Hungry Crusaders devour Highlanders
The Crusaders showed a ruthless edge by putting the Highlanders away 51-18 in a seven-try romp in front of a sold-out crowd in Christchurch on Friday.
The Crusaders will play in the knock-out rounds of 2012 Super Rugby and if they end winning the competition it should come as no surprise – not after what they did to the combative Highlanders in Christchurch this evening. One lesson they taught said loud and clear: You need at least 15 players to play against the Crusaders.
The Highlanders, who battled the Bulls last week while the Crusaders lolled about getting refreshed, were certainly competitive for the first 20 minutes and were leading 13-10 till one of their number was culled.
James Haskell has been missing for five weeks on suspension for foul play which included extra time for a poor disciplinary record. He started for the Highlanders but did not last long. His side were leading 13-10 when he was sent to the sin bin. This was the signal for the Crusaders to run away with the match. Ten minutes later the home side led 25-13 and a minute after Haskell's return 32-13, bonus point in the bag. That was the half-time score.
The start of the game was hectic, the collisions intense. The players seemed not to flinch but many a watcher did.
The Crusaders got going from a line-out. The Highlanders were free-kicked and the Crusaders took the scrum on their left. Zac Guildford made the breach and the Crusaders forwards took over with bash and carry till George Whitelock plunged over for the try. 7-0 inside 3 minutes.
It looked a blow when at this stage Corey Flynn went off with a rib injury but his replacement, Quentin Macdonald, had a splendid match.
After turnovers the Crusaders were back, Chris King infringed at a tackle and Dan Carter made it 10-0 from 50 metres after 8 minutes.
Now came the best time for the Highlanders. Wyatt Crockett was penalised at a scrum and Chris Noakes made it 10-3. They came back on the attack, George Whitelock was sin-binned and Noakes made it 10-6 after 16 minutes. Four minutes later they were in the lead. From a line-out they had a little bash and then went right to Tamati Ellison who was standing still with Ryan Crotty close in front of him. Ellison brushed Crotty aside and then handed off Ben Franks abruptly and scored next to the posts. 13-10 to the Highlanders.
The lead was short-lived. The Crusaders attacked and were near the Highlanders line when Haskell infringed and was sin-binned. A Carter penalty goal levelled the scores at 26 minutes and then the Crusader quake hit the Highlanders.
From the kick-off after the penalty they started running well inside their own half. Carter right-footed a gentle grubber past the Highlanders. Macdonald grabbed the gently bouncing ball and gave to Guildford who set off on an electric, swerving 55-metre run to the line. 18-13 after 29 minutes.
King was penalised at a scrum and the Crusaders formed an attacking line-out on their left. Kieran Read charged. Macdonald and Crockett bashed further ahead and then the Crusaders went left. Crater again right-footed a grubber towards the Highlanders line. and Guildford scored his second try,. Carter converted from far out. 25-13 after 35 minutes.
From the kick-off Robbie Fruean burst through Josh Bekhuis and set off downfield. He passed inside to Andy Ellis who passed further inside to Crotty who raced 30 metres to the posts. 32-13 after 36 minutes, bonus point in the bank and there was no doubt who was going to win the match.
The second half was much less intense. In fact some of it was just fun.
Noakes kicked down to Adam Whitelock in his own 22. He took tackles and Crusaders set off handling the ball. Israel Dagg passed a difficult pass to Ellis who stopped to get the ball from behind him./ Then, stopped, he kicked a diagonal to his right where Richie McCaw and Ellison went for the ball. Ellison missed it and McCaw slapped a hand on it for a try in the right corner. 37-13 after 45 minutes.
Just after this the Crusaders started running from their own line in a game that looked at times like netball. but up the field they went till a forward pass was spotted and stopped their skipping ahead.
When Nasi Manu was penalised at a tackle, the Crusaders tapped and bashed, and Crockett lunged over. 44-13, and the Crusaders were back attacking and looked certain to score, till just inside the Highlanders 22, Ellis passed to his right – right to Hosea Gear who raced down the field for a try. 44-18.
Not satisfied, the Crusaders came back on the attack. Macdonald and McCaw were close and Tom Marshall was tackled out at the corner.
There was a bit of a scrap as the two bantams, Ellis and Aaron Smith, got worked up and others gathered. But the Highlanders had been penalised and the Crusaders made a five-metre line-out from which Matt Todd scored. 51-18 with 8 minutes to play.
Man of the Match: The players who had most obvious effect on the galloping of the Crusaders were Quentin Macdonald, who played all but four minutes of the match, and Andy Ellis. Our choice is Andy Ellis for the accuracy and speed of his distribution, the part he played in tries and the cleverness, control and skill that led to Richie McCaw's try.
The scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: G. Whitelock, Guildford 2, Crotty, McCaw, Crockett, Todd
Cons: Carter 5
Pens: Carter 2
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Ellison, Gear
Con: Noakes
Pens: Noakes 2
Yellow cards: George Whitelock (16 mins – repeated infringements), James Haskell (27 mins – professional foul)
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Tom Marshall.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kurt Baker, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 James Haskell, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Nick Crosswell, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Kade Poki.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
