Match Reports

The Blues staged a big second-half comeback to beat the Crusaders 24-22 in a thrilling Investec Super Rugby match at Eden Park tonight.

The Crusaders will be disappointed to lose the round one match as they led 19-6 at halftime and appeared have the Blues under control.

But the Blues lifted in the second spell and scored three tries, including the match-winner to Keven Mealamu with 10 minutes left.

For the Crusaders, Dan Carter had a solid game at first-five but will want to increase his goalkicking percentage, and new Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg showed his talent on the counter-attack. Andy Ellis played very well at halfback and was rewarded with a try.

The forwards had the measure of their opposites in the first spell but went off the boil after halftime which gifted the Blues a platform.

Carter got the Crusaders on the board after only one minute when Blues wing Rene Ranger was offside when chasing a kick.

Former Crusader Steve Brett was over minutes later for the Blues but was called back due to an obstruction by prop John Afoa. However, Brett kicked the Blues level when George Whitelock was judged to be offside at a ruck.

The Blues took the lead when Dagg was offside at another ruck.

From the Crusaders first scrum of the match, Carter worked a nice move with big centre Robbie Fruean who made inroads and the Crusaders won a penalty which Carter kicked – 6-6.

After 20 minutes Sean Maitland was over for a perfectly executed try by the Crusaders. From a lineout, a slick backs move put Dagg in space and his brilliant kick through found Maitland who tiptoed down the sideline and over for a try.

A Brett kick through when the Blues were on attack almost resulted in a try to Jerome Kaino but the TMO adjudged that Afoa had knocked on in goal. It appeared the Kaino received the ball in an offside position anyway.

Offside by Ali Williams gave the Crusaders another penalty which made it 14-6 and Ellis’s try pushed the score to 19-6. It was set up by more good work by Dagg who has an uncanny knack of drawing defenders and releasing his support.

After the break Brett missed a penalty but a run by former Crusader Jared Payne had the visitors under pressure and Benson Stanley dotted down after a good Ranger run. Missed tackles from the Crusaders were costly here.

A Carter penalty after Ranger was offside from a kick again were the only points the Crusaders scored in the second half.

A Brett penalty narrowed the gap to 22-14 and then Tony Woodcock muscled over for a try to the Blues.

Halfback Alby Matthewson had the Crusaders backpeddling again but Brett chose a wide kick-pass which went into touch. A couple of passes would have been a better option as the Blues had big numbers wide.

Still, the Blues won a penalty which they kicked for touch and it proved a good decision as from the lineout maul, Mealamu scored the winning try.

Blues - Tries: Benson Stanley, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu. Pens: Stephen Brett 3.

Crusaders - Tries: Sean Maitland, Andy Ellis. Pens: Dan Carter 4.

HT: Crusaders 19-6

Kickers:

Dan Carter 4 from 8
Stephen Brett 3 from 8
Lachie Munro 0 from 1

Crusaders
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Owen Franks (Ben Franks 58th min)
4. Brad Thorn
5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock (Jonathan Poff 72nd min)
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read (c)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter
11. Tu Umaga-Marshall
12. Adam Whitelock
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sean Maitland
15. Israel Dagg

Reserves not used:
16. Francis Smith
18. Chris Jack
20. Will Heinz
21. Matt Berquist
22. Tyler Bleyendaal