Crusaders pull clear of Highlanders

Crusaders pull clear of Highlanders

Friday, 30 January 2009

The Crusaders once again staged a late comeback to beat the Highlanders 40-17 in a pre-season Super 14 rugby match in Timaru today.


It was ultimately a convincing victory but it took the arrival of 10 reserves to turn the game for the Crusaders, who trailed by 17 points at the start of the second third. They scored 40 unanswered points from there.

Last week against the Western Force in Perth the Crusaders came from 14 points down to run out winners and the arrival of super-subs such as All Blacks Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Kieran Read and Ben Franks made the difference tonight.
Fullback/wing Jared Payne, also a reserve, had a hand in the first three tries for the Crusaders and scored the final try.
He showed pace and awareness to set up lock Isaac Ross, flanker Read and inside back Stephen Brett for five-pointers.
Prop Wyatt Crockett, another reserve, scored the fourth try for the Crusaders.
The defending champions were down 0-10 with 15 minutes on the clock, an early Daniel Bowden penalty and converted David Hall try punishing a scratchy start littered with many errors.
Near the end of the first 30, the Crusaders finally exerted some dominance on attack but a promising move ended with a high elbow from Steven Stephano to Crusaders flanker Jonathan Poff which led to 10 minutes in the sin bin for the Highlanders No 8 and medical treatment for Poff.
A Brett break at the start of the second 30 hinted at better things to come for the Crusaders.
However, it was Bowden who opened the scoring in the second 30, the first-five capitalising on series of Highlanders attacks to ghost over in a tackle near the posts.
After that it was one-way traffic for the Crusaders.
Payne was a standout for them, with Colin Slade also shining at first five.
For the Highlanders, new captain Jimmy Cowan lead from the front as usual from halfback.
Result:
Crusaders 40 (Isaac Ross, Kieran Read, Ryab Crotty, Stephen Brett, Wyatt Crockett, Jared Payne tries; Colin Slade 5 con)
Highlanders 17 (David Hall, Daniel Bowden tries; Bowden pen, 2 con). First third: 0-10. Second third: 14-17.
- NZPA

That's the Crusaders - they train for what they do.

If you were coaching against the Crusaders would you have a deliberate strategy of changing the attack & or defensive plan during the match?
Please remember that this is an ignoramous talking. Just occured to me that maybe the best way of unsettling them might be to not let them have time to figure out what the opposition is doing by changing it.