Rugby: Crusaders cruise into Super 15 final

Sean Maitland scores an intercept try for the Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images

Crusaders 29 Stormers 10

A sublime first half performance propelled the Crusaders into their 10th Super rugby final after they downed the Stormers 29-10 at Newlands in Cape Town this morning (NZT).

The Crusaders scored 23 unanswered points in a 20-minute first half burst to take control and the home side were unable to find a way to get back into the match in the face of an unerring defensive display by the visitors.

The seven-time Super rugby champions now travel to Brisbane to face the Reds, who beat the Blues 30-13 in the other semifinal, in next weekend's Super 15 final.

Tries to Sean Maitland and Robbie Fruean and 13 points from the boot of Dan Carter gave the Crusaders 23-10 lead at the break. Only a Bryan Habana try late in the half ended the Crusaders' points onslaught after a Peter Grant penalty had given the hosts an early 3-0 lead.

The Crusaders, with their scrum pulverising their opposites, then shut out the match in the second half, with Carter adding two penalties to take the game further out of reach of the Stormers and their willing tacklers kept the hosts scoreless after the break.

Crusaders captain Richie McCaw, returning to the side after a month on the sidelines with a foot injury, praised the work of his forwards.

"The whole tight five set the attitude at scrum time and probably in defence. They didn't let the Stormers get any go-forward ball with the hits they were putting in. It's just a pleasure to play in behind when you've got men doing that and you have to take your hat off to them," he said.

After Grant had given the hosts the lead, Carter levelled matters with a penalty of his own after 14 minutes in a passage of play which saw halfback Andy Ellis limp from the field after a collision with Schalk Burger.

Maitland, the grateful recipient of a misplaced pass from Nick Koster, then raced 50 metres to grab an opportunist opening try a minute later. Two more Carter penalties extended the lead to 13 points before Fruean broke for the line after a Kieran Read pass only to lose contact with his support.

He made amends minutes later when he was beneficiary of a wonderful pass from Sonny Bill Williams, who tormented the Stormers when the Crusaders won 19-6 in May, to race in from 20 metres out and the Crusaders led by 20.

A quickly taken tap penalty from Habana saw the Springboks flyer dive over from five metres out to narrow the gap 13 points at the break.

The Stormers would have been scratching their heads at the interval trying to work out a way past a committed Crusaders defence , especially after enjoying a big advantage in the possession stakes and how to stop their scrum from going backwards.

Another Carter penalty quickly extended the lead after the resumption as the Crusaders took charge while the Stormers were forced to adjust to the loss of their captain Burger who succumbed to a back injury at halftime to be replaced by controversial substitute Schalk Brits.

Brits proved a handful for the Crusaders and was involved in the move which set Jaque Fourie free but a Zac Guildford covering tackle denied the Springboks centre a try.

Another Carter three-pointer took the lead out to 19 points and the Stormers could not find a way past the wall of red and black defenders to reduce the deficit, and the Crusaders will now head to Brisbane confident of reversing their one point loss to the Reds in May.

- NZPA