Crusaders put Highlanders to the sword
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The Crusaders demolished New Zealand rivals the Highlanders 51-18 on Friday to sound an ominous warning that the seven-time Super Rugby champions are back to their best.
The Crusaders ran in seven tries to two as they subjected the Highlanders to wave after wave of relentless attack and gave their playoff hopes a massive boost in front of a sell-out Christchurch crowd.
Winger Zac Guildford bagged a brace, while skipper Richie McCaw was also among the try-scorers in a bonus-point win that narrows the gap on competition leaders the Chiefs to two points.
Star five-eighth Dan Carter, back in his favoured position after a stint at inside centre, was also on song with the boot, kicking five conversions and two penalties.
“This was a very important game for us against the Highlanders, who were just behind us on the table, so it was a just win and I’m really proud of the boys tonight,” he said.
The loss leaves the Highlanders seven points adrift of the Crusaders and third in the New Zealand conference, with the Hurricanes a chance to overtake them if they manage a bonus-point win over NSW on Saturday.
Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said last year’s losing finalists appeared to be hitting form at the right time.
“They know how to turn it on at the right part of the season and tonight they were bloody classy, they were just too good,” he said.
The Crusaders came out firing from the outset, flanker George Whitelock scoring a try after less than three minutes as the home team’s forwards established early dominance.
Carter nailed the conversion and scored a penalty five minutes later to make it 10-0.
The Highlanders kept in touch with two penalties to Chris Noakes, the second of which resulted in Whitelock being sinbinned for playing the ball on the ground.
Outside centre Tamati Ellison made the most of the numerical advantage, breaking the Crusaders’ line and eluding two defenders to score the Highlanders’ first five-pointer.
But Guildford made the Highlanders pay when James Haskell was sinbinned, bursting through the line and sprinting 55 metres for his first try then regathering a Carter chip kick chip for his second minutes later.
The Crusaders scored another try which originated deep within their own half, centre Robbie Fruean brushing off a tackler and passing to halfback Andy Ellis, who kept the ball alive in the tackle for Ryan Crotty to score between the posts.
With a bonus point secured before halftime, the onslaught continued after the break as the Crusaders continued to run the ball and a diving McCaw just managed to force down an Ellis chip into the corner.
Coach Jamie Joseph made a host of changes from the bench in an effort to keep the Highlanders’ season on track but his team could not find a way back into the game.
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June 2nd 2012 @ 2:22am
Johnno said | June 2nd 2012 @ 2:22am | Report comment
Favourites in order from here on in
1)stormers they have the best draw and will be mighty tough to beat in cape town
2) The bulls Morne steyn and co near impossible in the finals to beat at there altitude Loftus
3)crusaders
4)chiefs
the wildcard team, the Brumbies
June 2nd 2012 @ 4:47am
all7days said | June 2nd 2012 @ 4:47am | Report comment
You should tell the bookies
June 2nd 2012 @ 5:00am
allblackfan said | June 2nd 2012 @ 5:00am | Report comment
based on their form to date, none of the aussie qualifier(s) will make it past the initial payoff stage!!
But the game was a cracker!!
Very interesting to compare the midset of the teams to what followed next!!
June 2nd 2012 @ 7:38am
nickoldschool said | June 2nd 2012 @ 7:38am | Report comment
Yes, thought the same. 2 derbies, all teams (bar the Rebels) playing for a spot in the finals, their last game before a 3 week international break, similar situation overall. The 2 kiwis threw all they had at each other with this extra energy that only derbies bring into you while the 2 aussie sides needed a good 30 minutes to realise they were on the pitch playing rugby. The 2nd half was slightly better .
One game had been played at international pace/level while the other seemed like a trial. Hadn’t seen Carter and McCaw play at this level for a very long time. Crotty, the tight-five, Guidford, they were outstanding.
June 2nd 2012 @ 6:47am
Riccardo said | June 2nd 2012 @ 6:47am | Report comment
Another masterclass from the Crusaders.
They were even better last night than against the Blues. Clinical.
if they stay injury free (a lot of them will play the Irish over the next few weeks) you have to assume their finals experience will see them contend.
Johnno, the Stormers don’t concern me as much as the Bulls. While Loftus is a difficult proposition for anyone, the Crusaders are one team who can do the business away and The Chiefs showed last week the gameplan to beat them.
June 2nd 2012 @ 7:33am
Moaman said | June 2nd 2012 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Bit sad to see the life sucked out of the southern challenge so emphatically and ominous signs I would have thought for other teams as the Red n Black Machine grinds into gear. Carter really tested his groin out with those two 50 m attempts;had me a little bit worried.Dagg seemed a bit off-the-pace and I guess he was spewing when Crotty failed to hear him ranging up on the left after a good break.Thought Ian Smith was out of line with his implied criticism of Walsh at halftime-more or less blaming him for yellow-carding 2 players( seems Walsh may have reflected on the Brumbies-Reds match the previous week!) and the spate of points that ensued.
June 2nd 2012 @ 8:40am
Shungmao said | June 2nd 2012 @ 8:40am | Report comment
A couple of thoughts:
1. Steve Walsh did all the things he failed to do last week and credit to him for it, the 2 early yellow cards opened things up and set the tone for the rest of the game. He let things flow and his actual positioning on the field for such a quick game was perfect.
2. The game itself was a great spectical but the Highlanders defensive structure and shape was awful, due to the fact they kept moving laterally and seldom aggressively forward the shaders just kept pointing big man at little man and opening them up with little man on big and for those who have played the game this is harder to do than it looks, lots of communication and vision is needed.
3. I just love the fact that Carter is the best 10 in the world and in line with this he could be to cool for school, but his obvious excitement for when his team do well on the field must be so motivating to his mates see and feel, , he’s the first to rush in and jump in the air when they score and when he does something great he let’s others see how he is happy with his work.
4. Ritchie played such a strong game, but a concern for the AB’s are the refs are tightening up on him big time and with the propensity for trigger happy yellow card refs he could get into strife. Fortunately if any one can adjust his game he can and he looks in better shape and developed a stronger running game than I have seem him display before.
5. As a fanatic of both codes jeez I would like to see Fruen play league, he would not just do well but he would thrive. Probably not what shaders fans want to hear and it will probably never happen but I personally think it would be awesome.
Well done Canterbury, make space in the cupboard for title number 8!
June 2nd 2012 @ 8:58am
Moaman said | June 2nd 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
On Point 5; I said to a friend whilst watching the game that I really hope Robbie Fruean is being given guidance and help to rectify his perceived shortcomings because he looked great again last night and seems an awesome prospect.Probably his apparent lack of versatility in a position clogged with talent currently is the only thing holding him back.But he is still young!
June 2nd 2012 @ 9:03am
Shungmao said | June 2nd 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Agree, he doesn’t seem to know when to and when not to go looking for the ball. Personally big fan and age to a point is his opportunity.
June 2nd 2012 @ 9:10am
Sprigs said | June 2nd 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Excellent game.
It will be great to see an Aussie side beat them again. The Rebels match was also a cracker.
June 2nd 2012 @ 9:37am
colvin said | June 2nd 2012 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Being a one-eyed Highlanders supporter I’m looking for excuses. How about these?
The Highlanders played like they were exhausted. After the first say 35 minutes when they competed well they clearly faded physically. It’s not as if they’re not fit, they are. They just had nothing left to give. So you look at the Highlanders draw. Pretty near all the teams they have played are in the top half of the points table. Or in the case of the Blues are a team that gave them plenty of hurry up. Most of the other teams have played more teams in the bottom half of the table, giving them a less stressful week every now and then. Look at the Brumbies draw compared to the Highlanders.
Then there is the question of the bye. In other teams draw they get a rest week after 4 or five games. In the Highlander’s case the second bye is the last game of the round prior to finals starting. How ridiculous is that?
So it seems that to win the SR a team needs to have a favourable draw, byes coming at the right time, luck that the referee doesn’t do them over (like when the Highlanders played the Hurricanes and cost them the game), luck that they don’t lose too many players to injury (look at the Blues) and a good goal kicker able to take all the points on offer, If you don’t have that up front you won’t win SR. If you do you can then start talking about getting the best out of your players, game plan, having players of the right quality etc.etc..
The authorites need to see if they can even up the playing field more than it is at present. After all, all teams need to have an equal shot at winning the title.
June 2nd 2012 @ 10:51am
DC of nz said | June 2nd 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
It might not be fashionable to say this but Andy Ellis just locked down that black nine jersey …. He knows how DC plays and his reading of the situ to keep the ball alive to allow the saders to score from the freuan break shows he will start this year ..
It’s not about being flashy … Its about linking and doing the little things right…
June 3rd 2012 @ 4:03am
KiwiDave said | June 3rd 2012 @ 4:03am | Report comment
Ellis actually had a great game. Quickest I have seen him from the base of a ruck in delivery for a long long time. This trial was a Ellis vs Smith matchup. The Kerr Barlow – Weepu one didnt happen so have to question if Weepu gets into the 30 at all
June 3rd 2012 @ 12:35pm
Nick Cross said | June 3rd 2012 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Well most ABs supporters agree with both of you but not the three guys that count. I can’t beleive they’ve picked Weepu again and that Ellis not even in squad…
June 2nd 2012 @ 11:34am
Coxinator said | June 2nd 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
That burst of three tries was some of the best rugby I ve seen since the Reds last year. Can’t wait to see the Chiefs take on the ChCh boys again.
June 2nd 2012 @ 12:34pm
AWCMONREF said | June 2nd 2012 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Kiwi derbies can not only be try fests but they can also be damn BRUTAL! What a ripper of a game how the Crusaders lose to the Rebels then do that to a much better team in the Highlanders is bloody well confusing.
Hate em or love em have to admit the men from Canterbury are sheer class………………
Good Luck Ireland but watch out for our Danny Boy.