Crusaders sound warning for semis

Crusaders five-eighths Aaron Mauger is rocked back by Jimmy Gopperth during last night’s match in Christchurch. Picture / Fotopress

The Crusaders and the Hurricanes knew at the kickoff last night they could be having a dress rehearsal for next week's semifinals.

And so the Crusaders served notice that they will be ready, with a six-try 40-20 victory at Jade Stadium, easing clear in the second spell after an even first 40 minutes.

In a way, this game was more about individuals. None more so than Richie McCaw, who returned to action after his lengthy layoff from having his head bounced on the Pretoria turf in the round-seven game against the Bulls.

He came on in the 48th minute, gave away a couple of penalties, got in some good link work and came through unscathed.

Then there was Ma'a Nonu, who reinforced his credentials as perhaps the sharpest linebreaker in the competition for the test bench, while once again raising questions over his understanding of how and when to pass. 

Thirteen minutes from the end Rico Gear seemed set for a rare absence from the scoresheet, but then bagged two in three minutes to go to 14 for the season, one short of Joe Roff's 1997 record for the Brumbies.

There was plenty of energy in the first half, pockets of skill mixed with some harem-scarem rugby, but one side were clearly better after the break. The below-strength Hurricanes again learnt that the Crusaders are the best in the business at punishing errors.

Aaron Mauger, one of several players hoping to catch the All Black selectors eyes, spun out of a weak Jimmy Gopperth tackle, setting up Scott Hamilton to score in the left corner.

Then Andrew Mehrtens picked the Hurricanes' pocket at the back of a ruck, Gear and Justin Marshall made ground before Ralph galloped away to score in the 20th minute.

Just when the doomsayers were starting to mutter "here we go", Nonu got the Hurricanes up and running. He scooted around Mauger's tackle, but when it seemed all he had to do was produce a regulation pass to Lome Fa'atau for a fine try, he turned the other way.

It worked out okay, the ball bouncing back off a Crusaders hand and Fa'atau scored anyway. But the All Black selectors will have noted the negative aspect of the play as well as the positive.

The Crusaders led only 18-13 at the break, but ran away with it in the second half, flanker Johnny Leo'o getting a brace of tries, reward for diligent support play. It wasn't all good news for the Crusaders, most notably at the lineout.