Match Reports

The Crusaders are in the semi-finals of the Rebel Sport Super 14! After a tough victory over the Blues, helped by a last-ditch drop goal by Mr Reliable Leon MacDonald, and a close win by the Bulls over the Sharks, the defending champions have made the top four.

The drama began last night at Eden Park with a 15-13 victory over a Blues team who defended as if their lives depended on it.

The Crusaders had the better of the match and deserved their win. But two decisions by the video referee almost snatched it away. First, lock Michael Paterson put the ball down over the line amid a pile of bodies but the video ref Chris Pollock decided the evidence was inconclusive. Second, Isaia Toeava was involved in a similar incident but this time Pollock recommended that referee Bryce Lawrence award the try.

Toeava’s try and Jimmy Gopperth’s conversion gave the Blues a 13-12 lead with eight minutes to go. With that scoreline the Crusaders were out of the top four.

But instead of panicking the Crusaders showed admirable control and discipline to go straight back on attack, deliver a series of pick-and-gos, and give MacDonald the chance for a drop goal. He took Andy Ellis’s pass and duly delivered.

The Crusaders still had to keep the Blues out for the final four minutes but with their defensive record this season, you had the feeling that they could close it out. A bonus point victory would have put the side straight into the semi-finals but although they took only four points from the game the Crusaders rightly celebrated a magnificent effort at the fulltime whistle.

MacDonald scored all of the Crusaders points, with two penalty goals in the first half and two in the second, plus his all-important drop goal.

The Blues presented real challenges to the Crusaders scrums and lineouts and also the breakdowns, all areas where the Red and Blacks have enjoyed success this season.

The home team’s tackling was also different class compared to their earlier efforts this season. This was a match they wanted to win for pride’s sake.

MacDonald put the Crusaders ahead in the 14th minute, with Gopperth replying in kind four minutes later. It was at this stage that you knew it was going to be a tight match.

Neither team could hold the ball long enough to build pressure, despite the talent on both sides. The intensity of the defence was certainly a step up and should serve the Crusaders well for the rest of the season.

Stephen Brett made a fine break near the end of the first half but was dragged down close to the line by Blues fullback Rudi Wulf and penalised for not releasing the ball.

Still, the Crusaders made it to the break with a 6-3 lead thanks to another MacDonald penalty.

Straight after the break Crusaders second-five Ryan Crotty went on a run and Thomas Waldrom went close. Another penalty from MacDonald put the Crusaders 9-3 ahead.

Brett again was in the spotlight when showing his soccer skills with the bouncing ball. Wyatt Crockett went close but was just short then Paterson was pushed over in the infamous video referee incident.

Blues flanker Tom Chamberlain’s sinbinning for constant infringing was the only benefit for the Crusaders.

Waldrom got the ball over the line from a good lineout move but it was jolted from his grasp by a Tony Woodcock tackle.

A Gopperth penalty closed the gap to 9-6 but MacDonald replied with one of his own – 12-6.

The Crusaders went on the attack and put together a series of eight phases before it broke down due to a poor pass.

In the 72nd minute Toeva was awarded his try before MacDonald’s late drop goal heroics.

An overjoyed Crusaders captain Richie McCaw said: “We’re so pleased to come up here and get that victory. It was a tough one and although we needed a bonus point win to be sure of making the top four, that’s all it is – a bonus. We’re happy to get the four points and see what happens.”

All eyes were then on the Sharks v Bulls match in Durban. If the Sharks got a four-try victory, the Crusaders were out. The home side threw everything at it, and turned down four penalty chances in the first half in their bid to score their tries.

In the end they ran out of time and the Bulls held out 27-26. The Crusaders could breathe a sigh of relief and go back to sleep – they were in the semi-finals once again!

The winner of the Pretoria semi-final will face the winner of the Chiefs v Hurricanes match in Hamilton or Wellington.

Blues – Try: Isaia Toeva. Con: Jimmy Gopperth. Pens: Gopperth 2.

Crusaders – Pens: Leon MacDonald 4. DG: MacDonald.

HT: Crusaders 6-3

Crusaders:  

1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Jason Macdonald
3. Owen Franks
4. Michael Paterson
5. Isaac Ross
6. Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Thomas Waldrom (19. George Whitelock 65th minute)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Stephen Brett
11. Adam Whitelock
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Tim Bateman
14. Jared Payne
15. Leon MacDonald

Reserves not used:

16. Dan Perrin
17. Bronson Murray
18. Ross Filipo
20. Kahn Fotuali'i
21. Sean Maitland
22. Hamish Gard