Crusaders remain unbeaten

Crusaders 20 Hurricances 11

The Crusaders maintained their unbeaten run in the Super 14 rugby competition with a 20-11 win over the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tonight.

They dispatched the previously second-placed Hurricanes two tries to one, and take on the leaders, the Waratahs, on Friday night in front of their own home crowd at Jade Stadium.

With a game in hand, the Crusaders are now second (31 points), just one behind the Waratahs and three ahead of the now third-placed Hurricanes.

The Crusaders' victory was based on efficiency all round, great counter-attacking skills and their persistent knocking until the door opened.

They scored two tries in the first half through hooker Corey Flynn and halfback Andrew Ellis to lead 17-6, and held on in the second half.

The Hurricanes' only try came when fresh legs were brought on in the second half and replacement first five-eighth David Holwell doubled up to put winger Shannon Paku through a gap, with the other winger Lome Fa'atau finishing it off.

There was little fancy stuff from both sides, although all three tries scored were among the best seen this season.

The Crusaders were a more disciplined side and their experience showed in players such as Chris Jack, Richie McCaw and Reuben Thorne in the forwards and Daniel Carter, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph and Leon MacDonald at the back. They went into tackles with solid body positions, presented the ball far better and quicker than the Hurricanes did and recycled the ball when it was necessary.

At the same time they kept exploring the Hurricanes' defence all over the park, kept patient and when and opportunity arose they snapped at it.

They hammered through the middle, stretched the Hurricanes wide and forced them on the backfoot with diagonal kicks.

The Hurricanes were caught out twice in the first half, with Flynn and Ellis scoring in the 15th and 32nd minutes respectively.

Winger Rico Gear had a major hand in Flynn's try at the end of a backline chain when he counter attacked on the right, set up the next phase and the Crusaders moved the ball swiftly to the left for an overlap. Flynn finished the movement.

The Hurricanes' cover defence was non-existent when second five-eighth Aaron Mauger kicked ahead from a turned over ball and players such as lock Jack chased. Jack held up the ball in a tackle until a backing up Ellis took the pass and crashed over.

First five-eighth Carter kicked both conversion and added a penalty in the 39th minute for their 17-6 lead at halftime.

Jimmy Gopperth succeeded with two of his three shots at goal for the Hurricanes in the first half.

It took another 23 minutes before the next points were scored, a second penalty goal from Carter.

Both sides made changes, including Holwell's injection at playmaker's role for Gopperth.

It brought almost instant success when Holwell doubled up on a backline attack and allowed Paku through before the ball was fed to Fa'atau for the Hurricanes try in the 68th minute.

Captains Richie McCaw (Crusaders) and Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes) felt the game was eventually decided on the ball turned over by the Hurricanes.

"We ground it out, we knew it was going to be tough, there were some big hits there tonight," McCaw said.

"I think both tries came from turnovers -- there weren't too many other opportunities."

So'oialo said each time his team lost the ball, they were put under pressure.

"We contested the set pieces well but when we lost the ball they put us under real pressure, we were on the backfoot because they're quite efficient in both the backs and the forwards."

Scores:

Crusaders 20 (Corey Flynn, Andrew Ellis tries; Daniel Carter 2 pen, 2 con),
Hurricanes 11 (Lome Fa'atau try; Jimmy Gopperth 2 pen).
HT: 17-6.

-NZPA