Crusaders take NZ title
Source: Agencies |
June 19, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
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THE Canterbury Crusaders claimed the New Zealand conference title and a place in the top three seedings for the Super 15 playoffs with a gutsy 16-9 win over the Wellington Hurricanes yesterday.
Center Robbie Fruean scored the only try and Dan Carter added eight points with his boot to tame a fired-up Hurricanes side, who were playing for pride in a match that looked like an All Blacks selection trial.
The seven-time champions will have to wait until South Africa's Stormers play their final match of the season to find out if they finish second or third in the standings, the difference between a place in the semifinals or the first round of the playoffs.
Even if the Stormers beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, however, the Crusaders are guaranteed home advantage in their opening playoff match despite not having a suitable home at the moment.
Their first encounter with the Hurricanes should have taken place in week two but the deadly Christchurch earthquake put paid to that and did enough damage to the Crusaders' stadium to put them on the road for the season.
Given such adversity, edging the Auckland Blues to the New Zealand title is a major achievement, although Todd Blackadder's men will not want it to end there.
In Hamilton, New Zealand, the Queensland Reds secured top spot in the standings and home advantage throughout the playoffs with a controlled 19-11 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in rain, with Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper becoming the first Australian player to pass 200 points in a Super season.
With an unassailable 66 points from their 16 regular season games, the Reds will now have a week off before hosting a semifinal in Brisbane and, if they get through that, their first Super rugby final on July 9.
In Sydney, the New South Wales Waratahs hit their stride with four tries in the second half to reach the playoffs with a convincing if unspectacular 41-7 victory over the ACT Brumbies.
Needing a win to claim a wildcard, the Waratahs got tries from Lachie Turner, Sitaleki Timani, Chris Alcock, Sosene Anesi and Dave Dennis with Kurtley Beale adding 16 points from his boot.
The Waratahs will travel to New Zealand or South Africa for their first-round encounter next weekend while the Bulls and Sharks will battle it out later for the final spot in the six-team playoffs.
Center Robbie Fruean scored the only try and Dan Carter added eight points with his boot to tame a fired-up Hurricanes side, who were playing for pride in a match that looked like an All Blacks selection trial.
The seven-time champions will have to wait until South Africa's Stormers play their final match of the season to find out if they finish second or third in the standings, the difference between a place in the semifinals or the first round of the playoffs.
Even if the Stormers beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, however, the Crusaders are guaranteed home advantage in their opening playoff match despite not having a suitable home at the moment.
Their first encounter with the Hurricanes should have taken place in week two but the deadly Christchurch earthquake put paid to that and did enough damage to the Crusaders' stadium to put them on the road for the season.
Given such adversity, edging the Auckland Blues to the New Zealand title is a major achievement, although Todd Blackadder's men will not want it to end there.
In Hamilton, New Zealand, the Queensland Reds secured top spot in the standings and home advantage throughout the playoffs with a controlled 19-11 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in rain, with Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper becoming the first Australian player to pass 200 points in a Super season.
With an unassailable 66 points from their 16 regular season games, the Reds will now have a week off before hosting a semifinal in Brisbane and, if they get through that, their first Super rugby final on July 9.
In Sydney, the New South Wales Waratahs hit their stride with four tries in the second half to reach the playoffs with a convincing if unspectacular 41-7 victory over the ACT Brumbies.
Needing a win to claim a wildcard, the Waratahs got tries from Lachie Turner, Sitaleki Timani, Chris Alcock, Sosene Anesi and Dave Dennis with Kurtley Beale adding 16 points from his boot.
The Waratahs will travel to New Zealand or South Africa for their first-round encounter next weekend while the Bulls and Sharks will battle it out later for the final spot in the six-team playoffs.
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