Crusaders cruise past Cheetahs
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:19
Try time: Ti\'i Paulo scores one of nine tries
The unbeaten Crusaders cemented their place at the top of the Super 14 standings when they smashed a team of toothless Cheetahs 55-7 in their Round Five match in Christchurch on Saturday.
The game was as one-sided as the nine tries to one margin suggested, considering that the Cheetahs' solitary try was an intercept.
From No.1 to No.15 the Cheetahs were simply no match for a Crusaders team that looks likely to add another title to the six Super Rugby tournament victories they already have.
The Crusaders were simply faster, stronger and more focused - dominating the set pieces and overpowering the visitors at the breakdown as well.
Add to that the Cheetahs fielding a team with several players who haven't been in action for four to five weeks, and the difference in class was obvious.
The Crusaders made a sparkling start and Casey Laulala came within inches of a try in the opening minute - with the call going to the TMO, who ruled that his foot went into touch before he got the ball down. It was that sort of defence that the Cheetahs would need for 80 minutes.
The Cheetahs were under some pressure early on and rode it out well for about 10 minutes, before the Crusaders found space out wide.
From a quick tap-'n-go they showed some neat touches and quick hands took the ball to left wing Sean Maitland, who strolled over for an easy try. Dan Carter added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
The Cheetahs, after some great defence early, soon started slipping tackles, which added to the pressure they were already under.
While the visitors were happy to slow the procession down, the Crusaders were more comfortable with a quick-fire approach.
And it soon paid dividends for them.
Two tries in quick succession put daylight between the Crusaders and their opposition.
In the 17th minute Casey Laulala scored after Dan Carter put through a deft little grubber and two minutes later Carter scored after Andrew Ellis used the grubber to great effect against a flatfooted Cheetah defence.
Carter kicked the first conversion, but pushed the second wide as the Crusaders ran up a 19-0 lead.
The Cheetahs continued to slip easy tackles and were made to pay for it when Leon MacDonald scored the bonus-point try in the 26th minute, the try being set up by a great angled run - against the drifting defence - by Stephen Brett. The latter soon after left the field with what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury, as Carter slotted the conversion for a 26-0 lead.
Poor options saw the few chances the Cheetahs had come to nothing, as the Crusaders continued to put their superior skills on display.
They were rewarded for their dominance when Scott Hamilton scored the fifth try just before the half-time break - as first Richie McCaw made good ground up the middle and quick hands took the ball wide where Hamilton cut back inside to stroll over.
Carter kicked his fourth conversion to make it 33-0 - with the half-time whistle going soon afterwards.
The first score after the break was eight minutes in the making. After a few early fumbles the Crusaders showed their slick handling again as Hamilton crossed for his second try. Carter pushed the conversion attempt wide.
The Cheetahs finally managed to get on the board two minutes later when wing Jongi Nokwe intercepted and sprinted clear for a try, which Barnard converted to make it 38-7.
There was no let-up for the Cheetahs, who played the next 10 minutes almost exclusively inside their own 22 defending furiously and scrambling to stop more tries from the Crusaders.
But it was only delaying the inevitable, as hooker Ti'i Paulo scored in the 61st minute as the Cheetahs ran out of defenders out wide. Carter's conversion attempt drifted wide as the home team stretched their lead to 43-7.
The Cheetahs had heir moments, with a couple of bursts with the ball in hand. But at no stage did they really look like breaching the very impressive Crusaders defensive lines.
And the Crusaders, knowing that the game has long been over as a contest and their lead won't be challenged, started to make some uncharacteristic errors - most through a lack of concentration.
But the try was inevitable and it came in the 71st minute when Caleb Ralph went over in the corner as the Cheetahs defenders drifted infield at the wrong time. Carter's conversion drifted wide again, but at 48-7 it was obvious that one team had dominated proceedings and it was not the Cheetahs.
The half century came up in the 76th minute, as Laulala raced over for his second try and the Crusaders' ninth. Carter finally slotted a conversion and it was 55-7.
That is how it stayed top the end, with the only real action of note in the last four minutes being the sin-binning of Cheetahs captain Hendro Scholtz for am professional foul.
Man of the match: There were plenty of stand-out performances from the Crusaders, with Casey Laulala having put up his hand, Dan Carter controlling the game like only he can, Steven Brett (before his injury) looking dangerous and Scott Hamilton full of running. But our award goes to Crusaders lock Brad Thorn, the rock in a very effective and skilful pack.
Moment of the match: This one goes to Leon MacDonald's try in the 26th minute - which put up the bonus point, ended the match as a contest and saw the Crusaders go into cruise mode.
Villain of the match: None whatsoever!
Scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Maitland, Laulala 2, Carter, MacDonald, Hamilton 2, Paulo, Ralph
Cons: Carter 5
For the Cheetahs:
Try: Nokwe
Con:
Barnard
Yellow card: Hendro Scholtz (Cheetahs, 80 - professional foul, holding a player back)
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Stephen Brett, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Richard McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Mose Tuiali'i, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Caleb Ralph, 22 Kieran Read.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Darron Nel, 6 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5 David de Villiers, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Wian
du Preez, 18 Barend Pieterse, 19 Duanne Vermeulen, 20 Tobie Botes, 21 Falie Oelschig, 22 Meyer Bosman.
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
