Crusaders seal bonus point in brutal conditions
The good news from the Crusaders’ win over the Sunwolves was that Israel Dagg and Owen Franks walked off AMI Stadium unscathed.
Did the two All Blacks, in their comeback from long-term injuries, dip into their deep bag of tricks to set this Super Rugby match in Christchurch alight last night?
No. Let’s be honest. This game, which bizarrely was under threat from lightning in the first half (there was a report play might be suspended if the electrical storm that rattled window panes around the city got closer to the ground), was a stinker.
For wing Dagg and tighthead prop Franks, the stop-start nature of their team’s performance gave them little opportunity to show the world how good they can really be, before they were subbed off around the 50th minute.
Franks, no doubt, got more out of the outing. He looked to have fully recovered from the operation to his left Achilles tendon, enjoying the chance to get involved in some competitive scrummaging and a diet of ruck clean-outs.
But there was not much Dagg could do on the left wing as the ball rarely got shifted to him in space in the slippery, freezing conditions.
The good news for the Crusaders, who fielded a side stripped of a bunch of front-line players, including captain Sam Whitelock, is they emerged with a bonus-point victory to lead the New Zealand conference. The bad news is they lost hooker Ben Funnell and No 8 Tom Sanders with injuries in the first spell. Ever driven down a country road on a gloomy night and realised a possum is in your path? Too late, the only thing to do is to grip the steering wheel and wait for the crunch.
It felt like that when the Crusaders steamed into the Sunwolves in the opening minutes, with converted tries to Ryan Crotty and Matt Todd giving the home side a 14-0 lead.
The first, created by playmaker Mike Delany when he stepped through a ragged defensive line, was lovely to watch. And when Todd, leading the team in Whitelock’s absence, plunged over from a lineout drive it seemed to confirm everyone’s suspicions — that the Sunwolves were playing the role of hapless marsupial to the Crusaders’ juggernaut.
Not quite. The Sunwolves turned around and shredded that script when Michael Little scored, and then vowed to use the storm which brought rain and hail to the ground – and lightning – to their advantage.
The conditions proved a great leveller. Out the window went the Crusaders’ plan to move the ball at speed and offload in tackles, contestable kicks became more popular, as did lineout drives. As the Crusaders continued to turn ball over the Sunwolves gave their coach, former All Blacks tough nut and Highlanders mentor Jamie Joseph, reason to be one of the few people to enjoy the freezing temperatures. The Japan-based side cajoled the title holders every chance they got, and when Hayden Parker kicked penalties on either side of the halftime break, the gap on the scoreboard was reduced to just three points.
Given the way the Crusaders started the fixture – and the fact the TAB had given odds of just $1.01 for them to win – this was expected to be a blow-out.
Yet it was only when Crotty scored his second five-pointer in the second half, and when Tim Bateman used his silky skills to put Manasa Mataele in the clear, that the modest crowd of around 9000 fans could feel this result was in the bag against a brave rival.
Crusaders 33 (Ryan Crotty 2, Matt Todd, Manasa Mataele, Jack Stratton tries; Mike Delany 3 con, Mitchell Hunt con) Sunwolves 11 (Michael Little try; Hayden Parker 2 pen). HT: 14-5