Crusaders cruise past Blues
Champs make Chiefs loss look an anomaly as Blues fail to test them
If there was a buoyancy around the Blues this week following their meritorious victory in Newcastle, it was sunk at Eden Park last night by a Crusaders side determined to prove their qualities as title contenders after a rare flop in Hamilton.
Scott Robertson’s men had it all over the Blues in the set piece — they completely ruled the Blues at lineout time and won penalties for fun at scrum time.
With skipper Scott Barrett smashing everything that moved during his 59 minutes on the field and young lock Cullen Grace doing similarly well alongside him, the Crusaders quickly built an advantage up front. Perhaps during the week, they had read about the Blues having confidence in their pack and wanted to have the last say.
In the end, it was hardly a contest, but still the Crusaders couldn’t quite stretch their lead to be absolutely comfortable, although as the clock ticked past 65 minutes and the Blues tried but failed to break through, it was easily good enough.
In the end, the visitors’ class in their backline shone through, too.
First five-eighth Richie Mo’unga, out last week due to injury, looked increasingly sharp, and with Jack Goodhue alongside him providing the assist for George Bridge’s try and helping Mo’unga’s, as well as scoring one himself, there was simply too much firepower among the red and blacks.
It began promisingly enough for the Blues. Skipper Patrick Tuipulotu stretched across the line after six minutes, but despite the quality in both sides, the match didn’t catch fire due to the near constant mistakes and early injuries to Blues lock Josh Goodhue, who hurt an ankle, and Crusaders prop Oli Jager, who came off second best when clashing heads with hooker Codie Taylor.
In fact, it was more stop than start — a little bit like the Friday night traffic streaming away from the city — although matters became far more lively as the match entered the final quarter when tempers flared as the Crusaders defended their line. That they kept the Blues out with relative ease confirmed there would be no way back for the home side.
The Blues, perhaps taking a leaf out of the Chiefs’ playbook from last weekend, attacked the Crusaders breakdown with an intensity bordering on recklessness, but looked a little shaky when the ball was put in behind them.
First-five Stephen Perofeta had his moments and was heavily involved in Tuipulotu’s try but missed a relatively easy conversion, with Harry Plummer taking over the kicking in the second half after replacing fullback Matt Duffie.
In the first half, the Crusaders played what for them was the right end of the field — helped by a wind which convinced David Havili to unsuccessfully try a penalty from 59m out — but made a few curious decisions of their own after a brilliant offload by Goodhue put Bridge over in the corner.
Mo’unga’s try — he was over untouched after a Goodhue break — was just what Robertson would have wanted straight after halftime. There was a little bit of luck in Goodhue’s try — his nifty left-foot chip was touched and regathered by Mo’unga before he was redelivered the ball.
The Blues didn’t didn’t create anywhere near the same chances. The defending champions are back, the Blues have a lot more work to do yet. Crusaders 25 (George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Jack Goodhue tries; David Havili 2 pens, 2 cons) Blues 8 (Patrick Tuipulotu try; Harry Plummer pen)
Halftime: 11-6.