Skills Mika all the difference

Crusaders 53 Cheetahs 17

There is much to admire about the Cheetahs, enough even to suggest that they might still run the Bulls close as the best South African franchise in the Super 14 this season. But - once again - there was a stark reminder of the difference in skill between New Zealand and many South African sides at Super level.

The Cheetahs, in contrast to their name, did not send the ball flying wide to the fast-twitch characters on the outside to show their sprinting skills. Instead, they formed mini-flying wedges composed of three or four forwards, trying to build momentum in the rucks and mauls.

It wasn't a bad ploy. They also drove well and performed one from a lineout so well that captain and flanker Ryno van der Merwe bullocked over the line like, well, a rhino for a well-executed forwards try.

But, when it comes to the crunch, they and most of the other South African franchises just do not have the basic and creative skills and speed to threaten a side like the Crusaders.

This is not to question the work rate, the commitment and the sheer physical effort of the African sides - just the skill level.

When the Crusaders felt threatened, they rummaged about in their "immediate response" kitbag and found some compelling answers.

Like after van der Merwe's try, when they hit back straight away. The ball was spread right and left, retaining possession smoothly, working defenders about. Lock Brad Mika - a canny selection by coach Robbie Deans - threw a beautiful pass to give the attackers space, Rico Gear cut the Cheetahs up, Mika loomed up again like a runaway mobile library, could have scored himself but passed to Leon MacDonald.

Mika is the ideal explanation of the difference between the two sides. Large, mobile and ball-skilled, he played a hand in the Crusaders' first three tries.

There was simply no one like him in the Cheetahs pack. When their forwards got the ball in space, they looked like men who'd been buried underground for a week, suddenly let out into the light and asked to carry a flowerpot.

The Crusaders, having had their honour impugned a little by suffering the lineout-drive try, swiftly turned 10-10 into 32-10 at halftime after soft tries to halfback Kevin Senio and Gear. They carried on immediately after the break with Dan Carter - whose 28 points took his tally past 600 in Super rugby - scoring against the posts after fielding his own kick.

It looked as though the Cheetahs might crack like water biscuits but they defended stoutly, never crumbled and scored the final try of the night.

The other stand-out player of the night was centre Casey Laulala but - and this may sound a strange thing to read in an Auckland-based newspaper, particularly one that has wingers like Joe Rokocoko, Doug Howlett, Viliame Waqaseduadua and Isa Nacewa playing in the home franchise - there is a growing feeling that the Crusaders' winger Scott Hamilton will be an unlucky man if he never wins an All Black jersey.

With the World Cup coming up, and a corresponding rise in interest in players who can fill more than one position, Hamilton's eligibility was underlined by another highly professional display last night.

He doesn't have the speed of Howlett or Rokocoko, nor the elusiveness of Rokocoko or Waqaseduadua. He doesn't score spectacular tries where he beats man after man.

But he is the embodiment of what the Crusaders have - the ability to perform the basics at an extremely high level, an awareness of position and space, the ability to support and find support and the confidence to try the unexpected.

All this has produced a player who cruises through his work. A long strider and good ball player, Hamilton looks like he could play centre, as well as his more normal positions on the wing or fullback.

He set up the first try of the night, to Mose Tuiali'i, after a smooth break and scored himself after Laulala battered the Cheetahs' defence into submission. Hamilton may be one of those players who doesn't translate to the next level up. But he sure looks like he would.

Crusaders 53 (M. Tuiali'i, L.MacDonald, K. Senio, R. Gear, D. Carter 2, S. Hamilton tries; Carter 6 cons, 2 pens).
Cheetahs 17 (R. van der Merwe, B. Fortuin tries; W. de Waal pen, con; M. Bosman con).
HT: 32-10.