Crusaders’ form ominous for all

The man with the most difficult job in New Zealand this week surely has to be Highlanders defence coach Glenn Delaney.

One can only imagine what was going through his mind as he watched the Crusaders dismantle the Chiefs 57-28 at Christchurch Stadium on Saturday.

It was carnage. And only the Highlanders – in Dunedin next weekend – can stop the white-hot redand-blacks from taking their record 19-match winning streak beyond a year. When the southern rivals clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium, it will be 364 days since the Crusaders last tasted defeat – a 25-17 loss to the Highlanders at the same ground.

Delaney’s notebook from the Crusaders’ shellacking of the Chiefs will be jampacked, after they ran in nine tries to four in a match which at times resembled a glorified training run.

Wing Sevu Reece was excellent on debut, running in an intercept from a poor Damian McKenzie pass, playing a part in a couple others, and landing a hit on Chiefs fullback Solomon Alaimalo which could be heard across the ground.

Unbeaten at the top of the ladder with 17 points, it’s no wonder bookies are offering only $1.67 for the Crusaders to snare a third consecutive title.

But the Highlanders are always a formidable beast under the roof and, as Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty said when looking ahead to the match, the Highlanders will be ‘‘peeved off’’ after their lastgasp 25-22 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night.

The Highlanders appeared to have control of the match midway through the second half, only for the hosts to hit back and snatch the win via a Beauden Barrett penalty after the hooter had sounded.

Highlanders No 8 Luke Whitelock’s decision to stick a hand in the ruck deep in their own territory can’t be defended, but there were a couple of other decisions which went against the Highlanders which raised eyebrows down the stretch, including an Ardie Savea steal when the ball didn’t appear to be out.

Regardless, it’s the Hurricanes who sit second in the New Zealand conference with 13 points, a total you’d fancy to increase after they visit the Chiefs in Hamilton in round five.

Back to the Chiefs, who can’t be let off the hook after a fourth consecutive defeat, which surpassed their previous worst loss to a Kiwi opponent (50-18 loss to Crusaders in 2005).

Head coach Colin Cooper clearly needs to find answers, and quickly, with away games against the Bulls and Jaguares looming after they host the Hurricanes on Friday night.

Dead last with one pitiful bonus point, they’re making the ordinary Blues look good.

Speaking of the Auckland-based franchise, they finally got a win in the can, but beating the Sunwolves 28-20 at home isn’t going to make anyone stand up and take notice.

Wing Rieko Ioane bagged all four tries for the Blues, who now get a week off before hosting the Highlanders in the first match of round six.

Elsewhere, noise continues to build across the ditch after the Will Genia-inspired Rebels turned around a 19-3 halftime deficit against the Brumbies to win 29-26.

Unbeaten with a 3-0 record, we’ll find out how seriously they should be taken when they play the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.

The Lions made a statement in round four, hammering the visiting Jaguares in a 13-try special which wasn’t close, despite the final 47-39 score.

Highlighted by a Courtnall Skosan brace, they led 47-13 after 52 minutes and gave everyone a reminder of the attacking force they are.

The Bulls, who are second on the Super Rugby ladder with 13 points, also made a statement by doing a number on the Sharks, 37-14.

Thanks to the Reds’ inability to hold on to the ball and turn a stack of late chances into points in their 28-17 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney, the Chiefs have company at the bottom of the ladder.

If the error-ridden game didn’t hurt your eyes, Hurricanes 25 (N Laumape 2, B Lam tries; B Barrett 2 con, 2 pen).

Highlanders 22 (A Smith, S Tomkinson, L Coltman tries; J Ioane pen, M Banks 2 con). HT: 14-8

Rebels 29 (J Maddocks 2, W Genia, M Koroibete tries; Q Cooper 3 cons, pen).

Brumbies 26 (F Fainga’a, H Speight, R Valetini tries, penalty try; C Leali’ifano 2 cons). HT: 3-19.

Crusaders 57 (B Ennor, S Reece, W Jordan 2, A Makalio, M Alaalatoa, C Taylor 2, B Hall tries; R Mo’unga 5 con, B Cameron con).

Chiefs 28 (T Seu, Etene Nanai-Seturo, J Debreczeni, M Brown tries; D McKenzie 3 con, Debreczeni con). HT: 33-7.

Blues 28 (R Ioane 4 tries; H Plummer pen, con;

O Black pen).

Sunwolves 20 (R Matsuda, U Helu tries; Matsuda 2 pens, 2 cons). HT: 15-13.

Waratahs 28 (N Hanigan, A Newsome, C Rona tries; B Foley 2 cons, 3 pens).

Reds 17 (C Feauai-Sautia, S Kerevi, S Naivalu tries; B Hegarty con). HT: 16-12.

Bulls 37 (R Specman 2, J Kriel tries; H Pollard 5 pen, 2 con, drop goal).

Sharks 14 (J Ward, D du Preez tries; R du Preez 2 con). HT: 19-0.

Lions 47 (R Herbst, E Jantjies, K Smith, W Simelane, M Schoeman, C Skosan 2 tries; Jantjies 6 con). Jaguares 39 (R Moyano, J Montoya 2, G Baldunciel, M Moroni, J Tuculet tries; J Diaz Bonilla con, pen, J Cruz Mallia con). HT: 26-13. the terrible condition of the turf at the Sydney Cricket Ground should have.

Hefty chunks of turf were ripped up at scrumtime, prompting referee Glen Jackson to stop the game in the final minutes, telling ground staff: ‘‘This is dangerous, this needs to be fixed.’’ planned merger – later scuttled – between the rival Scarlets and Ospreys clubs.

Gatland said after the Murrayfield victory that the offfield drama had impacted on his team’s preparation early in the week, but he praised their character and resolve.

‘‘This is a fantastic group of men,’’ he told BBC Sport.

‘‘They’re pretty close. There’s no doubt that Monday and Tuesday has had an impact on the players.

‘‘We didn’t train very well on Tuesday, so we had to back up on Thursday and Friday to tidy things up.

‘‘There’s obviously a lot of emotion involved with everyone. I take my hats off to them.

I’m not sure in the past we’d have had the mental strength to keep Scotland out, but these guys are finding ways to do that.’’

Gatland repeated his oft-made assertion that ‘‘this group of guys have forgotten how to lose’’.

‘‘Winning becomes a habit, and losing becomes a habit, so hopefully that continues next week.’’

Wales were cruising to a fourth win out of four when at halftime they led 15-6, a scoreline that flattered the Scots, who were coming off two bumbling losses to Ireland and France.

Then Scotland came alive in