Crusaders out-class Stormers
IT’S back to the Super Rugby penthouse for the Crusaders following this 57-24 bonus-point clobbering of the Stormers in Christchurch last night.
That makes it eight wins from eight for the red and black machine, although there would be little time to celebrate their return to the pinnacle of the competition log because this morning they fly to South Africa for their next matches against the Cheetahs and Bulls.
Given the way the Hurricanes blitzed the Brumbies 56-21 in Napier on Friday night, and briefly pounced to the No 1 spot, there was a sense of anticipation prior to this match at AMI Stadium.
Are the Crusaders playing better than the Hurricanes? On his effort you would have to lean towards the negative.
Although they burst out of the blocks with a hat-trick of tries to left wing George Bridge, and No 8 Kieran Read contributed a double prior to being substituted at the break, to lead 36-3 after the first half they caused some anxiety for the 12,867 fans when they got the wobbles in the third quarter.
This is sometimes the case in sport isn’t it?
It doesn’t matter if it is the wee nippers running around in the JAB grades, or the old pros in the big leagues, when a team runs up a big lead in the first spell they inexplicably reach for the pillow and night shades.
So there was some concern when the Stormers replied with tries to wings Cheslin Kolbe, an intercept of a long pass by Richie Mo’unga, and Bjorn Basson.
Did it change the momentum? Nope. Because the Crusaders reverted back to that old ace in the pack when they got a penalty deep inside the Stormers half.
Skipper Sam Whitelock could have called for goal kicker Mo’unga to have a whack at the sticks, but instead selected a lineout and following the inevitable drive the huge form of replacement prop Mike Alaalatoa rose from the pile-up and in a mood to celebrate.
Minutes later another man possession fresh legs, loosie Pete Samu, swooped on a loose ball and sprinted about 80m to grab a spectacular runaway effort.
That opened the flood-gates. Game, set and match.
Since Super Rugby began way back in 1996 the Stormers have failed to win in Christchurch and seeds of this defeat were sown early in the contest.
When teams are dominating as the Crusaders did by unloading cheeky one-handed passes through cheeky geezers such as fullback David Havili and hooker Codie Taylor, you are going to find you get the rub of the green and they got a few kind calls by the officials.
Mo’unga earned the man of the match award, a fair reward for his accurate goal kicking – he kicked seven from eight – but at times you could have thrown a blanket over the forwards and offered it to be of the big boys .
It also seems appropriate to mention Bridge. His second and third tries were gifts (and there was hint of a forward pass by the last transfer by Jack Goodhue), yet he had to run a nice angle and pump his legs like greased pistons to score his first. Nice work from a player who is in his rookie season.
If you want to enter a date in your diary for when you want to tell your partner you have to stay at home and watch the footy, make it May 13.
That’s when the Crusaders host the Hurricanes in Christchurch. It’s one worth waiting for. ALL Black loose forward Elliot Dixon has been hospitalised with a nasty knee infection.
Dixon was set to start on the openside flank for the Highlanders in their 40-15 win over the Sunwolves in Invercargill last night.
However, he woke up in a lot of pain on Thursday night and ended up being taken to hospital meaning he missed the Super Rugby showdown in the deep south.
Instead, he had to follow the game online from his hospital bed and is also now a doubtful starter for the Highlanders’ next game against the Stormers in Dunedin on Friday night.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown said the target was to have Dixon available for their trip to South Africa.
‘‘He woke up with an infection in his leg so he’s in hospital at the moment. We are just trying to get that under control, so he’s an unlikely starter next week.
‘‘It blew up overnight and he was in all sorts of pain. He had to quickly get antibiotics into him and blood tests and ended up in hospital.’’
‘‘He will be on antibiotics all week and hopefully we can get him right to get on the plane to South Africa.’’
In a way to fit Dixon, Luke