Matt Giteau played a starring role as the Western Force overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to snatch a dramatic 23-23 Super 14 draw against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

The Crusaders ran in three unanswered tries in the first half and led 23-9 in the 57th minute before the Force, inspired by some Giteau brilliance, launched their comeback.

Giteau weaved his way through the Crusaders defence in the 58th minute to set up substitute Haig Sare for a try, before breaking through two tackles in the 69th minute to send 18-year-old inside centre James O’Connor over for the Force’s second.

But the Force couldn’t land the killer blow, with the tiring Crusaders holding on for the second draw between the two sides.

Coincidentally, the first draw between the two sides – in Perth in 2006 – was also a 23-23 scoreline.

The latest result could come at a cost for the Force, with fullback Cameron Shepherd suffering a leg injury and prop Ben Castle also leaving the field in the second half through injury.

The Crusaders dominated the first half, with the home side’s expansive game plan leaving the Force defence floundering on numerous occasions.

The 20-6 halftime scoreline could have been even worse for the Force had Stephen Brett been on target with his boot, the Crusaders flyhalf missing two penalties and two conversions.

Inside centre Ryan Crotty notched the first try of the match when a double cut-out pass from Brett unleashed him into space, while Tim Bateman made it 15-3 in the 15th minute when Force fullback Drew Mitchell failed to clean up a chip kick and the Crusaders centre swooped on the crumbs.

The Force hit back with a penalty to Giteau in the 25th minute and the Crusaders were forced to defend grimly for the next five minutes as the visitors’ pushed hard for a try.

But a Force turnover released the pressure valve, and the Crusaders’ willingness to use the width of the field again left the Force exposed, with a series of quick passes freeing lock Isaac Ross on the left wing to give the Crusaders a commanding halftime lead.

But the Force broke the shackles in the 58th minute, with Giteau’s slicing run and 13m pass to Sare on the left wing giving the visitors a sniff of victory.

Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald was given a yellow card in the 66th minute when referee Marius Jonker deemed he had challenged O’Connor in the air and the Force made the most of the numerical advantage to grab a share of the points.

The Crusaders’ draw – after three straight losses, has increased pressure on the seven-times Super champions ahead of next Saturday’s bumper clash with the NSW Waratahs at the Sydney Olympic Stadium.

© AAP 2012

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