Match Reports

The forecast rain stayed away but dry conditions didn’t help the Crusaders, as they fell again at home 26-9 to the rampant Chiefs.

The Chiefs start was almost too good to be true, as Tim Nanai-Williams crossed the line in the fifth minute, only to be disallowed due to Wyatt Crockett being held back by Ben Tameifuna.

No more than 30 seconds later, a Jordan Taufua break lead to a Crusaders penalty which lead to a Sam Cane yellow card, and Dan Carter put the hosts ahead 3-0.

Ill discipline would again result in points given away, as the Crusaders and Chiefs exchanged penalties again. Aaron Cruden was up to the task, but Carter couldn’t convert from out wide as the scores were locked at 3-3.

The scrums were again messy, and Carter’s boot didn’t seem to be there in the early stages as he missed another penalty from out wide.

The Crusaders’ intentions were clear; they were here to play running rugby. But they couldn’t quite get down to the Chiefs end.

Another Crusaders infringement would allow the Chiefs to go ahead for the first time in the game, this time through the boot of Tim Nanai-Williams as he put the Chiefs ahead 6-3.

The Chiefs cause was about to get tougher, as they lost playmaker Aaron Cruden to injury in the 20^th minute. Not that they would show it, as No. 8 Michael Leitch crossed the line no more than a minute later. Andrew Horrell was equal to the task with the boot as the visitors went ahead 13-3.

Referee Nick Bryant’s whistle was beginning to dominate this game, as he awarded another penalty. The Crusaders weren’t helping themselves though. Poor work at set piece allowed the Chiefs to control territory and possession, something captain Kieran Read wasn’t happy about.

“We probably didn’t nail those opportunities when we needed to, and they’re a good enough side to punish us. There were one or two occasions when they got that breakaway try or there was one missed tackle and they put us to bed.”

Some vintage Richie McCaw pressure at the breakdown lead to yet another Crusaders penalty.  Carter missed another kick but then slotted one from the 22m line to bring the Crusaders back within seven.

Just as players were preparing to head to the break, James Lowe took advantage of a moment of distraction and scored an intercept try to send the visitors into the sheds all smiles, ahead 18-6 at halftime.

Bryant’s whistle didn’t stop in the second half.  A Crusaders penalty allowed Dan Carter to bring his side back within nine, then Andrew Horrell made the most of the tenth penalty of the game to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 21-9.

The Crusaders attack had its moments, but the Chiefs defensive line simply refused to be broken, something that coach Todd Blackadder admitted needed to be worked on.

“Tonight they really shut our tempos down. It’s just those little things, the urgency of the ball carrier and those are the defining moments.”

Jordan Taufua’s concussion test in the 65^th minute was testament to the way he played this game: full force ahead, leaving nothing behind. Just as he has done all season. Blackadder later described Taufua as the Crusaders MVP from most weeks.

The turnovers continued for the Crusaders, and these again turned into penalties for Chiefs. The ability to continuously get go forward ball and retain possession simply wasn’t there.

A risky decision from Kieron Fonotia to try and run the ball out from his own line lead to Dan Carter missing touch on the clearance. And as it had done all night, this lead to another Chiefs try, this time scored by Liam Squire.

The Crusaders attack never really got going, and whenever it looked like getting off the ground, another turnover would come. While the season’s not over, the game next week against the Blues comes at a time when the usually rampant Crusaders are desperately in need of a win.

Chiefs 26 (Michael Leitch, James Lowe, Liam Squire tries; Andrew Horrell con; Aaron Cruden, Tim Nanai-Williams, Horrell pens)

Crusaders 9 (Dan Carter 3 pen)

HT: 18-6