Rugby: Cruden the best of a poor lot

Aaron Cruden. Photo / Getty Images

Manawatu 27 Tasman 23

The hectic, jam-packed provincial rugby schedule may be taking a toll, on the evidence of the past few days.

Manawatu's win in Nelson last night assures them of a place in the ITM Cup championship final against Hawkes Bay.

Both finalists may be limping there - there are exhibits which suggest a few rugby tanks are running dry around the country.

ITM Cup standings

A drab, try-less Ranfurly Shield match in Invercargill; a defence-free match in Whangarei where Hawkes Bay were well beaten.

And in Nelson, the attack-minded Manawatu and Tasman had trouble stringing together much of interest, although the final quarter had enough action to keep slumber at bay.

Even Aaron Cruden struggled to fire up, although he was a dominant figure again and collected 22 points.

He was also involved in a few elaborate messes and, by world-class goalkicking standards, looked stretched for distance and accuracy.

But his alert charge-down try kept Manawatu in the game, and he later applied the killer blows.

Tasman started nicely with a short flat pass from halfback Steve Alfeld sending Joe Wheeler over, and the lock also scrambled another first-half try.

The trademark Cruden magic finally appeared midway through the second half with a break and run before curling a pass to replacement flanker Doug Tietjens, who galloped away with four defenders chasing. That drew Manawatu level, at 20-all.

Manawatu inside back Frank Bryant was sin-binned in the final minutes for whacking Tom Marshall on the ground, setting up the penalty that Andrew Goodman nailed for Tasman. But Manawatu roared back and Tasman's defenders were all at sea as Cruden strolled over for the winner.

Manawatu 27 (Aaron Cruden 2, Doug Tietjens tries; Cruden 2 pen, 3 con)

Tasman 23 (Joe Wheeler 2 tries; Andrew Goodman 2 con, 3 pen), Halftime: Tasman 17-13.

* Gareth Evans and Sam Giddens are back in the Otago team to take on Canterbury tomorrow as the side finally gets a crack at playing at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Otago is facing two games in four days, starting with the red-and-blacks tomorrow, before playing Manawatu on Tuesday.

Giddens has recovered from a hamstring injury and played 40 minutes for Otago B last week. He replaces Glenn Dickson at second five-eighths, with Dickson shifted to fullback.

Ben Smith goes to the right wing.