The Canterbury Crusaders made an emphatic claim for a home semi-final in the Super XV competition with a bonus-point 34-8 victory over the Otago Highlanders in their final pool yesterday.
With the table-topping NSW Waratahs already assured of one semi-final, it will take a Herculean effort by the Sharks to deny the Crusaders the second berth.
The Sharks will need to beat the Western Stormers by a 35-point margin and pick up a bonus point in the final match of the regular season if they are to sneak into second place.
The Crusaders led the Highlanders 17-3 at halftime, scoring their first try just ahead of the break, before adding three more for their bonus point in the second half. The Highlanders struggled to find their way with their talismanic captain Ben Smith sidelined by a leg infection.
They were punished for repeated indiscretions from which Dan Carter landed four penalties to give the Crusaders a handy lead in the first half before they began exchanging penalties for tries.
Matt Todd scored the first two and Corey Flynn the fourth from lineout drives when the Crusaders turned down handy shots at goal and kicked for the corner. The third try came when scrum-half Andy Ellis tapped and ran when the Crusaders had a close-range penalty and resulted in Nemani Nadolo scoring wide out. The Crusaders forwards dominated throughout the match with their scrum and lineout both a class above what the Highlanders could muster, and benefitted from five steals against the throw.
WARATAHS-REDS
AFP, BRISBANE, Australia
The New South Wales Waratahs head into the Super Rugby play-offs unbeaten in seven games after mastering the Queensland Reds 34-3 in their final round match in Brisbane yesterday.
The Waratahs claimed a bonus point in their four tries to nil victory in their biggest win over the Reds in Super rugby.
The Sydneysiders finished the regular season seven points clear at the top of the standings and will now have a week off before hosting a semi-final for the first time.
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