Match Reports

The Crusaders have dismantled the defending champion Bulls 27-0 at Alpine Stadium in Timaru and have gone to the top of the Investec Super Rugby table.

It was an incredible team effort from the Crusaders, who showed no signs of rustiness from last week’s bye.

They had to do it without first-five Dan Carter too. Carter was missing due to a hamstring strain but his replacement Matt Berquist led the line well and his tactical kicking kept the Crusaders in the Bulls half for the majority of the game.

The Crusaders forwards completely shut out their vaunted opposites. The Bulls side boast a huge pack but they couldn’t get near the Crusaders in terms of physicality or technical excellence.

Lock Chris Jack, who got his starting chance with the ankle injury to Sam Whitelock, had one of his best games of the season. Flanker George Whitelock impressed with his work rate.

And the backline kept up their recent good form, with second-five Sonny Bill Williams again a huge threat on attack and defence and Israel Dagg (pictured) having another very good game at fullback.

The Crusaders scored three tries through Williams, Dagg and substitute Tom Marshall, who dotted down for his first points at this level.

The four competition points puts the Crusaders level with the Reds on 30 at the top of the table, the Queensland team scoring an upset win over the Stormers in Cape Town overnight. The Reds take the top spot as they have one more victory over the Crusaders, though the Red and Blacks have by far the best points differential in the competition.

Berquist put the Crusaders ahead after 10 minutes with a penalty after missing with an earlier shot from 50m out.

The Crusaders scored their best try of the night five minutes later. From a scrum on halfway, Berquist showed a little sleight of hand and passed to Williams who cut back on the angle, slipped through Wynand Olivier and just outsprinted the cover defence.

It was another brilliant set move from a set piece, one which would have especially pleased backs coach Daryl Gibson and scrum coach Dave Hewett.

Another Berquist penalty put the Crusaders out to 11-0 and the Bulls hadn’t fired a single shot.

In fact their only scoring chance came in the 37th minute when Morne Steyn missed with a penalty. Though they rallied late in the second half and finally put pressure on the Crusaders line, this was a disappointing night for the defending champions.

The Crusaders were aware of the kicking threat that Steyn possesses – he rarely misses with penalties or drop goals but he simply didn’t get a chance to do any damage.

On the stroke of halftime Berquist kicked another penalty to give the Crusaders a 14-0 advantage.

The Crusaders started again straight from the kickoff, wing Zac Guildford blindsiding Bulls lock and captain Victor Matfield, causing him to spill the ball. The Crusaders shifted the ball right and left for three minutes before Dagg forced his way through Springboks Pierre Spies and Fourie Du Preez for an excellent score.

The Crusaders threatened to run rampant, wing Sean Maitland was over the line but the final ball had gone forward off Robbie Fruean and it was only in the final 10 minutes that the Bulls awoke from their slumber.

But the Crusaders kept their line intact and denied them a single point which will please them immensely as they prepare for their next challenge – against the Chiefs at Mount Maunganui on Friday night.

Another Berquist penalty with 13 minutes left pushed them out to 22-0 before Marshall scored following good work by Berquist and Fruean.

Proud skipper Kieran Read said afterwards: “The attitude of the guys was top rate tonight.”

Crusaders – Tries: Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall. Pens: Matt Berquist 4.

HT: 14-0.

Crusaders
1. Wyatt Crockett (Owen Franks 63min)
2. Corey Flynn (Quentin MacDonald 62)
3. Ben Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Chris Jack (Luke Romano 74)
6. George Whitelock
7. Matt Todd (Jonathan Poff 74)
8. Kieran Read
9. Andy Ellis (Kahn Fotuali'i 69)
10. Matt Berquist
11. Zac Guildford
12. Sonny Bill Williams (Adam Whitelock 69)
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sean Maitland
15. Israel Dagg (Tom Marshall 70)