The Canterbury Crusaders beefed up their legacy as the most successful side in Super rugby history when they beat the New South Wales Waratahs 20-12 yesterday for a record seventh title.
It was a fairytale finish for the Crusaders as they bid farewell to popular coach Robbie Deans, who took them to five Super rugby crowns, and long-serving loose forward Rueben Thorne, who played in all seven title matches.
Although they were outscored two tries to one, and trailed 11-12 at halftime, the Crusaders dominated for most of the match.
PHOTO: AFP
Both sides produced monumental defensive efforts and the match was eventually decided by the boot of influential Crusaders fly-half Dan Carter, who landed four penalties and a drop goal.
In a rugged battle for the loose ball, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw enjoyed a slight edge over his Australian opposite Phil Waugh as the turnovers favored the Crusaders.
Ali Williams, Brad Thorn and Kieran Read also matched the highly touted Dan Vickerman and Dean Mumm in the line-outs.
Waratahs loose forward Wycliff Palu, double try scoring wing Lachie Turner and Lote Tuqiri were constant threats for the Waratahs, but they had few opportunities.
For McCaw, it was the Crusaders’ defense that was the key to their victory.
“The hits that were going in were just outstanding,” he said, adding that his side stepped up a notch when lock Brad Thorn was sin-binned midway through the second half. “You’ve got to really dig deep when you’re down to 14 men. It sharpens the resolve even more and the way we defended and didn’t give away any points, it was pretty awesome.”
Waugh, meanwhile, had no excuses.
“They deserve to win the title, they won the round robin convincingly and we were outplayed tonight, so good on them,” he said. “The difference was the amount of pressure in our own half and that paid off for them.”
After a Dan Carter penalty had the Crusaders ahead 3-0 early, the Waratahs hit the front on their first positive foray into the home side’s territory.
Following a patient build up from a series of pick-and-goes down the left flank, fly-half Kurtley Beale kicked across to the right wing where Turner beat Carter in the air for the ball to cross for an easy try.
The Waratahs successfully stymied wave after wave of Crusaders attacks over the next 15 minutes and they produced their second try from a Waugh interception inside their own 22.
The ball was fed out to Turner who kicked ahead and won the race to the line, with Beale’s conversion giving them a 12-3 lead.
Although down on points, the Crusaders remained in command and they narrowed the gap over the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Carter kicked his second penalty when Tatafu Polota-Nau was penalized for lying on the ball and then Mose Tuiali’i scored in the corner after the Crusaders had stretched the Waratahs from one side of the field to the other.
The Waratahs led 12-11 at the turn, but were unable to score a point in the second half.
The Crusaders regained the lead 14-12 with a Carter penalty three minutes after the resumption and never surrendered it.
He added a drop goal with 10 minutes remaining. He then kicked his fourth penalty when Waugh tackled Crusaders wing Scott Hamilton when he did not have the ball.
With a 20-12 lead and the clock running down, Reuben Thorne came off the bench for the last three minutes in his last first-class game in New Zealand.
Thorne is the only player to have appeared in all nine finals the Crusaders have contested.
Deans, meanwhile, is preparing to leave New Zealand to become the new coach of Australia and tomorrow will name his first Wallabies side, which is expected to include many of the losing Waratahs team.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely