Stormers wash Crusaders away

It's not often the plans of Crusaders coach Robbie Deans backfire.

And the stunned silence from the crowd at Newlands yesterday was evidence enough that not even the home fans had expected this upset.

Deans rested captain Richie McCaw and left world player of the year Daniel Carter and regular fullback Leon MacDonald on the bench against the team who had won only three of their previous 10 games.

Holding 11th place before the match the Stormers stunned the title favourites when captain De Wet Barry intercepted hooker Corey Flynn's pass to dash in from 30m within 45 seconds. They never surrendered the lead, the Crusaders only making the margin more respectable with a converted try in the last minute.

And that came courtesy of second-half replacements Carter and MacDonald who helped to set up Rico Gear.

It was the Crusaders' first loss in 11 matches this season and ended a 17-match unbeaten streak.

The result, following last week's draw against the winless Western Force, allowed the Waratahs to lead the standings with a better points differential, even though both teams are level on 42 points.

By the time Carter and MacDonald arrived in the 44th minute the Stormers were up 21-3. Led by the strong-running midfield duo of Barry and Marius Joubert and loose forwards Joe van Niekerk and Schalk Burger, they had momentum on their side and were growing in confidence.

Even though the Crusaders narrowed the gap with a try by loose forward Johnny Leo'o from a lineout drive and lock Chris Jack was held up over the line, the Stormers absorbed the pressure and struck back.

First five-eighth Peter Grant set up prop Eddie Andrews' try after a series of pick and drives to seal the game with five minutes to play. Grant kicked the conversion for his 18 points - from a try, three penalties and two conversions.

Deans said his team never recovered from Barry's interception.

"They grew from there, took a lot of confidence from getting into the game early and never relented," he said.

"They won the gain-line contest - that was the critical thing. We got rattled, we lost composure."

Deans said his decision to leave McCaw out and Carter and MacDonald on the bench would be the obvious suggestion for the shock result.

"But they [Carter and MacDonald] entered the game at halftime and the second-half result was the same as the first.

"The benefit we got from that was 40 minutes less rugby and they'll be better for that. Hopefully we'll get a lift from that."

- NZPA