Crusaders hand the Blues a thrashing

The Crusaders scored 41 points, including six tries, and held on to beat the Blues 41-19 in a Super 12 rugby thriller at Eden Park, Auckland, tonight.

The Blues came back to score their 19 points from three tries and two conversions in the last quarter, but the game was long gone as a contest by then.

In fact the Crusaders wrapped up the match and the bonus point on offer by halftime when they led 34-0.

"It's great to come out of here (Eden Park) with a scoreline like that," Crusaders' captain Richie McCaw said.

Blues captain Xavier Rush lamented the high number of ball turnovers his team were guilty of after they had started by dominating the first 12 minutes.

"We gave up (the ball) too many times and when you do that it's always going to be hard," he said.

Lock Ali Williams' uncertain future added to the Blues woes tonight after he was sent off eight minutes from fulltime for rucking McCaw's head and neck area. He's likely to go before the New Zealand Rugby Union judiciary early next week.

Caleb Ralph (two) Justin Marshall, Rico Gear and Leon MacDonald scored the tries for the Crusaders, who were also awarded a penalty try after prop John Afoa pushed replacement back Scott Hamilton as he was reaching for a bouncing ball over the goal line. Daniel Carter kicked four conversions and a penalty.

The Blues' tries came from wingers Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett and replacement Isa Nacewa, with Tasese Lavea kicking two conversions.

The Blues were punished almost all over the park. They lost five lineout feeds in the first half and gave up the ball almost everytime they ran into McCaw and fullback Leon MacDonald, while Crusaders' halfback Justin Marshall and second five-eighth Aaron Mauger were a class above any of their players.

Blues' first five-eighth Carlos Spencer jumped at his opposite number Daniel Carter late in the fifth minute and Carter punished him with a penalty goal.

Spencer was involved in two other incidents and appeared to lack concentration.

One of his kick-offs fell short, piling on more pressure on his team.

The Crusaders opened up the game from counter attacks and thrived on turn-over possession.

Marshall scored in the 15th minute, Ralph crossed for his first six minutes later and Gear scored his in the 27th minute after the ball went through five pairs of hands.

That Crusaders' confidence translated into more points. They earned penalty try in the 31st minute and MacDonald scored in the last act of the first half to take the game away from the Blues.

Both teams have a bye next weekend.

Crusaders 41 (Caleb Ralph 2, Justin Marshall, Rico Gear, penalty try, Leon MacDonald tries; Daniel Carter pen, 4 con),

Blues 19 (Joe Rokocoko, Doug Howlett, Isa Nacewa tries; Tasesa Lavea 2 con).

Halftime: 34-0.

- NZPA