Match Reports

The Crusade is over for 2010, the Bulls running out deserved winners of the Rebel Sport Super 14 semi-final in Soweto 39-24.

The Crusaders were hurt by uncharacteristic defensive lapses and an inability to field the Bulls’ high kicks. As ever though, the Crusaders never gave up and the impressive young lock Sam Whitelock had the final say with a deserved try.

The Crusaders began well, retaining possession from the kick-off and mounting a series of attacks before a turnover allowed the Bulls to launch a devastating counter which resulted in a try to No8 Pierre Spies, who received the ball one-off a ruck and strolled through a big gap.

Lock Danie Roussow was over minutes later – he was the beneficiary of some poor defence close the line – but he lost the ball in the act of scoring, the TMO ruling in favour of the Crusaders.

The Bulls scented vulnerability and went for their tried and tested high kick option. Sean Maitland failed to defuse a bomb and George Whitelock caught it in an offside position – three more points to Morne Steyn and 10-0 to the Bulls.

However, the Crusaders struck back after 11 minutes with virtually their first attacking foray. A Crusaders ruck on the Bulls line allowed the Red and Blacks forwards to get organized and a concerted shove from George Whitelock, Kieran Read and Brad Thorn propelled skipper Richie McCaw over for a seven-pointer.

It all seemed a bit easy but unfortunately the Crusaders couldn’t replicate it again in this match.

Colin Slade had a clearance charged down which put the Crusaders under pressure and Zane Kirchner scored the next try for the Bulls following a high kick which came off Sam Whitelock’s head.

An Owen Franks shoulder charge gave Steyn another chance for points which he gratefully accepted and the Bulls were up 20-7 after 19 minutes.

A scrum penalty gave Dan Carter and the Crusaders three more points before a McCaw steal put Robbie Fruean in space but the chance was lost when the big centre should have released two players outside him.

Carter missed a penalty after 30 minutes before Steyn kicked a monster from 57 minutes.

A highlight for Sam Whitelock occurred just before halftime when he stole a lineout ball from the expert Victor Matfield and ran almost 50m. Unfortunately the ball went loose in a promising ruck and Spies kicked the ball downfield and almost scored himself.

Steyn had a rare miss at goal just before the break but the Bulls were up and looking comfortable at 23-10.

The Crusaders had to score first after the break to have a chance and they did just that – Sean Maitland crossing on the right wing following a well-worked scrum move. It was simple enough – a midfield scrum and Read passed blindside to halfback Andy Ellis and quick hands from Slade released Maitland who did the rest.

Carter kicked the conversion and the Crusaders faced only a six-point deficit.

A Steyn penalty pushed the score out for the Bulls before he had a rare miss with a drop goal attempt.

Carter also missed a penalty.

Reinforcements for the Crusaders arrived in the form of Thomas Waldrom, Wyatt Crockett, Chris Jack, Tim Bateman and Kahn Fotuali’i.

The final nail for the Crusaders arrived with halfback Fourie Du Preez’s try down the blindside from a wheeling scrum. Steyn’s conversion pushed the score to 33-17 with 18 minutes to go and left the Crusaders with too much ground to make up.

Two more penalties from the first-five added salt to the wound before Whitelock’s late score and Carter’s conversion as the Bulls began to look towards next weekend’s final at the same venue.

They will play the Stormers after the Cape Town team accounted for the Waratahs 25-6.

Bulls – Tries: Pierre Spies, Zane Kirchner, Fourie Du Preez. Cons: Morne Steyn (3). Pens: Steyn (6).

Crusaders – Tries: Richie McCaw, Sean Maitland, Sam Whitelock. Cons: Dan Carter (3). Pen: Carter.

HT: 23-10

Kickers
Bulls – Steyn: 9 from 12 including two failed DG attempts.
Crusaders – Carter: 4 from 6.

Crusaders:

1. Ben Franks
2. Ti’i Paulo (Dan Perrin 75min)
3. Owen Franks (Wyatt Crockett 56)
4. Brad Thorn (Chris Jack 58)
5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock (Thomas Waldrom 49)
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read
9. Andy Ellis (Kahn Fotuali’I 67)
10. Dan Carter
11. Zac Guildford
12. Dan Bowden
13. Robbie Fruean (Tim Bateman 65)
14. Sean Maitland
15. Colin Slade (Jared Payne 75)