Perfect send-off for McCaw and Carter

The Crusaders produced a devastating second half for a 58-17 rout of a very ordinary Reds team Christchurch on Saturday.

After leading just 15-10 at the half-time break, the Crusaders cut loose with six second-half tries to lead 58-10 – before taking their collective feet off the gas in the final 10 minutes.

The eight-tries-to-two rout kept alive the Crusaders' play-off dream.

However, of more significance it meant All Black legends Dan Carter and Richie McCaw were given a perfect send-off in what is likely to be their last appearance in Christchurch in the colours of the Crusaders.

Captain Kieran Read said the performance was about giving Carter and McCaw a fitting farewell in Christchurch.

"Those guys have done an awful lot for this team and it showed with the crowd getting behind us," he said.

Carter, the top points scorer in international rugby, will transfer to French club Racing Metro after this year's World Cup.

Meanwhile, All Blacks captain McCaw has indicated he intends to retire after the World Cup.

With their remaining home fixture, against the Hurricanes on May 29, being transferred to Nelson to accommodate the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the Crusaders' days in Christchurch are just about numbered.

Unless there is a dramatic turn of events that affords the Crusaders homeground advantage in the play-offs, this would have been the two legends' last appearance for the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The Crusaders have not missed out on the play-offs since 2001 and the bonus-point win gives them some hope of maintaining the record.

But the Reds, who defeated the Crusaders to win the 2011 Super 15 title, have won only two from 11 games and have no chance of making the top six.

The home team made a perfect start with a try to scrumhalf Andy Ellis after just 90 seconds, set up by a rampaging run down the left wing from Nadolo.

Carter created the second 15 minutes later when he slipped through a gap in the defence and offloaded to Colin Slade, who ran from the half-way line for the try.

The Reds regrouped to apply sustained pressure and were rewarded with a try just on half-time when Samu Kerevi barged past three tacklers to narrow the gap to 15-10.

Their hard work was squandered in the first minute of the second half, when Nadolo intercepted a stray pass from Reds wing James O'Connor and took off for his first try.

His second came just over 10 minutes later as Carter helped get the ball to him on the wing and the giant Fijian then powered through two tacklers.

Lock Sam Whitelock then piled on the agony for the Reds at the restart, running 60 metres for the Crusaders' fifth try as defenders ineffectively flailed at him.

From there the rout was confirmed, with Nadolo setting up Matt Todd for a try and Jone Macilai jinking through the defence for another.

Dominic Bird barged over to make it eight, although the Reds managed a late response through Chris Feauai-Sautia two minutes from time.

Man of the match: Not much from the Reds, apart from the occasional flashes of promise. Nemani Nadolo proved to be his destructive self with ball in hand, Dan Carter is running into some impressive form and Sam Whitelock capped a good match with a brilliant individual try. However, our award goes to Crusaders flyhalf Colin Slade – who again proved why he is currently ranked the best No.10 in New Zealand.

The scorers:

For the Crusaders:

Tries: Ellis, Slade, Nadolo 2, Whitelock, Todd, Macilai, Bird

Cons: Slade 6

Pens: Slade 2

For the Reds:

Tries: Kerevi, Feauai-Sautia

Cons: O'Connor 2

Pens: O'Connor

Yellow card: Dominic Bird (Crusaders, 34 – repeated infringements, collapsing the maul)

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Joe Moody, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Richie McCaw, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Kieron Fonotia, 23 Jone Macilai.

Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Nick Frisby, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Lolo Fakaosilea, 21 Scott Gale, 22 Ben Tapuai, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Referee: Mike Fraser

Assistant referees: Nick Briant, Paul Williams

TMO :Vinny Munro