Crusaders discipline pays off

Old-fashioned cohesion and Crusaders expertise and knowledge saw them overcome a competitive but as yet unfamiliar Blues team 19-18 in front of 30,000 at Eden Park on Friday.

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Typical, as with any Investec Super Rugby game between the sides, it was a close contest, the widest margin at any stage of the game being six points.

However, they came within a chargedown of conceding the game as replacement Piri Weepu was unable to justify the roar that greeted his appearance on the field. The Blues lined up the dropped goal chance perfectly but the Crusaders threw everything at Weepu and a hand diverted the ball wide of the goal.

Some good signs were seen from both teams but while suffering some moments of indiscipline, the Crusaders were deserving winners.

Centres Rene Ranger (Blues) and Robbie Fruean were constant threats on both sides, Ranger the more unorthodox but Fruean a hard-running conduit to his outsides while in the contest between the first five-eighths Michael Hobbs and Tyler Bleyendaal (Crusaders), the Canterbury man had the more assured game, creating one fine opening for blindside wing Israel Dagg which almost produced a 65th minute try.

He missed two kicks into the wind in the second half but showed his class soon after giving his side the lead in the 65th minute with a probing run which took play close to the line only to be ended when No.8 Kieran Read knocked the ball on in a crucial lapse.

The battle between Read and Jerome Kaino at No.8 was as unresolved as would be expected when two world-class players were involved, enthralling as it was nonetheless.

So too the locking contest at lineouts where the All Blacks involved, Ali Williams and Anthony Boric for the Blues and Sam Whitelock and Tom Donnelly assured quality ball in this quarter.

The game started out with a hiss and a roar, some smart running and positive intent.

It didn't take long before a couple of crunching tackles, courtesy of Kaino, that the summer break was over. And by the third quarter the defences were making the mark and it was penalty goals that were providing the scoring momentum.

Down 12-16 at halftime, the Blues inched ahead courtesy of two Hobbs' penalty goals

Four minutes into the game Crusaders' second five-eighths Ryan Crotty learnt there was no time for dallying with clearance kicks in his own 22m area when an attempt was charged down.

While the ball bobbled around in the in-goal it was flanker Chris Lowrey who touched it down before it escaped over the deadball line.

After Crusaders first five-eighths Tyler Bleyendaal replied with a seventh minute penalty goal, they failed to gather the ball at the re-start. The Blues were onto it in a flash, moving it wide where fullback Isaia Toeava raced into the Crusaders 22m area and in-passed to centre Rene Ranger.

He was pulled down just short of the line and when it was moved wide, wing David Raikuna marked his debut with the try.

Bleyendaal added a penalty in the 13th minute.

A period on attack saw the Crusaders cross in the 18th minute when centre Robbie Fruean moved down the blindside of a ruck to beat weak tackle efforts from Raikuna and Toeava.

Ranger broke out in another 60m burst which was only halted by effective covering by wing Sean Maitland, however, the ball was toed ahead, and into touch, by halfback Alby Mathewson.

The Crusaders were unable to throw the ball in straight and the Blues won possession. Mathewson lost the ball in a tackle as he drove for the line.

Scorers:

Blues 18 (Chris Lowrey, David Raikuna tries; Michael Hobbs con, 2 pen) Crusaders 19 (Robbie Fruean try; Tyler Bleyendall con, 4 pen). HT: 12-16