Tight clash in Christchurch
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The Crusaders exacted revenge over the Super Rugby champion Reds on Sunday via a hard-fought 15-11 victory.
Just a solitary try was scored in the action from Christchurch Stadium and that arrived in the second minute when Reds hooker James Hanson burrowed across wide on the left.
But that acted as false hope of a high-scoring game as penalties and errors marred matters.
Tom Taylor kicked five penalties while Mike Harris struck two as the lead changed hands five times.
Taylor reclaimed the lead for the last time with his fourth penalty in the 72nd minute, putting his side ahead 12-11, then sealed the points late on.
The only area in which the Crusaders were wholly superior was at scrums where they dominated the Reds for all but a ten-minute spell in the second half when replacement Wyatt Crockett was binned for a shoulder charge on Will Genia.
The Reds gained the upper hand in most other areas, notably at breakdowns where they forced turnovers and gained early penalties from New Zealand official Bryce Lawrence.
New Zealand-born centre Mike Harris missed his only two kicks at goal in the first half as the Crusaders took a 6-5 lead to half-time. But he landed two from two in the second half to give the Reds an 11-9 lead with the three points that stemmed from Crockett's yellow card.
Penalties began to flow the Crusaders' way in the last ten minutes of the match and Taylor took full advantage, improving his tally for the 2012 season to 38 goals from 45 attempts.
Hanson handled twice in the movement that led to the only try of the match when the Reds charged down a clearing kick immediately after the kick-off. The visitors promptly drove toward the line, patiently recycled possession then helped Hanson over on the blindside.
Taylor kicked a penalty in the seventh minute and another in the 20th to force the first lead change of the match. Harris, who had missed the conversion of Hanson's try, then skewed a 33rd-minute penalty which cost the Reds any chance of taking a lead into the break.
He landed his first goal of the match three minutes into the second spell but Taylor replied only three minutes later. Harris goaled in the 61st minute to make it 11-9 before Taylor decided the match in a result that moves the Crusaders up to second in New Zealand.
The scorers:
For Crusaders:
Pen: Taylor 5
For Reds:
Try: Hanson
Pen: Harris 2
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland/Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Luke Romano, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ross Kennedy, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Ryan Crotty, 22 Tom Marshall.
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Eddie Quirk, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Rod Davies.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Comments
tha_mai says...
as expected no word on the statistically-challenged trinats when presented with any fact.
Hodgson, fyi, still tops the penalties-against table after 12 matches, adding another three to reach 22, five ahead of the next on the list.
Posted 01:09 18th May 2012
tha_mai says...
one more on stats; the teams with the highest penalties awarded against them in 2012, Chiefs (11.8 average per game) and Bulls (11.2), are currently leading the comp.
Posted 14:09 11th May 2012
tha_mai says...
Tn2 - Most penalised player and captain in Rugby
where do you get your stats? i Have what I think are all the genuine stats sites bookmarked, none mention either of the 'stats' you claim.
Or are you (still) full of it?
RM hasn't been playing, but fyi the most penalised player of this year's Super comp (after round 11) is Mathew Hodgson of the Force (19).
Posted 13:20 11th May 2012
Ripzy007 says...
@Trinats...why should any Capt talk about the opposition when the commnetator/interviewer is only asking questions about his team? McCaw got penalised and he's been carded but ALL GOOD 7s play at the edge of the law and if they get away with it then so be it...have you tried refereeing a game of Rugby? it may give you some insight and you being human may miss somethings that the cough potatoes do not miss on the tv screen
Posted 20:27 10th May 2012
7ton says...
trinats2
If McCaw is the most penalised player and captain in rugby like you say the stats say then how on earth do these stats prove that McCaw mostly gets away with bending the rules? Yet again you're just contradicting yourself and not really thinking about things before spouting of.
I am a Crusaders supporter but in regards to this game I do think they were a bit lucky and the Reds may well have deserved to win. However it could be argued that at times the Reds have been lucky so it all goes round in a big circle and that's just life.
You do at times say some sensible things here and I also enjoy your humour at times but please don;t try to twist stats to say something they are not
Posted 01:43 10th May 2012
Trinats2 says...
Capedcrusader:
"diabolical Dickinson penalising King Ritchie"
Typical kiwi statement, everone else is wrong and you are right. Every wondered why his nickname is McCheat ?
He is a great player, but he bends the rules and mostly gets away with it. I say mostly as the stats don't lie. Most penalised player and captain in Rugby. He will be remembered fro a king in NZ but a cheat everywhere slse. (sorry to burst your bubble)
Posted 12:31 09th May 2012
Capedcrusader says...
Ah ha Trinats2
Well guess what we played the Reds twice last campaign & lost. Even with diabolical Dickinson penalising King Ritchie at the death I know we actually lost that game at a different point - same with the final. OK the only time I couldn't believe what I was watching was when TV ref Pollock denied us a stone wall & the Blues a no chance in a game (2008 or 09 perhaps) that could have cost us a place in the playoffs (which we lost to the Bulls). Then I felt like hunting him down & giving him a "my reflection on his interesting interpretation"
Whilst writing Trinates for the record. I don't bore PR readers with the same mundane rhetoric week in week out. As a true red and black Cantab I have experienced many many heartaches (less of late Trinats (10 - 15 years) to be fair) & even more adrenalin filled triumphs so your broken record moaning simply belittles your knowledge of the game in most eyes. Shame pal bloody shame.
Posted 13:10 08th May 2012
Trinats2 says...
capedcrusader:
"Don't actually give a monkeys what you all think about the ref's performance"
I bet you would if you were on the recieving end !!!
Although you would never have experienced it, being from Anti-Christchurch
Posted 09:15 08th May 2012
BDAUSSIE says...
In a game where the Reds just about stole the ball EVERY TIME the Saders ran the ball up, the incompetence of Bryce Lawrence ensured that their advantage at the breakdown counted for nothing. In fact, its shocking to think that the team that was easily winning the breakdown battle was on the other side of an ugly penalty count. There was a penalty in the first half where Digby ran the ball into the mid field and Bryce didnt even give him a second to play the ball. Seriously it was a joke.
On a lighter note, great to see the Reds finding form. Higgers was outstanding. Gill showed why he will be in the Wallabies side very soon. He's all over the breakdown and he's actually a more well rounded player than pocock (i.e. can run, side step, etc). The Reds will beat the Chiefs this weekend and could possibly go on to beat the Brumbies for that semi final spot.
Posted 00:57 08th May 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ wallaroo... specific examples from this match demostrating the bias you allege?
Posted 20:10 07th May 2012
capedcrusader says...
Well done both teams. Pity we didn't get the usual spectacle but pressure & commitment can work for you or go against you.
Don't actually give a monkeys what you all think about the ref's performance. 4 points at home tick. You broken records are such a waste of space (writing). If it makes you feel better to blame the ref than except a very experienced & successful franchise (7 times champions, given own trophy to keep, umpteen runners up medals, only team unbeaten), is going to grind out some poor victories go ahead.
I keep saying the ref will never determine the outcome of a game there will be critical errors, decisions, plays or periods in the game that always determine the outcome. Please get over yourself.
Posted 16:31 07th May 2012
Trader2 says...
I read so many comments about this being a great game so thought I had better watch it again and really it was exciting because of the closeness of but really skills on both sides (apart from some individuals) were crap. I am not sure how the majority think the Red's should have won because apart from a couple of chances from some pin-point kicking they created nothing, the Cusaders created a number of chances only to be held out on the line by some very good Red's defence. The Red's scrum was a disgrace and as mentioned before I was genuinely afraid for some of their players, someone will get seriously injured if they cannot get that together. The usual prats are of course blaming the ref from the comfort of their armchairs and with the benefit of slow-mo replays and we all know that the only reason that the Aussies ever lose anything (not just rugby) is when the officials stuff up. On balance I thought the Crusaders deserved their win on the chances they created and the domminace of their scrum, hopefully their work at the breakdown will be as poor when they come up against the Highlanders again.
Did I read below that Trinats says "Stop harping on about the ref. Can't change the score or penalty count now" - couldn't have been - oh I see he is tacking the mickey - isn't he. Damm it I am as confused as the Red's front row.
Posted 14:59 07th May 2012
Wallaroo says...
@isthatrightref only blind Freddie would think he's okay.
The Reds outplayed the Saders by a mile. The Saders won only because Bryce had decided they were going too. If you can justify all the penalties you'll get a lolly.
The Boks were robbed of a semi final also because Bryce had decided that we were going through.
Just 2 example of shear incompetence notwithstanding he has years of experience behind him.
What I'm most interested in is to see if SANZAR referees boss Lyndon Bray has the guts to come out and admit how diabolical Bryce Lawrence really is.
Posted 13:21 07th May 2012
kybone says...
Well well well, a game where both sides are desperate to win ( or to avoid losing) and all of a sudden the score board reads similar to a European game. Funny that. Where are all the Kiwis and Aussies to tell us that there rugby is better because they always score loads of tries because their players are so much more skillful?
Actually im of the opinion that more tries doesn't automatically mean better quality or more entertainment, but the quality of the Prem was recently described by planet rugby as 'deplorable' due solely to the fact that only 2 sides averaged more than 3 tries per game. I think you can use this game and others such as the World Cup Final, to prove that often the best and most important games don't feature 13 tries.
Posted 09:18 07th May 2012
rugbyphile says...
What is Lawrence doing still with a whistle?? Don't know the man so don't know what motivates him but when the game is on the line he just can't help being biased--- did Crusaders get about 10 more penalties than the Reds--? If you let him continue you are blessing this as an acceptable way to be---refereeing bias is the worst sickening creeping rotten feature of this lovely game at the moment. Lawrence does his thing so others subconciously think that is the way to be --hometown refereeing is now present in a large number of Super 15 games each weekend. Refereeing needs to be totally rid of its present sickening culture--neutral refs are essential for a start. And much as I genuinely love the Kiwis and admire their rugby--the NZ hierarchy that has let this position develop needs to be swept out--replace them with French or Argentinians or anyone---
Posted 05:44 07th May 2012
Ripzy007 says...
@Mace...exactly, BL is getting worse and should not be refereeing for some time (if not EVER)...
Posted 01:42 07th May 2012
s15rules says...
this could have been a ripper game why was it given too bryce ruin a game lawerence!
and im a crusader fan, felt like a lucky dip players from both sides didnt know what too the whistle went everyone looked up hoping it went there way.
Posted 01:24 07th May 2012
Sprogrugby says...
Great game to watch, very exciting and a classic example of why you don't need high scores to provide a spectacle. Of course there were many errors, for once the crusaders may have even led that stat. Reds showed the beauty of rugby, where pressure at breakdown and midfield defence can create opportunities against the best teams (and I put crusaders up there as one of those best teams). However, as Read said, in the absence of skill they showed character and that is what helped them across the line, as well as some basic errors from the reds especially with the advantage of 14 men (loved Trinats comment !). Good YC for the blatant shoulder charge, although with a penalty count of 17-7 in crusaders favour (stat provided by others so apologies if incorrect) and watching the game, I do think Bryce seemed to be harsher on reds in many cases. A classic was the Gill penalty in the last minute, where I thought he legitimately beat the ruck, only to be pinged. This timing had been accepted thru the game by the ref, so I think the reds were hard done by on that penalty - especially considering the significance of what a penalty there meant. There were also others around the breakdown, where I thought the reds were in some cases more legit that the crusaders, only to be penalised. As a ref I know that teams with momentum can tend to get the rub of the penalty count, but today was a tough and relatively even contest, and I don't think the ref helped an already jaded view of his current form. Loved the comment from Read and his reference to 'Skip' when RM came on. I'm not a kiwi and know many people detest RM and think the crusaders get away with murder, but I think only a fool would not want him in a team. The reverence his own team show to him in what I think is a star team is probably a good example of what makes the crusaders mindset and their consistency. Bible over !
Posted 01:23 07th May 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ kiwidiver... Reds have Chiefs (loss), Lions (probable win), Brumbies (probable loss) & Melbourne (probable win) coming up, I expect them to be on 34 - 38 points at the June break, 10 to 14 behind the Brumbies - they may overtake the Waratahs who have a tougher draw (Bulls - Stormers - Cheetahs - Hurricanes) but will finish well down the table.
@ kahui, mace & others... examples, please.
Posted 00:00 07th May 2012
Trinats2 says...
Stop harping on about the ref. Can't change the score or penalty count now. Reds were the better team and deserved the win, everyone knows it. Hopefully saders make it to the finals and Reds well get their revenge (might even be full strength by then)
Come internationals Liam Gill's TEXTBOOK tackle would not get penalised.
Very poor speech from Read after the game, mentioned nothing of the opposition, probably becase he was out played by Higgers playing out of position at 8.
Posted 23:41 06th May 2012