The Canterbury Crusaders clinched a Super 14 semi-final place in an emphatic 40-22 do-or-die final round victory over the ACT Brumbies in Christchurch yesterday.
The Crusaders were too efficient at the set pieces for the Brumbies, too committed on defense and showed flashes of brilliance on attack as they secured a semi-final spot for a record 12th time.
Before the game, the Brumbies were lying in fourth place with 37 points and the Crusaders were sixth on 36, with the winner of yesterday’s game assured of a top four spot.
The Crusaders have had a torrid time recently, losing their last three games on the road and captain Richie McCaw was relieved his team were able to turn their fortunes around at the crucial time.
“We have had teams in trouble and have let them off the hook with our own mistakes, and we were pretty keen to make sure that didn’t happen [against the Brumbies],” McCaw said.
The New Zealand team took a while to settle in the first half, but took control midway through to go into the break 22-10 ahead, before clinching the five-try-to-three victory.
The Brumbies — with veteran flanker George Smith playing a farewell game — had a strong territorial advantage in the first quarter, but the Crusaders dominated for the following three and were sharper on attack.
The Crusaders used kicks behind the Brumbies first line of defense to launch attacks and deft work by winger Zac Guildford and a rampaging No. 8 Kieran Read played a strong part in two of the three first-half tries.
Crusaders winger Sean Maitland scored first after 11 minutes following a break by Guildford, while Read and prop Owen Franks added another two touchdowns in the first spell.
The Brumbies’ sole try in the first half came after 17 minutes when a pass by Crusaders inside center Daniel Bowden was intercepted by Brumbies outside center Tyrone Smith, who raced away for a touchdown converted by Matt Giteau.
The margin was cut to five points four minutes after the break when Brumbies prop Ben Alexander scored a converted try.
The halftime margin was restored six minutes later, however, when Crusaders forwards drove over from a breakdown close to the line and McCaw rose from the huddle of bodies to claim the try.
Two Carter penalty-kicks, the second with 11 minutes remaining, stretched the margin to 18 points, seemingly putting the match out of the Brumbies’ reach.
Guildford was rewarded for his top-notch performance with a late try and replacement Brumbies forward Huia Edmonds hit back right on time.
All Black star flyhalf Dan Carter missed two relatively easy penalty attempts early, but finished with 15 points from the boot, while Wallabies rival Giteau kicked two conversions and a penalty.
■Waratahs 32, Hurricanes 16
AFP, SYDNEY
The New South Wales Waratahs booked a prized berth in the Super 14 finals with an easy win over the Wellington Hurricanes yesterday in Sydney.
In front of a crowd of 31,000, the Waratahs climbed to second on the ladder with the bonus point win and could earn a vital home semi-final if the Stormers lose to the Bulls today.
The hosts set up the win with two brilliant first-half penalties, both following bold chip and chases, a tactic they repeated with further success in the second half.
While the Waratahs’ ninth win of the season means they can look forward to the playoffs, the result ended the Hurricanes’ hopes of another finals appearance.
Berrick Barnes said the Waratahs would eagerly watch the Cape Town clash between the Stormers and the Bulls.
“We’ll get together tomorrow night and watch the game,” Barnes said.
The Waratahs scored the first four tries of the game, all after deft chip-kicks, and had the game in their pocket when Kurtley Beale scored his second try in the 51st minute and Barnes’ conversion made it 32-9.
The Hurricanes had made a solid start, with a Piri Weepu penalty conversion giving them the first score of the game and when he slotted his second in the 14th minute they led 6-3.
The tide turned, however, when Beale collected his own chip-kick to score under the posts in the 15th minute, setting up a 10-6 lead for the Waratahs.
A brilliant piece of solo play by Lachie Turner set up a Drew Mitchell try in the 32nd minute.
Turner gained possession at the defensive end of the field for the Waratahs, then gathered his own chip-kick and made a probing run downfield, before offloading with a long pass to an unmarked Mitchell out wide for an easy try.
Another Weepu penalty after the halftime siren gave the Hurricanes some hope, despite trailing 18-9 at the break.
However, the Waratahs broke the game open after the resumption, with Mitchell gathering his own chip to score his second try of the match, and ninth of the season, in the 45th minute.
Beale then used the same tactic and capitalized on a lucky bounce to sink the Hurricanes, who scored a late consolation try through David Smith.
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