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The two skippers Kieran Read and Michael Hooper best summed up the Crusaders’ 29-10 Super Rugby win on Friday night, extending the Waratahs’ losing streak in Christchurch to 13 seasons.
“We were outstanding, especially in the first half,” was how Read saw it.
“We were very positive with the pouring rain and the cold, but we didn’t put any scoreboard pressure on them,” was Hooper’s reply.
And that was as true as the scoreline that quite rightfully suggested the Crusaders were three times better than the Waratahs on the night.
Four tries to two flattered the Waratahs with only Hooper and Israel Folau constantly standing out, while the Crusaders would have had great difficulty naming a man of the match with Read, lock Luke Romano, halfback Michael Ellis, fly-half Richie Mo-unga, and winger Johnny McNicholl outstanding.
Both sides will be disappointed they didn’t score more points, especially tries.
The Crusaders are locked in a major battle with the Chiefs and Hurricanes to top the New Zealand Conference – all three were on 37 points pre-game. The Waratahs had a game up their sleeve in the battle with the Brumbies to top the Australian Conference, with the Waratahs just one point in front.
They missed a golden opportunity to break clear, but weren’t good enough on the night.
In fact, there were times when the Waratahs were embarrassing. And one of the major reasons was halfback Nick Phipps who went from a blinder last week against the Bulls to pedestrian last night.
As a result, the Waratahs backline was hammered by the Crusaders defence well behind the advantage line because Phipps’ service was so slow.
Take out Folau’s two brilliant busts, with the first leading to the Rob Hore try, and the Waratahs backs were pretty ordinary.
That was excusable in the first half in the pouring rain and freezing cold conditions and the Crusaders calling the shots with 60 per cent possession and 60 per cent territory.
But there were far less excuses in the second half with the rain gone, and the Waratahs enjoying 64 per cent possession and 63 per cent territory, but they kept frittering away chances.
And those chances were magnified when Matt Lucas replaced Phipps, but Lucas was even more pedestrian.
And Tatafu Polota-Nau didn’t help the Waratahs’ cause by losing six lineouts in 17, sending the Crusaders back into the attack. Add the 18 Waratah turnovers to 12, and the Crusaders should have won by more.
The Waratahs have a week to smarten up before they face the Chiefs at Allianz and they must improve at least 50 per cent.
In the wash-up to last night, a major salute to Ellis on his 150th game for the Crusaders, and to prop Wyatt Crockett on his 165th to edge past veteran hooker Keven Mealamu’s 164 for the Blues.
Both will be vital in the Crusaders’ bid for an eighth Super Rugby crown, which right now looks the goods.