Crusaders, Waratahs seal semifinal spots
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Canterbury Crusaders found form at the perfect time to defeat the ACT Brumbies 40-22 in Christchurch, New Zealand, yesterday and extend their record to 12 appearances in the Super rugby semifinals.
In Sydney, the NSW Waratahs also stormed into the semifinals with an emphatic 32-16 win over the Wellington Hurricanes yesterday.
The Crusaders, coming off three straight losses on the road, were at their clinical best in the do-or-die match, scoring five tries to seal a bonus point and defending ruthlessly to kill off the Brumbies' postseason ambitions.
"It was the right end of the season, you've just got to play well and I'm just proud of the way we came out tonight," Crusaders captain Richie McCaw said in a televised interview. "We defended pretty well, it wasn't just attacking, we attacked when we didn't have the ball. That's something we put a lot of focus on this year and it's sort of started to pay dividends."
Winger Zac Guildford was instrumental in the win, setting up two tries and scoring one himself in the dying minutes.
The Brumbies, who were in semifinal contention after wins in their last two games, clawed back to 22-15 through a Ben Alexander try a few minutes after the break, but were held scoreless for more than 30 minutes in flanker George Smith's retirement match.
Having not lost at home to the Brumbies since 2000, the Crusaders came out firing from the start.
Barnstorming
A barnstorming run from Guildford set up their first try after the 12th minute. The left winger shrugging off three tackles in midfield before right winger Sean Maitland dived over the line after a slick pass from flanker Richie McCaw.
Outside center Tyrone Smith pinched a try for the Brumbies after intercepting an errant pass from Crusaders inside centre Daniel Bowden, Matt Giteau's conversion squaring the tie after the 17th minute.
The Crusaders then struck two tries in three minutes to take control.
A horrible Salesi Ma'afu fumble in midfield ended up in the arms of Guildford, who dribbled a perfectly weighted kick to allow No. 8 Kieran Read to run onto it over the line.
Read then bobbed up on the right wing a few minutes later, passing off to prop Owen Franks who jogged over the goalline to make it 17-7.
Flyhalf Dan Carter kicked a late penalty goal to give the Crusaders a 22-10 lead at halftime.
After Alexander's second half try, McCaw gave the Crusaders a bonus point with their fourth try, carrying a textbook pick-and-drive over the line, before Guildford made it 40-17 with his try two minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell scored two tries each, as the Waratahs used their kicking boots to break through a tenacious Hurricanes defence.
The Waratahs dominated possession early but were held to 18-9 at halftime as the Hurricanes stood firm in their 22 at Sydney Football Stadium.
In Sydney, the NSW Waratahs also stormed into the semifinals with an emphatic 32-16 win over the Wellington Hurricanes yesterday.
The Crusaders, coming off three straight losses on the road, were at their clinical best in the do-or-die match, scoring five tries to seal a bonus point and defending ruthlessly to kill off the Brumbies' postseason ambitions.
"It was the right end of the season, you've just got to play well and I'm just proud of the way we came out tonight," Crusaders captain Richie McCaw said in a televised interview. "We defended pretty well, it wasn't just attacking, we attacked when we didn't have the ball. That's something we put a lot of focus on this year and it's sort of started to pay dividends."
Winger Zac Guildford was instrumental in the win, setting up two tries and scoring one himself in the dying minutes.
The Brumbies, who were in semifinal contention after wins in their last two games, clawed back to 22-15 through a Ben Alexander try a few minutes after the break, but were held scoreless for more than 30 minutes in flanker George Smith's retirement match.
Having not lost at home to the Brumbies since 2000, the Crusaders came out firing from the start.
Barnstorming
A barnstorming run from Guildford set up their first try after the 12th minute. The left winger shrugging off three tackles in midfield before right winger Sean Maitland dived over the line after a slick pass from flanker Richie McCaw.
Outside center Tyrone Smith pinched a try for the Brumbies after intercepting an errant pass from Crusaders inside centre Daniel Bowden, Matt Giteau's conversion squaring the tie after the 17th minute.
The Crusaders then struck two tries in three minutes to take control.
A horrible Salesi Ma'afu fumble in midfield ended up in the arms of Guildford, who dribbled a perfectly weighted kick to allow No. 8 Kieran Read to run onto it over the line.
Read then bobbed up on the right wing a few minutes later, passing off to prop Owen Franks who jogged over the goalline to make it 17-7.
Flyhalf Dan Carter kicked a late penalty goal to give the Crusaders a 22-10 lead at halftime.
After Alexander's second half try, McCaw gave the Crusaders a bonus point with their fourth try, carrying a textbook pick-and-drive over the line, before Guildford made it 40-17 with his try two minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell scored two tries each, as the Waratahs used their kicking boots to break through a tenacious Hurricanes defence.
The Waratahs dominated possession early but were held to 18-9 at halftime as the Hurricanes stood firm in their 22 at Sydney Football Stadium.
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