A late drop goal gave Canterbury a 15-13 win over the Auckland Blues on Saturday, keeping the Crusaders in contention for the Super 14 semifinals and with hope of defending their title.
Canterbury fullback Leon MacDonald, who is about to end more than a decade of service to the team and play in Japan, kicked four penalties and the decisive drop goal to lift the Crusaders to a narrow win.
Auckland centre Isaia Toeava scored a contentious try which gave the Blues a 13-12 lead before the late drop goal, while flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth kicked a conversion and two penalties to surpass 100 points for the season.
Canterbury’s win lifted them to third on the championship table, on equal points but ahead of the New South Wales Waratahs on points differential, and anxiously awaiting the result of other matches in the final round to know if they make the top four.
All Black MacDonald furnished all of the Crusaders points with two penalties in each half, then the deciding drop goal four minutes from fulltime which regained the lead after they had fallen behind to Toeava’s try.
“We’ve been practicing for that (drop goal) and it worked out tonight,” Canterbury captain Richie McCaw said.
“He (MacDonald) has been kicking well all year and he did it again. It’s a pity he won’t be here after this season.
“I’m pretty proud of the guys and the way we played, especially under the circumstances. We fell behind in the second half but we stuck to our guns, had belief that we could get the result and we did.”
MacDonald missed his first shot at goal then kicked penalties in the 14th and 40th minutes to give the Crusaders a 6-3 lead at halftime. Gopperth, soon to join the Newcastle Falcons in England, replied with his only kick of the first half in the 17th minute.
MacDonald’s third penalty after 44 minutes put Canterbury ahead 9-3, but Gopperth again cut the deficit to 9-6 with his second penalty, which carried him past 100 points for the season.
MacDonald landed his fourth goal from five attempts in the 62nd minute and sent the Crusaders into the last quarter of a dour match with a vital lead.
Toeava scored the only try of the match in the 71st minute, after video referee Chris Pollock of New Zealand repeatedly scrutinised footage of a pileup over the goal line. Pollock ruled Toeava had grounded the ball but television evidence seemed inconclusive.
Canterbury immediately pressed onto attack and set up a ruck in front of the Auckland goalposts from which MacDonald dropped the winning goal with four minutes remaining.
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