Match Details
| Crusaders (NZ) |
VS |
Hurricanes (NZ) |
|
33 |
Kick off times:
7:35pm
(Local) Sat 24 May
5:35pm
(AEST) Sat 24 May
|
22 |
|
Crusaders power, purpose and passion returned in force at AMI Stadium in claiming a 33-22 win, and another home final, over a battered Hurricanes unit in their Super 14 semi-final.
All the concern in the home base of the Crusaders was put to rest as the vigour and verve returned to their game after a poor performance against the Reds and last week's loss to the Highlanders. Those performances were reflected in a disappointing semi-final crowd.
Backing up the improvement was a near virtuoso performance from first five-eighths Dan Carter who, charge down apart, looked back at a high level of form. He controlled play cleverly with pin point field and goal-kicking.
Blindside flanker Kieran Read demonstrated his readiness for international call-up with an outstanding capped by a try before he was substituted 15 minutes from the end for Reuben Thorne to replace him and become New Zealand's most capped Super rugby player.
Carter's four penalty goals and three conversions saw him become the first player to achieve 100 points in semi-finals, having earlier reached the 900 points in Super rugby mark.
By the end of the game, the sheer intensity of the Crusaders pressure had resulted in the Hurricanes being ripped to shreds as the ball was moved time and again through a backline with as many rampant forwards as backs.
The first half was tight quarter action, whereas in the second it was much more flowing play which was reminiscent of the powerful Crusaders combinations of the past.
The Crusaders put the vaunted Hurricanes defensive screen to the test with unrelenting drives towards the line during the first half.
The Crusaders had to make do without hooker Corey Flynn who left the field with a suspected broken arm after 12 minutes.
Hurricanes wing Zac Guildford provided an early sensation when following up his own long downfield kick.
Carter looked to launch a kick back but Guildford's speed surprised him and the charge down occurred with the ball falling just over the line for Guildford to touch down after two minutes.
The Crusaders regained the ball at the restart and then a penalty opportunity when Carter was held on the ground allowed him to land the goal after four minutes.
A cornerstone of the Crusaders' pack, hooker Corey Flynn was forced to leave the field after 12 minutes.
Carter gave the Crusaders the lead with a penalty goal from straight in front of the posts and 23 metres out after the Hurricanes infringed on the ground.
The Crusaders then camped deep in the Hurricanes half, launching wave after wave around rucks and mauls but somehow the line held.
Twenty-six minutes into the half the ball was moved swiftly to left wing Scott Hamilton and he rounded Hurricanes fullback Cory Jane and kicked ahead but centre Conrad Smith just got his hands on the ball. While he knocked it on, it was sufficient to halt the Crusaders' momentum, and with scrum pressure the Hurricanes got the ball back.
However, a miscommunication between Hurricanes No.8 Chris Masoe, who had replaced regular No.8 Rodney So'oialo before the game, and Weepu resulted in the Crusaders regaining the ball.
The Crusaders were forced to kick towards the line and from the 22m breakout, the Hurricanes relieved their line to get their own chance on attack.
A surprising call from referee Stuart Dickinson for a high tackle on second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu allowed Weepu to kick a penalty goal to regain the lead 8-6.
Two minutes from half-time, a kick ahead by Hamilton was allowed to bounce around just out from the Hurricances 22m area with nobody contesting. Hamilton tapped it back and then from the resulting play fullback Leon MacDonald waltzed through for what was, given the amount of sustained pressure, an inevitable try. Carter converted to bring up 900 Super rugby points and to give the Crusaders a 13-8 lead at halftime.
The Hurricanes mounted more attacks in the early stages of the second half when the ball was moved quickly to Gear and he fed Guildford who had come right across from the left wing.
But in the run to the line his penultimate step was into touch.
The Crusaders made them pay dearly at the other end as a series of rucks set up the short pass from halfback Andrew Ellis to MacDonald who battered his way over beneath the posts. The conversion and a penalty goal two minutes later took the Crusaders out to a match-winning lead.
Wing Kade Poki made a superb and probing run from the restart to set up a great run for flanker Kieran Read and the penalty chance was taken by Carter.
Read had his reward with a superb driving try after 55 minutes. Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush and replacement prop Neemia Tialata provided some late reward with another charge down try, this time from replacement five-eighths Stephen Brett and a forward drive respectively.
Crusaders 33
Tries: MacDonald 2, Read
Con: Carter 3
Pen: Carter 4
Hurricanes 22
Tries: Guildford, Thrush, Tialata
Con: Gopperth, Collins
Pen: Weepu
HT: 13-8
