The Crusaders secured their place in the Super Rugby final beating the Sharks 38-6 on Saturday night in their semi-final in Christchurch.
In perfect conditions at AMI Stadium, the Crusaders used stoic defence and precise attacking movements to see off the challenge of the 2012 finalists, who trailed 16-6 at halftime.
After dominating the Highlanders’ pack in last week’s qualifying final, the Sharks found themselves in an unfamiliar position as the Crusaders matched their physicality up front.
The New Zealand franchise thrashed their South African opponents with tries to Kieran Read, Nemani Nadolo, Willi Heinz, Johnny McNicholl and Matt Todd.
In the Crusaders’ 11th final appearance, against the NSW Waratahs or Brumbies, coach Todd Blackadder will have a second chance to secure his first title at the helm, and the Crusaders’ eighth since 1998.
Playing his first game in five weeks due to a fractured rib, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw worked well with fellow loose forwards Read and Todd to manage the pace of the game as frustration set in among the Sharks’ forwards.
The subsequent penalties allowed Dan Carter to add 13 points with the boot and keep his side in front from just the second minute.
A lambasting from coach Jake White, captured by television cameras, failed to inspire the Sharks to gain the upper hand in a classic semi-final arm-wrestle in the second half.
The Sharks are experts at using their kickers to smother opponents, but it was obvious from the outset that nerves, and perhaps the long trek from Durban, may have taken a toll.
Two consecutive restarts were pushed out on the full by the usually reliable Frans Steyn and, when halfback Cobus Reinach launched an aimless punt from inside his 22, the Crusaders pounced.
Shifting the ball across to the left, Read breezed through the tackle of centre Paul Jordaan before swerving around one final defender in a 25-metre sprint to score the opener.
The visitors then fell on the wrong side of referee Glen Jackson and conceded a further six unanswered points as Carter slotted his second and third penalty goals for a 16-3 advantage.
Patrick Lambie, brought in to replace Steyn at flyhalf, reduced the deficit to 10 but missed a crucial penalty kick that would have brought his side to within a converted try at the break.
Things only became worse for the visitors in the second half.
Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis caught Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis napping in defence with an inside pass that set winger Nemani Nadolo away for their second try.
Carter and Lambie missed from the kicking tee as the scoreline remained at 21-6 until the 65th minute.
That’s when substitute halfback Willi Heinz capitalised on a Sharks error at the scrum, before McNicholl also came off the bench to extend the lead.
Todd rubbed salt into the wounds three minutes from time as the Crusaders marched over the line once more with a rolling maul.
Common Sense
Guest
People tend to have negative one eyed Dagg blindness, no matter how good he plays he's not good enough.
Danny
Guest
Jackson looked only at one side of the ruck for 40 mins. Sharks were scragging halfback and offside getting away with murder. Crusaders got pinged for going over top and Sharks did same thing numerous times. In the end the scoreboard ran over the Sharks but if Jackson hadn't been so cautious in first half would have been looking at game out of reach at half time and Shark yellows by Q3. Surely there had to be a decent Aussie ref available, AND I DON'T MEAN STEVE WALSH BY THAT HAHA!
Harry Jones
Guest
I agree BB! I think this is oddly a good thing!!! Meyer sees you usually have to score 30 to win against NZ in NZ ag this NZ generation.
Harry Jones
Guest
Are you joking? Dagg was the best back on the field.
Harry Jones
Guest
Reinach didn't help his case w Meyer but jeez he has raw talent. Lewies might make the cut
Harry Jones
Guest
Piles of it.
Firstxv
Guest
yeah..perhaps steyn for his abilities. but not Lambie. They already have 3 AB 10's and Dagg so no point there.
Nek Minnut
Guest
Only Coetzee, Biz, Jannie JP, Reinarch, Beast and Lambie will make the Bok 23 imo.
Nek Minnut
Guest
I didnt think Dagg was that good.
JamestheElder
Guest
I was pissed off with Jackson in this game. He actually favoured the Sharks in my humble opinion!
44bottles
Roar Guru
I could see JPP getting in because the crusaders have very low wing stocks and he'd be better than McNicholl, and probably over Fonotia as well. Steyn or Lambie would be in as either the starting 12 or the inside back reserve, but only one of them would make the 23 IMO. Crusaders don't need more playmakers, they need penetrative backs.
Gavin Fernie
Guest
My oath, Harry Jones, you do talk concentrated buffalo ordure.
Harry Jones
Guest
I guarantee you Blackadder would snap those three up (even w the horrible semi). Lambie can play 10, 12, 15 and has shown BMT (not this one game). Steyn can play those positions too; is the best kicker in world rugby from 50+ metres, and has shown he can dominate at the highest level. He beat the ABs w three 50+ m kicks in Hamilton in 09 to win the 3N. JPP is one of the best defensive wings around; and finishes very well. Not saying they played well in the SF; but they'd make a Crusader XXIII.
Captain Obvious
Guest
This isn't the boks tho. And SA pick from overseas. So your scenario of doom is not based on reality.
Harry Jones
Guest
Okay, then only Folau.
Sylvester
Guest
A number did say the result was essentially a foregone conclusion because a Kiwi ref was controlling a game with a Kiwi team on home ground advantage.
Firstxv
Guest
good man!. i just stay out of the ref thing other than pushing the 'leave them alone' agenda. Too much energys wasted on it and you never get anywhere. Wayne Barnes taught me that. But I guess someones gotta do it. But for me social media rugby is far more vitriolic towards refs than anyone else in the game.
Winston
Guest
Sharks just imploded except for a few moments. Reminded me of the Bulls thrashing the Chiefs a while ago in the final. One team just didn't show up. Not taking anything away from the Crusaders. They played really well. Got to feel for the Sharks.
Gazzatron
Guest
I bashed Jackson. I think he's a crud ref. He wasn't too bad last night though. I'm man enough admit it.
Firstxv
Guest
All 3 have had their moments, but theyve not reached the kind of consistency at the level to be relied upon. Injuries have been big on them all from memory and the different coaching styles of sxv and the Boks probably add to the mix. Steyn wouldnt work at the Saders. His willingness to be a rugby nomad flies directly in the face of the Saders ideals. Look at the loyalty McCaw, DC and Read have shown to Crusaders and NZ rugby- you can't buy that- literally. JPP perhaps isnt his best at the moment, and Lambie just doesnt put his mark on a match enough.