Crusaders stars lead Reds rout

CANTERBURY Crusaders ensured Dan Carter and Richie McCaw bid a fitting farewell to Christchurch in their final Super Rugby match in the city with an eight-try, 58-17 humbling of the Queensland Reds yesterday.

The All Blacks flyhalf and flanker have been the heart and soul of the most successful side in Super Rugby for more than a decade but Carter is off to France after the World Cup and McCaw has hinted he will retire.

Winger Nemani Nadolo snared a brace for the Crusaders with Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, debutant Jone Macilai and Dominic Bird, all also crossing to keep the seven-times champions’ slender playoff hopes alive.

“The (farewells) were on a bit of a backburner this week in terms of what we needed to do, but having said that, these guys have done an awful lot for the Crusaders,” said Crusaders captain Kieran Read.

The Reds have not won in Christchurch since before either Carter or McCaw started playing Super Rugby and they looked unlikely to break that drought from the moment scrumhalf Ellis crossed for the home side’s first try in the third minute.

Slade added the second 15 minutes later, racing 40m to touch down after a midfield burst and offload from Carter, who was playing at inside centre, and the flyhalf added a penalty in the 32nd minute to extend the lead.

The Reds hit back with a Samu Kerevi try on the stroke of halftime, when the Crusaders had lock Bird in the sin-bin, but Nadolo restored the advantage with his ninth try of the season two minutes after the break.

The powerful winger intercepted a James O’Connor pass before brushing off Lachie Turner’s tackle to score in the corner.

Slade added the extras from wideout and his second penalty put the Crusaders 25-10 ahead after 50 minutes.

Nadolo secured the bonus point, when he barged across the line for his second try two minutes later and lock Whitelock ran 60m through five tacklers to score the fifth try before the hour mark. Slade converted both tries from wide out. McCaw came on the pitch to a rousing ovation just in time to see his heir apparent at openside flanker, Todd, score the sixth before replacement back Macilai and Bird completed the rout.

Reds winger Chris Feauai-Sautia barged over for a try a minute from time, but it was scant consolation for the 2011 champions, who slumped to their ninth defeat in 11 matches. – Reuters