Crusaders still in control

Kevin Senio

Crusaders 38 Highlanders 15

We have new teams, a bucketload of new players and a new refereeing mantra but we still get the same old results.

The Crusaders, the most successful team in 10 years of Super 12, appear not to have been fazed one jot by the shift to Super 14.

Nor have they been overly bothered by the loss of Justin Marshall. Just as Daniel Carter effortlessly slipped into Andrew Mehrtens' shoes, Senio, after a nervy opening, had the Jade faithful wondering why they had ever been worried.

When Senio wiggled Marshall-esque through the Highlanders' fringe defence to claim their second try 10 minutes from the break, the crowd rose as one to acknowledge that the man signed from the Bay of Plenty is now officially one of them.

The crisp service from the halfback allowed Daniel Carter the time he needed to pull the strings and make sure that his side were never really in any danger.

It wasn't classic Crusaders. The flowing football of last season was rarely seen. Rico Gear, the man who scored a record 15 tries in last season's campaign, took almost 20 minutes to get his first touch.

His lack of action was part testament to the ferocity of the Highlanders' midfield defence, and partly due to the high error rate. Let's not forget it is only the second weekend in February. Many All Blacks have only been back training with their franchises for a couple of weeks.

That explains the handling errors and the wrong option taking. That rustiness was also the reason why Senio and Carter focused the point of attack on fat-man's alley. That and the fact they fancied they would get some return against the waif-like Nick Evans and a strangely ineffective Hoani Macdonald, who was a late replacement for Filipo Levi.

The first dividend to be paid from that close attacking came after 15 minutes when the ball curiously flew out of a Highlanders ruck into the arms of Senio. He shifted to Mose Tuiali'i and the big No 8 blasted through Evans as if the first-five was nothing more than a thin mist. And then, showing a turn of pace and dynamism that forever escaped him when he was All Black captain, Reuben Thorne steamed into view and crashed over the line to score.

It was a timely try for the Crusaders but one that many New Zealanders would see as coming three years too late.

It was no surprise that the Crusaders secured their first try through a turnover as they failed to establish any kind of platform from the set piece.

The inside word is that Carl Hayman pitched up at Highlanders training a couple of weeks ago claiming to be fitter than ever. When his assertion was challenged, he promptly recorded his best-ever score on the infamously gruelling beep test.

It was a lean-looking Hayman who led a destructive Highlanders scrum that perhaps finally killed the curious notion that the Crusaders' tighthead sported the strongest right shoulder in the country. Campbell Johnstone was withdrawn after 60 minutes, when the Crusaders coaching staff decided enough was enough and chucked the towel in.

Hayman was ably supported by his skipper Anton Oliver, who also seems to have rekindled his appetite for the game after an injury-riddled end-of-season All Black tour.

Oliver got around well and threw his darts nicely enough. He even managed to chuck in a theatrical dive to convince referee Lyndon Bray that he had been tackled early by Leon MacDonald.

Bray yellow-carded MacDonald but in typical Crusaders fashion they saw the injustice as reason to lift their game rather than sulk.

With only 14 men they managed to get Gear burrowing through a ruck to take them 26-15 ahead and effectively seal the win. Casey Laulala pulled off an outrageous interception in the last minute to secure the bonus point.

That's the Crusaders for you - they soak up pressure, never panic and hit back hard.

And be sure, the Highlanders hit them hard enough. Their front five and the electric Chris Smylie at halfback, who made a memorable impression when he replaced Jimmy Cowan 10 minutes after the break, will see them there or thereabouts as the season unravels.

Crusaders 38 (R. Thorne, K. Senio, R. Gear, C. Laulala tries; D. Carter 3 cons, 4 pens).

Highlanders 15 (B. Blair 4 pens, N. Evans pen).

SUPER 14
Crusaders 38
Highlanders 15

- HERALD ON SUNDAY