Crusaders stun Hurricanes
The Crusaders produced their best performance of the season to upset Super Rugby's runaway leaders, the Hurricanes, at Trafalgar Park, in Nelson, on Friday.
Outscoring the visitors by four tries to two, the Crusaders' 35-18 win kept alive their faint, mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs.
The Hurricanes, who had already booked their place in the play-offs, never looked like they pitched up mentally for this game.
The seven-time champion Crusaders became only the second team to defeat the Hurricanes this year, but still risk missing the play-offs for the first time since 2001.
Inspired in attack by wing Nemani Nadolo, the Crusaders scored four tries to two, displaying the renowned dominance that has been missing for much of the season.
"Coming up against the top team, who've set the pace all year we wanted to dig deep," captain Richie McCaw said.
The bonus-point victory still leaves the Crusaders needing to win their last two matches and have other results go their way to make the play-offs.
The Hurricanes have already qualified for the play-offs, perhaps accounting for a lacklustre display that captain Conrad Smith said was a wake-up call.
"It was disappointing, we didn't turn up tonight," he said. They were hungrier than us and that's not good enough."
It was a downbeat way for the Hurricanes to mark All Black centre Ma'a Nonu's 123rd cap for the team, overtaking the record for most games set by former midfield great Tana Umaga.
The Hurricanes piled on the pressure early but a desperate tackle from Dan Carter stopped Julian Savea just short of the tryline.
Carter, playing in his preferred fly-half position, then gave the Crusaders the edge with three quick penalties.
They extended the lead with a try to scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond after a barnstorming run from wing Nemani Nadolo.
But a yellow card to Robbie Fruean halted their momentum, with the Hurricanes immediately hitting back with a try to Dane Coles to cut the gap to 8-16 at the break.
Ardie Savea took just 30 seconds after the restart to give the Hurricanes another try when he took off down the right wing.
The Crusaders then seized control of the match with tries to Nafi Tuitavake and Matt Todd, the second set up with a one-handed offload from Nadolo.
After setting up two tries, Nadolo then scored one for himself, gathering a cross-field chip from Carter then brushing off Nonu before crossing the line.
Man of the match: Other than Nehe Milner-Skudder not too many Hurricanes put their hands up. Dan Carter enjoyed being back at flyhalf and had his best game of the season. However, the player that did the most damage was the big Fijian wing Nemani Nadolo – who scored the bonus-point try and had a hand in two others.
The scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Drummond, Tuitavake, Todd, Nadolo
Cons: Carter 3
Pens: Carter 3
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Coles, A Savea
Con: Black
Pens: Black 2
Yellow card: Robbie Fruean (Crusaders, 30 – foul play, careless tackle)
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 David Havili, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Matt Todd, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Dominic Bird, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Kieron Fonotia, 23 Jone Macilai.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Otere Black, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Ben May, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Matt Proctor.
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Wratt (New Zealand)
