Crusaders blow Hurricanes away
May 24, 2008
THE Crusaders powered into the Super 14 rugby finals, flattening the Wellington Hurricanes 33-22 with a near-complete performance in their semi-final.

The 11-point winning margin, and three tries apiece scoreline, did not do justice to the total domination of the Crusaders throughout the match.

The most successful side in the history of Super rugby and gunning for their seventh title, Crusaders enjoyed 61 percent of possession and an overwhelming 76 percent territorial advantage.

It was a stunning return of confidence and form by a side which only a week ago was humbled by the Hurricanes in the last round before the play-offs and they will now be at home in next weekend's final.

Although 30 minutes into the match the Hurricanes led 8-6, it was against the run of play as the Richie McCaw-led Crusaders enjoyed total command up front.

It was inevitable that cracks would appear in the Hurricanes defence and the Crusaders scored just before half-time to lead 13-8 at the turn, then raced to a 33-8 advantage before allowing the Hurricanes two soft tries at the end.

"We knew we had to take a big step up from where we've been in the past couple of weeks," McCaw said.

"We didn't allow them to get too much going, apart from right at the end, and we capitalised on our chances."

Raking kicks down the middle by Dan Carter, Leon MacDonald and Scott Hamilton kept the Hurricanes on the back foot and the fast-chasing Crusaders forwards secured a constant supply of turnover ball.

The Crusaders' fortress at AMI Stadium has never been a happy hunting ground for the Hurricanes, whose only win in 11 attempts in Christchurch was seven years ago.

Without inspirational skipper Rodney So'oialo, who was ruled out by a rib injury, the Hurricanes forwards never threatened, which left their potent midfield pairing of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith starved of possession.

From the kick-off the Crusaders were immediately on attack, although just as quick they were down 0-5 after the first minute when teenage Hurricanes wing Zac Guilford scored from a solo performance.

The 19-year-old kicked deep down field, charged down Carter's casual clearing effort and won the race to the ball as it rebounded over the try line.

Carter made amends with two penalties to put the Crusaders ahead 6-5, before a Piri Weepu penalty regained the lead for the Hurricanes in the 30th minute.

The constant pressure from the Crusaders eventually paid off late in the half when MacDonald found a gap to scamper over by the posts with Carter adding the conversion.

Guilford went close to scoring a second try soon after the resumption but was forced out in the right-hand corner by Kade Poki who had raced across from the left wing.

The Crusaders responded immediately, forcing the Hurricanes back up field and ending a series of forward drives by sending the ball wide for MacDonald to score his second try.

Carter converted, added a penalty and then converted Kieran Read's try when the blind-side flanker muscled his way over for the Crusaders to lead 33-8 with 10 minutes remaining.

As coach Robbie Deans emptied the bench the Hurricanes came back with tries to Jeremy Thrush and Neemia Tialata, with replacement fly-half Jimmy Gopperth landing one conversion and Jerry Collins the other.

The one negative outcome for the Crusaders was the loss of senior hooker Corey Flynn with a suspected broken arm early in the match and his understudy Ti'i Paulo left the field with a leg injury just before full-time.


Waratahs hit form at right time
May 24, 2008

NEW South Wales will be gunning for their maiden Super 14 title next Saturday after sinking the Sharks 28-13 in a one-sided semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The rampant Waratahs ran in four tries to one to set up a rematch of their 2005 final showdown with six-times champions the Crusaders.

The Waratahs have only ever beaten the Crusaders once in New Zealand but will cross the Tasman oozing confidence after dominating the Sharks in virtually all facets.

Apart from the tryscoring flurry, the Waratahs won the battle at the breakdown, stole five lineouts from the Sharks and led by powerhouse performances from back-rowers Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh and lock Dean Mumm, physically destroyed the South African forwards.

Just like his entire team at halftime and fulltime, Waugh received a standing ovation from the 37,378-strong crowd when replaced in the 62nd minute of his 100th match for the Waratahs.

The Waratahs' only concern was another poor display of goalkicking from five-eighth Kurtley Beale.

After landing just three from seven attempts against Queensland last week, the youngster could only manage two from seven this evening.

Beale's inaccuracy was the only thing which kept the Sharks in the match until midway through the second half and another off night next week could prove very costly for the Waratahs.

The Waratahs haven't beaten the Crusaders since 2004 and will need everything to go their way to score a rare win in New Zealand's second-largest city.

In addition to losing their last five encounters with the Crusaders, the Waratahs have won just once in eight attempts in Christchurch since the tournament's inception in 1996.

Among their seven defeats there was a 35-25 loss in the 2005 final and a 34-7 humbling in round six this season.

But, as evident once again tonight, the Waratahs are far more accomplished outfit two months on from their last-up capitulation to the Crusaders.

After falling behind to an early drop goal to Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, the Tahs' utterly outplayed last year's losing finalists.

Tries to winger Lote Tuqiri in the 26th minute and teenage centre Rob Horne on the half hour, plus a conversion and penalty goal to Beale, gave NSW a 15-6 halftime lead.

The Waratahs skipped further ahead a minute after the break when Beale crossed, with Elsom throwing the final pass just as he had for Horne's five-pointer.

The match was as good as over when halfback Luke Burgess intercepted a pass from the base of the Sharks scrum to run in NSW's fourth try in the 45th minute and stretch the home side's lead to 25-6.

The Sharks added a consolation try to replacement hooker Craig Burden nine minutes from time before Beale had the final say, nailing a drop goal in the dying stages to give him a full set of try, conversion and penalty goal.

The comprehensive victory completed an unbeaten home campaign for the Waratahs, leaving Waugh delighted.

"Defence has been a big part of our game this year and we stood up again," Waugh said after the Tahs' seventh win from seven at the SFS in 2008.

"Off to Christchurch next week and we'll freshen up and it's obviously a big week.

"Our execution could have been a lot better, but it's obviously a very pleasing result.

"The Crusaders have been the form team all year and they deserve to have a home final.

"It's a big week (ahead of us).

"We've got a lot of inexperienced guys here and they've done really well all year, so I guess it's a matter of freshening up and making sure we get ready to play."

Greg Clark previews the final
By Greg Clark of Fox Sports

THE stage is set for what should be a great Super 14 final between the Crusaders and New South Wales in Christchurch on Saturday. They were both very impressive in their semi-final wins, and it's only fitting that the top two teams on the ladder advanced to the decider. The Crusaders showed why they can never be taken lightly in a play-off at home, bouncing back from a loss to the Highlanders to overpower the Hurricanes, while the Waratahs out-muscled and outplayed the Sharks in Sydney.

History is on the Crusaders' side, as they have won six of the 12 finals played since 1996 and have been runners-up in two more. Furthermore, they have never lost a play-off in Christchurch, while coach Robbie Deans has never tasted defeat in a decider at home. He suffered his two losses were in Auckland and Canberra, and he hopes to move into the Australia job with a fifth Super Rugby title on his resume.

The Waratahs lost to the Crusaders in their only appearance in a final - in Christchurch in 2005 - and they don't have a great record at the venue, playing eight games there and winning just one. That victory was achieved in coach Ewen McKenzie's first game in charge, in the opening week of the 2004 season.

But this is the best-prepared Waratahs team in McKenzie's five-year stint. Some key players might have niggling injuries but they'll hopefully be able to get through the 80 minutes to give the coach the perfect send off. The Waratahs' defence has been outstanding in recent weeks, and cracks might appear in the red-and-black armoury if they can put the Crusaders under the pressure the Sharks had to try to repel last weekend.

The Tahs will enjoy being the underdogs. They've exceeded expectations already this year, improving from 13th last year to second on the ladder at the end of the regular season. They lost 34-7 to the Crusaders in week six, but they did have the lead early in the second half. They failed to go the distance on that occasion, but I'll be surprised if they allow the Crusaders to run away with it this time.

The Chiefs and the Highlanders have proved the Crusaders are beatable, while Western Force and Queensland pushed them all the way as well. But you can't afford to have a lapse in concentration, as the Crusaders are one of the best counter-attacking teams in world rugby. If the Waratahs attempt to open up and try to match it with the Crusaders early, they will come unstuck. The Tahs simply need to stick to the game plan that has been working so well for them this year. Defence will win the final, and the Tahs can match the Crusaders in that department.

While my head is telling me to stick with the favourites at home, especially with Dan Carter doing the goal kicking for the Crusaders, I have a good feeling about the Tahs this week. I reckon they're going to give the final a great shake, and I won't be surprised if there's a boilover and the Super Rugby trophy heads back to Australia for the first time since 2004. Ironically, that was also a year when the winning coach didn't have his contract renewed.

Fox Sports 3 will broadcast the Super 14 final LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage from 1700 (EST)on Saturday.

Super 14 final line-ups

May 29, 2008 SQUADS for the Super 14 final between the Crusaders and New South Wales in Christchurch.

Saturday
Crusaders v New South Wales, AMI Stadium, Christchurch
LIVE on Fox Sports 3 (17:30 EST)
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald; Kade Poki, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Scott Hamilton; Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis; Mose Tuiali'i, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett Replacements: Steve Fualau, Ben Franks, Reuben Thorne, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland
Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight; Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri; Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Rocky Elsom; Dan Vickerman, Dean Mumm; Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson Replacements: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Will Caldwell, Beau Robinson, Brett Sheehan, Matt Carraro, Timana Tahu

Crusaders win Super 14 final
May 31, 2008

SERIAL champions the Crusaders once again denied New South Wales their maiden Super 14 rugby title with a tense 20-12 victory in the final at AMI Stadium.

The benchmark Crusaders rallied from 12-3 down after half an hour to reel in the Waratahs and hoist their seventh trophy in 11 years.

Superstar fly half Dan Carter ultimately proved the difference, slotting four penalties and a drop goal for a personal 15-point haul.

Victory gave departing coach Robbie Deans his fifth title with the Crusaders before he takes up his four-year posting with the Australia team on Monday.

For the Waratahs, and outgoing coach Ewen McKenzie - who was told mid-season his contract would not be renewed in 2009 - it was despair again in Christchurch.

The Tahs also lost the 2005 final to the Crusaders - but they at least put up a fight this time.

A spectacular try scoring double to winger Lachie Turner had given NSW a 12-11 half-time lead.

But they were unable to add to their tally in the second half, as the Crusaders once more rose to the challenge.

On a beautiful night in Christchurch, the Crusaders opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty goal to fly half Dan Carter before young guns Turner and Kurtley Beale combined brilliantly for the Waratahs.

Showing great speed and athleticism, Turner raced 25 metres before outleaping Carter - who was defending out of position on the wing - and swivelling mid-air before planting the ball down for a superb try.

Beale hooked the conversion attempt, leaving the Waratahs with an early 5-3 lead.

Carter missed with a long-range drop goal attempt shortly after before Crusaders centre Casey Laulala butchered a seemingly certain try in the 17th minute.

With two players outside him and only Turner to beat, Laulala ignored the overlap, ventured back inside and was swamped by the NSW's typically resilient defence.

Carter was off target with another penalty goal attempt two minutes later and, compounding his first-half woes, the so-called best player in the world then had a pass intercepted by NSW captain Phil Waugh.

With the home side on the back foot, Turner again seized the moment, chipping the ball over the defence and easily beating Crusaders half-back Andy Ellis to regain possession to grab his second try of the night.

Beale's successful conversion stretched NSW's advantage to 12-3 after 26 minutes.

But the Crusaders narrowed the gap with a second Carter penalty goal in the 32nd minute and well-worked try to No.8 Mose Tuiali'i three minutes before the break.

The Crusaders nudged to a two-point lead in the 46th minute through another Carter penalty goal following Sam Norton-Knight's high - but trysaving - tackle on Tim Bateman.

The match took a dramatic twist in the 55th minute when the Crusaders were denied a try and had star lock Brad Thorn sin-binned at the same time for foul play.

While Crusaders fans were celebrating after Wyatt Crockett managed to touch down for what appeared a legitimate five-pointer, South African referee Mark Lawrence consulted one of his touch judges before ruling no try.

Lawrence instead awarded a penalty back near halfway to NSW and pulled out his yellow card for Thorn punching a Waratah in back play.

At the same time as the Crusaders' dual international was trudging to the sin bin, Beale was being assisted from the field with an apparent leg injury.

But, despite pressuring the Crusaders defence, the Waratahs were unable to capitalise on their one-man advantage and were left to rue yet another missed opportunity.

“Obviously they got better early in the second half and I don't think we scored a point in that second half and, as I said before the game, it's about 80 minutes and we just didn't go on with it from half-time,'' Waugh lamented.

“We were confident going into that second half, but a couple of critical turnovers and it hurts you.

“Their kicking game was very good tonight. Our defence was probably just as good (as theirs). Probably the difference was the amount of pressure in our own half, and that paid off for them at the end of the game.''

A gracious Waugh said the Crusaders “thoroughly deserved'' their title.

“They're really good,'' he said.

“They won the round-robin convincingly, (had) a good semi-final (win) last week and we were outplayed tonight, so good luck to them.''