh had any balls, a yellow card was appropriate at the previous penalty.
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