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SUPER 14: Crusaders calm the Stormers

Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe, top, takes the ball off the top of the lineout during their Super 14 game against the Lions in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday. PHOTO: EPA

Clinical Canterbury Crusaders scored 11 points in each half to defeat Western Stormers 22-0 on Friday in a top versus bottom clash.

The sole disappointment for the New Zealanders was their failure to gain a bonus point for the first time this season, as they moved four points clear of compatriots Auckland Blues in the third round.

But while the six-time champions return to Australasia with nine points out of a possible 10 having humiliated defending champions Northern Bulls last weekend, Stormers have managed just two from three outings.

"It is never easy playing consecutive matches in South Africa and we stuck at it to achieve two victories," said Crusaders captain and man-of-the-match Richie McCaw.

"I thought we defended very well and created opportunities through this aspect of our game," added the flanker, who also led the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup last year.

McCaw was overly generous to the Stormers, who did not have a single shot at goal and rarely threatened to score before a large crowd at Newlands.

"I thought we defended well at times, but you are always going to be in trouble when conceding turnover ball to the Crusaders," Stormers skipper Jean de Villiers said. "We have had a difficult start playing three of the 2007 semi-finalists and I see no reason why we cannot win on the road, starting with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane next weekend."

Springbok center De Villiers lauded loose forwards Robbie Diack and Pieter Myburgh, who were called up for the suspended Schalk Burger and injured Luke Watson.

After the Bulls beat fellow South Africans Coastal Sharks in the final last year, expectations were high, with many observers believing the Cape Town-based Stormers could be dark horses this year after several dismal campaigns.

They troubled the Crusaders early, but unforced errors and superb defending kept the home team at bay before fly-half Daniel Carter slotted the first of four penalties on 15 minutes.

This score signalled a Crusaders onslaught and the Stormers finally cracked nine minutes later when scrum-half Andrew Ellis sneaked over after number eight Mose Tuiali'i did the spade work.

Lock Andries Bekker bravely halted a New Zealand counterattack that seemed set to bring another try, before Carter kicked another penalty in the final minute of the opening half.

The resumption brought no respite for the constantly harassed Stormers as the supremely fit visitors applied pressure from every angle and All Blacks pin up Carter added a third penalty with 50 minutes gone.

A moment of magic from the pivot soon after put the issue beyond doubt as his cross kick caught the Stormers napping and wing Sean Maitland had the simple task of catching the ball and dotting down.

Carter once again failed to convert, but his fourth penalty attempt went over off a post as the Crusaders raised their point tally to 110 from three matches, with Western Force next up.
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