Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams inspired the Crusaders to a 44-28 win over the Sharks in an historic Super Rugby fixture at Twickenham on Sunday.
In the first Super Rugby game played in the northern hemisphere, Carter scored 22 points including a try before limping off in the 62nd minute, while Williams showed European fans what they can expect in the World Cup by displaying his full range of offloading and ball-running skills.
The Crusaders scored five tries to four from the Sharks for their fourth win of the campaign, and quelled a mini-revival from the South Africans in the second half when they came back from 34-10 down to reduce the gap to just nine points with half an hour left.
But the Crusaders could count the cost of the match with Carter and acting captain Keiran Read both failing to finish the game with Read only lasting until half-time before being injured.
A crowd of 35,094 helped raise fund for the Christchurch earthquake relief effort and the Crusaders treated them to a scintillating display of running rugby in a four-try first half.
Carter and Williams were at the heart of most of the Crusaders’ attacking moves with a Williams offload and a Carter inside ball setting up Sean Maitland.
Williams was the provider again on 21 minutes when his break and pass put Carter over under the posts and Israel Dagg rounded off a sweeping move before Carter’s touchline conversion put the Crusaders 27-10 up.
Carter built on the efforts of his forwards, who gave the Sharks a torrid time in the scrum, and Zac Guildford stretched their lead when he sidestepped Ryan Kankovski and evaded the tackle of Odwa Ndungane to put the Crusaders 24 points in front before the Sharks staged a comeback.
Fly-half Jacques-Louis Potgieter ran through some soft tackling just before the break and further scores from Ndungane and Alistair Hargreaves gave them hope of pulling off a remarkable comeback win.
With Carter off, and Williams lucky to escape a yellow card for a shoulder charge, the Crusaders put the game to bed with Maitland’s second touchdown in the 66th minute.
The Sharks refused to give up and Keegan Daniel chased down opposite number George Whitelock to pull off a try-saving tackle two minutes from time when flanker Whitelock had the line in sight after a 50 metre gallop.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
That's good enough for me, Richard, on Walsh's efforts. Well said and I agree. Watched the replay on Fox today - fabulous rugby offered by genuinely top class players right across the park. On Williams' shoulder charge - I've not seen him revert to that in the half dozen ITM Cup and four Super rugby matches I've seen him play. He's smart enough to listen to Coach Henry's advice on losing that technique. Carter was sublime.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
And the Shrks in New Zealand, the land of no vowels. Other than "u", pronouced as in Muck. To my Kiwi mates here I speak of the great No 8-cum-commentator as "Mrry Mxtd" and the conversation doesn't miss a beat. I must be saying it right. :)
Richard
Guest
Well done to Steve Walsh for his handling of the game at Twickenham over the weekend He has come back up through the ranks since his premature demise a couple of years ago because of the drink That he was chosen for the Crusaders game may have been a pat on the back for all the hard work and dedication he has put in over the last few years including arriving in Sydney and reffing club rugby to get back on his feet I am very proud of what he has done and he is a credit to the game congradulations Steve
Aware
Guest
It seems you have to log in and provide personal details to view that. Sounds like a catch to me, given my cautious nature. But thanks for the link, anyway.
Shane
Guest
Notice SBW packing down at number 6 in a late scrum? He did seem to be able to do anything in that game...
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
"from what ive gathered when going overseas most rugby fans not from big rugby playing nations tend to be boks supporters." Of course, they would say that to your face Nick. ;-)
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
The pork knuckle is Dusseldorf is better than the schnitz Kat. :-)
Jerry
Guest
In 1993, it would have just been the Curry Cup team playing in the Super 10. There would have been no difference in personnel or uniform. In fact, it would have been like that until 1998, as South Africa simply entered its top 4 unions into the first couple of seasons of the Super 12. They only adopted the "franchise" system from 98 onwards.
Moaman
Guest
;-)
Moaman
Guest
Ich dachte schnitzel kommt aus Wien?
nicksa
Guest
very good game to watch!! to be honest i think the stormers are gonna give the saders when they play in ct!! sbw played like a king but def should have been cited for that shoulder charge. @german rugbyfan so very glad to hear that u are a boks supporter!!!! from what ive gathered when going overseas most rugby fans not from big rugby playing nations tend to be boks supporters.
Ai Rui Sheng
Guest
Yes I am watching it again now. Google Super XV torrent.
Ai Rui Sheng
Guest
The Shorks, as they say in the RSA. Actually I think that the Cronulla Sharks may have been first.
Ai Rui Sheng
Guest
The Shorks, as they say in the RSA.
Ai Rui Sheng
Guest
Win or lose history will repeat. Lol.
Aware
Guest
Is there anywhere I can view a replay of that game on the 'net? (without having to pay a fee)
German rugbyfan
Guest
Thanks CizzyRascal...iam a sharks supporter, The South African one.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Is that addressed to me, Geoff?
Ben S
Roar Guru
It was hardly done overnight. That the initial allocation of tickets went so quickly suggests that enough people knew about the event. The place was full of Kiwis and Saffers. It was the London/England crowd that was in the minority.
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
Hey Ben, do you think the Crusaders will go all the way????