Crusaders hold on for thrilling win

The Crusaders held on in the face of a powerful late charge by the Highlanders to score a crucial bonus-point win.

The 32-30 triumph in Dunedin on Saturday cemented the Crusaders' place in the play-off zone, while the Highlanders also took two valuable points away to stay in the hunt.

In a spiteful game, where there were enough facial massages and other body re-arrangements to keep an entire spa busy for a day, both teams were rather fortunate not to have received more cards that the solitary yellow.

To say that it was brutal would be stating the obvious.

Given what was on the line, the physicality was to be expected, but the nastiness of some of the players' behaviour uncalled for.

It took some of the gloss of what was a real cracker and a very entertaining affair.

The skills on show were simply sublime.

After butchering several early opportunities in a dominant opening 10 minutes – Colin Slade missed a kickable penalty, while Johnny McNicholl put a ball down cold and produced a forward pass, both with an open tryline – he Crusaders eventually opened their account in the 12th minute.

The try went to Jordan Taufua, who barged over from close range, but it was a team try – with a powerful build-up and with forwards and backs interlinked very well. This time Slade was on target with the kick – 7-0.

However, it suddenly went pear-shaped for the Crusaders – Richie McCaw being yellow carder in the 22nd minute for a professional foul.

While his supporters will claim he was just doing his job, slowing the ball down, he cost his team 12 points.

The first try went to hooker Ged Robinson, who ran a great angle, but Shaun Treeby and Lima Sopoaga were both prominent in the build-up. Sopoaga's first hot at goal was wide of the mark – 5-7.

Three minutes later the Highlanders made the 1-man Crusaders pay again. Malakai Fekitoa made the initial bust in midfield, before Ben Smith added further impetus and then Patrick Osborne powered through Israel Dagg and over. This time Sopoaga nailed the conversion – 12-7.

Slade slotted a penalty in the 37th minute – after the TMO had a look at one of several off-the-ball incidents, deciding it was 'not serious enough' to warrant further action.

The Highlanders hung on to their two-point lead to the break – 12-10.

However, within two minutes of the restart the Crusaders were back in the lead.

The Crusaders used Nemani Nadolo to get the initial momentum and with numbers flooding into the breakdown near the line Tim Perry went over from close range. Slade was wide of the mark with another kick – 15-12.

Sopoaga levelled the scores with a penalty in the 48th minute, but the Highlanders were made to pay for their sloppy restarts.

The Crusaders not only won the ball back, but they surged forward in numbers again and Nepo Laulala eventually got the try. This time Slade was on target – 22-15.

Hayden Parker pulled three points back (18-22) as the game moved into the final quarter, but Nemani Nadolo struck a crucial blow for the visitors with a powerful burst and a try that allowed the Crusaders to stretch their lead to 11 points (29-18) in the 64th minute.

The Highlanders were not done yet – Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith very prominent in the build-up, before Fekitoa stepped through a couple of tackles for a try that made it a six-point game (23-29).

Slade added three points (32-23 with just on 10 minutes remaining), before the Highlanders came charging back again. This time Ben Smith the man to find the crucial gap and go over. Parker added the extras to make it a two-point game (30-32) with five minutes left on the clock.

The Highlanders now attacked in waves, the Crusaders hanging on grimly.

Patrick Osborne went close, the TMO having several looks and taking his good time, and eventually ruling the ball had touched the goalline and the touchline simultaneously – cruelly denying the home team a late winner.

Man of the match: The Highlanders relied heavily on Malakai Fekitoa and the two Smiths, Ben and Aaron, to create their opportunities. And they were very successful. Joe Wheeler was powerful with ball in hand. Dominic Bird threw his considerable frame around, Richie McCaw was, well, Richie McCaw. Jordan Taufua again showed why he is the next big thing in New Zealand. However, our award goes to Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo, who got the momentum his team required from him when carrying the ball and scored a crucial try.

The scorers:

For the Highlanders:

Tries: Robinson, Osborne, Fekitoa, B Smith

Cons: Sopoaga, Parker

Pens: Sopoaga, Parker

For the Crusaders:

Tries: Taufua, Perry, Laulala, Nadolo

Cons: Slade 3

Pens: Slade 2

Yellow card: Richie McCaw (Crusaders, 22 – professional foul, hands in at the ruck)

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Kane Hames.

Replacements: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Phil Burleigh.

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Tom Taylor, 12 Ryan Crotty (captain), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Tim Perry.

Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Adam Whitelock, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)