All Blacks winger Zac Guildford scored two tries, both created by flyhalf Daniel Carter who kicked 16 points, as the Canterbury Crusaders beat the Otago Highlanders 51-18 in Super Rugby yesterday.
Guildford, who will likely play in New Zealand’s Tests this month against Ireland, fetched Carter’s chip-kicks in the 29th and 34th minutes to score tries that gave the Crusaders control after the Highlanders rallied from 10-0 down to lead 13-10.
George Whitelock, Ryan Crotty, Wyatt Crockett, Matt Todd and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw also scored as the Crusaders posted their highest-ever score against the Highlanders and moved up to second place at the start of the tournament’s 15th round.
The Crusaders closed within two points of overall leaders the Waikato Chiefs, who also lead the New Zealand conference, ahead of the Chiefs’ clash today with the Auckland Blues. The Highlanders stayed in seventh place, one point outside the top six, but their chances of making the playoffs are now more dependent on the outcome of other matches.
Yesterday’s match was intensely physical and typical of derby clashes between New Zealand’s two South Island franchises. Both teams had a player sent to the sin-bin in the first half and 28 points were scored in the 20 minutes they were absent from the field.
After scoring the opening try in the third minute, flanker Whitelock was sin-binned as referee Steve Walsh lost patience with a series of fouls. In Whitelock’s absence, All Blacks center Tamati Ellison scored the try that gave the Highlanders their only lead of the match.
England flanker James Haskell, playing for the Highlanders, was sent to the sin-bin in the 26th for similarly playing the ball on the ground and Guildford scored his two tries before he returned.
Inside center Crotty, who was one of the most creative members of the Crusaders backline, also scored as they added 22 points in 11 minutes to seal a four-try bonus point and a 32-13 lead by halftime.
“It was a very physical encounter,” Carter said.
“That first 20 minutes really set the standard and we knew we really had to get physical and we did that and got the reward by scoring those tries. We knew this was a very important match for us against the Highlanders. They’re sitting just behind us on the table, so it was a must win and I’m really proud of the boys tonight,” he said.
The Crusaders resumed the onslaught in the second half, scoring through McCaw only six minutes after the resumption. His was the most contentions of several disputed tries they scored, containing at least one forward pass and a doubtful grounding.
Crockett scored in the 56th after a Crusaders attack that also included a knock-on and replacement flanker Todd scored their seventh and final try 10 minutes from fulltime.
The Highlanders gained a small consolation from an intercept try to winger Hosea Gear in the 60th that almost certainly prevented another Crusaders try.
The Crusaders held a huge advantage over the Highlanders at the scrum and they gradually established the same ascendancy at the breakdown. Their continuous supply of possession and heavy territorial advantage translated easily into points because of the line-breaking ability of players such as Crotty, Guildford and center Robbie Fruean.
“Hats off to the red and black team, they were on fire tonight,” Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.
“I couldn’t fault my boys’ effort and commitment, but they’ve got some classy players who really punished our mistakes and took advantage of some line breaks. We were chasing the game. In the first half we got into it after [Ellison] scored, but within 10 minutes they pushed it right out and it was a tough day at the office.”
Brumbies 27, Rebels 19
AP, MELBOURNE, Australia
The ACT Brumbies maintained their first-place lead in the Australian conference of Super Rugby and firmed as playoff participants with a win over the Melbourne Rebels yesterday.
The win left the Brumbies with a five-point lead over the defending champions the Queensland Reds, and with a favorable schedule to end the season after a month long break for Tests.
When the Brumbies resume play at the end of this month, they play their last three regular season matches against teams with losing records — away encounters against the Western Force and New South Wales, and a home game against the Auckland Blues.
First-place teams in each of the Australia, South Africa and New Zealand conferences qualify for the playoffs. The Reds had already been guaranteed four points by virtue of a weekend bye.
The Brumbies scored the opening try when Andrew Smith crossed in the 25th minute after 10 phases, putting ACT up 14-3, before Julian Huxley kicked two penalties to pull the home side to within five points.
The Rebels had a try disallowed by the video referee with three minutes left in the half when it was ruled that James Hilgendorf had not touched down. However, Huxley’s fourth penalty of the first half pulled the Rebels to 14-12 after 40 minutes.
Robbie Coleman crossed for a try in the 52nd and Zack Holmes converted as the Brumbies took a 24-12 lead, but rugby league convert and center Cooper Vuna scored Melbourne’s only try two minutes later, converted by Huxley, to reduce the ACT lead to five points.
Holmes increased the ACT lead back to eight points — and the final victory margin — with seven minutes left with his third penalty.
“That’s four points in this competition, and that’s incredibly hard to do,” Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said.
“Melbourne is a hard place to play at home. You have to make sure you are ticking those wins over, and I’m pleased we did that tonight,” he said.
Rebels captain Gareth Delve said it was disappointing not to be awarded the try as the first half ended, but said: “They [the video referees] get a better view of it than we do.”
“Still, it’s a game we were in the whole 80 [minutes],” Delve added. “I think our intent was great, but they are a quality team and at times, we lacked discipline. They are not at the top of the Australia conference for nothing.”
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