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The Crusaders reignited their faltering Super Rugby campaign with a 34-6 win over the Lions in Christchurch.
The victory was built on the Crusaders’ scrum dominance, and the bonus-point win was a welcome return to form for the seven-time champions, who had scored only four tries for one win in their opening three games.
The Crusaders looked rusty coming off the bye, and despite the return of skipper Kieran Read and fellow All Black Sam Whitelock from extended leave, lacked composure in the first half.
All Blacks Dan Carter and Owen Franks also both were back from injury and suspension respectively, but the Crusaders couldn’t seem to find any early fluency.
A combination of handling errors and an inability to build phases meant they managed only one try in the first half.
The Crusaders’ scrum was on top early, and halfback Andy Ellis made the most of front-foot possession in the sixth minute when Read slipped him the perfect pass off yet another attacking scrum five metres out.
The home team created plenty of chances after that, but it was only inside centre Carter’s accuracy in sinking two penalties and a conversion which gave them a 13-3 lead at halftime.
The Crusaders looked a different team after the break, but it was the Lions who scored first with five-eighth Elton Jantjies sinking his second penalty after four minutes.
From then on, it was all Crusaders. Their dominance up front wore down the Lions, who had looked organised on defence and occasionally dangerous on the counter-attack.
Prop Julian Reldinghuys was sin-binned at the 50-minute mark, after he was warned earlier for infringing at scrum time.
Five minutes later, after a series of strength-sapping scrums, referee Nick Briant awarded a penalty try.
Three minutes later, Kieron Fonotia crossed after good work from Jordan Taufua at the breakdown won turnover ball, and the Crusaders’ ability to switch play and shift the ball wide stretched the Lions defence to breaking point.
Five minutes from fulltime, as the Lions tried to run the ball out from their own 22, Read swooped on a loose pass to cross unopposed for the bonus-point try.
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