KEY POINTS:
Returning All Black Daniel Carter reconfirmed his world-class standing guiding the Crusaders to a comfortable 36-11 win over the Stormers in tonight's Super 14 rugby match.
Carter stamped his mark over the match, setting up the opening two tries while kicking 16 points at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.
In a stop-start match punctuated by poor handling, the Crusaders eventually clicked and displayed some clinical finishing.
In the final minute their counter-attacking prowess shone through when wing Rico Gear finished a movement started in their own half to bag his second try and an all-important bonus point.
The Crusaders led 17-3 at halftime, and besides a rally early in the first half, the Stormers rarely threatened.
Carter produced his opening magical touch in the 28th minute which fired the hosts into action.
From halfway he received the ball and placed an inch-perfect kick to left winger Scott Hamilton who burst down the touch line, drew the last defender and sent centre Casey Laulala over the line.
The conversion, which followed Carter and Stormers first-five eighth Peter Grant trading penalties earlier in the match, had the hosts 10-3 ahead.
Six minutes later Carter's golden boot was back in action. A beautifully weighted chip-kick was collected by Laulala, who fed Gear to canter across the line unopposed.
Carter, along with five fellow reconditioned All Blacks were drafted straight into the starting side by coach Robbie Deans.
One of them, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw received a rough welcome back copping a dangerous tackle and then a head high shot inside the first 15 minutes, but was still a disrupting force for the Crusaders.
The win keeps puts the defending champions on 22 points and inside the top four with three matches remaining in the round.
The Crusaders had a handy halftime lead tonight, but whatever speech was delivered to the South Africans during the break had an immediate effect.
They come out firing from the kick-off which resulted in second five-eighth De Wet Barry scoring.
Grant banged over a penalty minutes later trimming the deficit to 17-11 before Carter replied with three penalties to increase the buffer.
Another nail was delivered when All Black Leon MacDonald scored in the 67th minute after some sharp passing, then Gear delivered the knockout blow on fulltime after the Stormers had a try disallowed at the other end.
Crusaders 36 (Rico Gear 2, Casey Laulala, Leon MacDonald tries; Daniel Carter 4 pen, 2 con) Stormers 11 (De Wet Barry try, Peter Grant 2 pen). Halftime: 17-3.
- NZPA
