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KEY POINTS:
SUPER 14
Crusaders19
Chiefs13
It's no wonder interest doesn't normally build in Super 14 until the middle of the competition. On the evidence of yesterday's match in Christchurch, it will be a good few weeks yet before either the Chiefs or Crusaders are operating anywhere full capacity.
There was great intention from both sides, ample industry and no shortage of commitment but the contest was missing finesse. There was no quality in the finish, which created the same impression as an expensive kitchen with a formica bench top.
Quality is not linked to entertainment, though, and this was never dull. It was frantic, the pace never abated, the mistakes merely adding to the fun as they created half opportunities. The Crusaders took their customary victory on the back of their ability to add a little more polish when they had the ball and to stay fiercely structured when they didn't.
They had to withstand a 10-minute onslaught in the final quarter when the Chiefs were dominating possession and territory and pushing relentlessly with the score at 14-13.
Just like the old days when Robbie Deans was at the helm, the Crusaders of 2009 kept their discipline and made tackle after tackle. The pressure told on the Chiefs and they ran out of both confidence and ideas on how to penetrate and get ahead.
Even more typical of the Crusaders was the way, after sucking up all that pressure in the closing minutes, they finished the game with a try of their own.
Some outstanding pick and drive work led to space opening up on the right and Casey Laulala was able to straighten and fight his way over from 10 metres. It was a score that capped what was a man-of-the-match performance from Laulala. He was more heavily involved than his opposite man, Richard Kahui, and the Chiefs might have to review their decision to kick so much possession away.
They looked more than capable when they kept it in hand and their second try was created by the skills of Mils Muliaina and Kahui.
Under pressure, the Chiefs captain flicked the ball away in the tackle and in one swift movement Kahui had the ball in and out of his hands to give Lelia Masaga a bit of space on his flank.
Leon MacDonald appeared to have Masaga covered but the Chiefs wing stepped on the gas and embarrassed the All Black fullback.
That try set things up splendidly for a grandstand finish but, as hard as the Chiefs came, they couldn't find the chink in the Crusaders' armour. One man who tried harder than most was Brendan Leonard who clearly didn't muck about in pre-season. Leonard, having missed most of last season, was a whirl of activity.
His long layoff has not blunted any of his sharpness around the fringes where he dabbed three times in the first half to excellent effect.
The only player who could match him for directness was Laulala, the occasional All Black successfully achieving his goal of playing a senior role.
It was Laulala who opened the scoring when he pounced on a superbly weighted grubber put behind the tryline by Colin Slade. That the Crusaders centre may have been several yards in front of the kicker shouldn't detract from the accuracy and composure displayed by the young first five.
It's not an easy business replacing Daniel Carter but Slade gave it a decent nudge on his debut. He plays with his head up and took the ball close to the Chiefs' line, which created space for those outside him.
He also had to get through a bit of defensive work as Sione Lauaki was in the kind of form he doesn't normally produce until later in the season.
The big man had his problems in the second half of last year and has a lot of ground to make up. He was obviously fitter than he has been at the start of previous campaigns and carried the ball strongly until he wilted in the final 10 minutes.
If the Chiefs can add some composure to their execution and get Kahui more involved, they will cause everyone problems.
Crusaders 19 (C. Laulala 2, T. Bateman tries; C. Slade 2 cons) Chiefs 13 (R. Kahui, L. Masaga tries; S. Donald pen)
