Crusaders crush Sharks

Two tries in the first 11 minutes saw the Crusaders ultimately cruise to a 40-10 home victory over the Sharks and book their spot in the semi finals.

Prior to the match the Sharks had won only 1 of their last 13 encounters against the side from Christchurch, with no South African team ever having won a finals game in New Zealand.

And it would prove no different this year.

The home side led 16-7 at half time, but in typical New Zealand manner ran away with the game in the second half scoring three more tries and clinching a victory of 30 points over a Sharks side full of errors.

The Crusaders have now won 18 of their last 22 games against the Sharks, including each of their three previous meetings in the post-season.

Biting the Bullet – Keo and James Dalton’s Super Rugby preview

Scorers

Crusaders

Tries: Bryn Hall, David Havili, Matt Todd, Braydon Ennor, Peter Samu

Conversions: Richie Mo’unga (3)

Penalties: Richie Mo’unga (3)

Sharks

Try: Kobus van Wyk

Conversion: Robert du Preez

Penalty: Robert du Preez

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Teams

Crusaders

15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tim Perry

Substitutes: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele

Sharks

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai ‘Beast’ MtawariraSubstitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimp

MATCH COMMENTARY

• 79’Crusaders have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 73‘Ryan Crotty has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 72‘Mitch Hunt comes on for Crusaders.
• 72‘Richie Mo’unga leaves the field.
• 72‘Richie Mo’unga does the business as his conversion attempt goes over.
• 71‘Mitchell Drummond sets up the try.
• 71‘A gap opened in the defence and Sam Whitelock took full advantage.
• 71‘Slick passing by Crusaders leads to a try for Peter Samu.
• 68‘Wian Vosloo comes on.
• 68‘Phillip Van Der Walt comes off.
• 68‘Luke Romano comes on.
• 68‘Kieran Read comes off.
• 67‘Richie Mo’unga makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.
• 66‘Kieran Read sets up the try.
• 66‘Incisive passing by Crusaders is finished off by Braydon Ennor, as he goes over for the try.
• 66‘The defensive line has been broken as Braydon Ennor goes through the gap.
• 66‘Crusaders have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 65‘Marius Louw comes on.
• 65‘Andre Esterhuizen comes off.
• 60‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with John-Hubert Meyer getting some game time.
• 60‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Thomas du Toit being replaced.
• 60‘Sharks have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 60‘What a run here by Mitchell Drummond as they gets over the gainline!.
• 60‘Crusaders make a substitution with Andrew Makalio coming on.
• 60‘Crusaders make a substitution with Codie Taylor coming off.
• 59‘Lukhanyo Am makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 59‘Sharks sub Chiliboy Ralepelle comes onto the field.
• 59‘Armand van der Merwe departs for Sharks.
• 59‘Peter Samu comes on for Crusaders.
• 59‘Juan Schoeman comes on.
• 59‘Tendai Mtawarira leaves the field.
• 59‘Jordan Taufua comes off.
• 57‘Jack Goodhue has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 56‘Michael Alaalatoa comes on.
• 56‘Owen Franks comes off.
• 56‘Wyatt Crockett comes on.
• 56‘Tim Perry comes off.
• 56‘Richie Mo’unga does the business as his penalty goal attempt goes over.
• 54‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Makazole Mapimpi getting some game time.
• 54‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Jacobus Van Wyk being replaced.
• 54‘Sharks make a substitution with Cameron Wright coming on.
• 54‘Sharks make a substitution with Louis Schreuder coming off.
• 53‘Fabulous play by Crusaders has led to Scott Barrett being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 53‘Tyler Paul has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 52‘Crusaders sub Mitchell Drummond comes onto the field.
• 52‘Bryn Hall departs for Crusaders.
• 51‘Trouble here as Braydon Ennor breaches the defence.
• 49‘Sharks have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 48‘This is dangerous for the defence as Lwazi Mvovo bursts through to advance the Sharks attack.
• 47‘Robert du Preez makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
• 45‘A gap opened in the defence and Phillip Van Der Walt took full advantage.
• 42‘Richie Mo’unga converts the try.
• 41‘Spellbinding play by Bryn Hall is finished off with a try.
• 41‘Silky skills by Crusaders ends with a try for Matt Todd.
• 41‘The defensive line has been broken as George Bridge goes through the gap.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40‘Richie Mo’unga kicks the penalty.
• 40‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 38‘Crusaders have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 38‘What a run here by Matt Todd as they gets over the gainline!.
• 36‘Tendai Mtawarira makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 33‘Hyron Andrews comes on for Sharks.
• 33‘Jacques Vermeulen leaves the field.
• 31‘Crusaders have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 29‘Braydon Ennor comes on.
• 29‘Seta Tamanivalu comes off.
• 28‘Fabulous play by Sharks has led to Jacobus Van Wyk being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 27‘Sharks have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 26‘Robert du Preez has kicked a conversion.
• 25‘Trouble here as Jacobus Van Wyk breaches the defence.
• 25‘Jacques Vermeulen played a key part in that try.
• 25‘A wonderful passing move by Sharks is finished off by Jacobus Van Wyk.
• 20‘This is dangerous for the defence as Lwazi Mvovo bursts through to advance the Sharks attack.
• 17‘Robert du Preez can consider himself unlucky as he sees the ball hit the left upright and bounce away.
• 13‘Richie Mo’unga curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the right.
• 12‘That’s a great try assist by Ryan Crotty.
• 11‘A series of passes by Crusaders results in a try for David Kaetau Havili.
• 11‘A gap opened in the defence and Ryan Crotty took full advantage.
• 10‘Richie Mo’unga has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.
• 8‘George Bridge sets up the try.
• 8‘Great hands by Crusaders leads to a try for Bryn Hall.
• 8‘The defensive line has been broken as George Bridge goes through the gap.
• 6‘Richie Mo’unga has kicked a penalty goal.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.