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| Rory Kockott Converts. Image © sharksrugby.co.za |
Given last week’s shock loss to the Reds – and the manner in which they were defeated, 41-20 in Brisbane – the Crusaders wasted no time in rushing captain Richie McCaw back into the fray earlier than planned for the match against The Sharks, a contest that always brings out the best in both sides.
And the home side certain were stung by their loss, absorbing everything The Sharks threw at them before running away with the game in the final 10 minutes. Three tries in the closing minutes tells a better tale than the scoreline suggests and The Sharks were always in the game until the final quarter of an hour before the Crusaders cut loose to score three tries. Richie McCaw admitted afterwards that their plan had been to take the stuffing out of The Sharks and felt they had managed to accomplish that.
The Sharks had a 5:2 split on the bench, indicating that the game was going to be an immense physical contest, and it certainly did not disappoint in that regard.
For coach John Plumtree, the decisive word was ‘pressure’. “Losing two home games puts pressure on us, but we’ve had a good week and the boys are positive,” he said before the game. “The Crusaders were put under pressure on attack and defence by the Reds last week and we have to do the same thing.”
With conditions totally contrasting to Durban - 17C in Christchurch for this match – the game was always going to embrace running rugby
The Sharks certainly had the run of play in the early stages and it took the Crusaders nearly 10 minutes before they could get an attack going in The Sharks half, only to lose consecutive throw-ins to the poaching and contesting of The Sharks. As the Crusaders started to get more ball possession, pressure from The Sharks kept robbing them of any momentum.
They were finally rewarded for their efforts as Dan Carter converted a penalty and a try from Zac Guildford against two Rory Kockott penalties as the sides went into the half-time break 10-6 to the home side but not much really separating the teams.
With the wind behind them and their tails up, the Crusaders came out for the second half full of confidence and started to exert some dominance in certain aspects of the game, although defensive pressure from The Sharks did continue to prove a good foil.
The Sharks forwards also proved up to the task and then some as they did some excellent driving work and power play to take attacking possession close to the Crusaders’ line, but would have been deeply disappointed not to get more reward for their energies.
And then came that final three-try burst which effectively closed out any hopes The Sharks would have had that they could wrestle the game from the home side.
As captain John Smit said afterwards, his team will need to pick themselves up after three losses and band together. The travel to Sydney on Saturday ahead of two matches in Australia, against the Waratahs next week and the Brumbies the week after.
Crowd: 19 000
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
The Sharks: 6 (6)
Penalties: Rory Kockott (2)
Crusaders: 35 (10)
Tries: Zac Guildford (2), Adam Whitelock, Quentin MacDonald
Conversions: Dan Carter (3)
Penalties: Dan Carter (3)
