Crusaders locked and loaded
It’s official. The Crusaders will remain in Christchurch as long as they stay alive in the Super Rugby playoffs.
The Crusaders’ 45-22 win over the Highlanders at ‘‘Wyatt Crockett Stadium’’ in Christchurch last night means they are now locked in at the top of the competition log and, with a round to be played, they cannot be overtaken.
That rumbling noise you can hear coming out of the Garden City is confirmation that the defending champions have hotted-up their engines and good luck to you if you get trapped under their tracks.
Yes, a fair bit has to happen before the finalists will be confirmed but on this performance the ruthless Crusaders, who have now won 11 straight, must be ranked at very short odds to secure a spot.
They scored five tries – they could have had a couple more if their execution had been better – and first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga kicked eight of his nine shots at goal to collect 20 points.
All around a memorable night for the locals. And, thankfully, it meant the postmatch beer will have been all the sweeter for loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett.
Crockett, as you would expect, got a very generous reception from the crowd when he replaced Joe Moody in the sixth minute.
Taking the park so early wasn’t part of the plan for Crockett but that scheme blew to bits when Moody, having minutes earlier helped set-up the opening try to George Bridge, succumbed to a knee injury.
So, in his 200th Super Rugby appearance since his debut in 2006, Crockett went to work.
Moody, however, will be in a darker mood.
He has endured a yo-yo year, having had to earlier fight back from a major shoulder Read recorded 29m with the ball and made three tackles. It was more solid than spectacular but only a miserable type would complain about his output. operation, a broken finger and suspension.
All Blacks captain and No 8 Kieran Read, in his comeback game after a back operation in December, would have been satisfied with his 49 minutes on the track.
Read recorded 29m with the ball and made three tackles.
It was more solid than spectacular but only a miserable type would complain about his output. This was exactly what he would have wanted, and he should be good to go, once again, against the Blues next weekend.
If anyone at the ground had elected to run for exit gate at halftime they must have had a cracker of an excuse. Either that or they were bonkers.
Because the opening 40 minutes fair bulged with action; five tries, three scored by the Crusaders, and all will be worthwhile revisiting on the highlights reel in the days to come.
The Highlanders, such a rabble when they surrendered so meekly in the first half of the game against the Chiefs in Suva the previous weekend, proved to have giant tickers.
Down 12-0 in almost as minutes after the Crusaders logged tries to outside backs David Havili and Bridge, the Highlanders pinged off the ropes in spectacular fashion to land a few tasty blows themselves.
Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax hoovered up a sweet offload from No 8 Luke Whitelock and when playmaker Lima Sopoaga blasted upfield his skipper Ben Smith knew exactly which trail to run.
Bang. Suddenly there was only one point separating these old foes.
That was until Crusaders lock Scott Barrett finished off a terrific movement right on the halftime bell, with his side heading for the halftime sermons ahead 25-17.
And on it went. Six minutes after the restart, both sides plucked more treats out of their goody bags.
Then the Crusaders put down the hammer.
Game over.
At a glance
Crusaders 45 (George Bridge 2, Richie Mo’unga, Scott Barrett, David Havili, tries; Mo’unga 4 con, 4 pen) Highlanders 22
(Tyrel Lomax, Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, pen). Ht: 25-17