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The Canterbury Crusaders powered past the Stormers to set up a Super 15 final against Queensland Reds.
The Crusaders booked a Super Rugby meeting with the Reds after thrashing the Stormers 29-10 at a full capacity Newlands on Saturday.
All the damage was done in the first-half with the Crusaders registering a 23-10 lead at the break and converted two more second-half penalties through the boot of flyhalf Dan Carter.
The Stormers did not add anything in the final 40 minutes.
The hosts though had started off the encounter solidly despite being hampered by the late withdrawal of scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage, and were impressive in the early exchanges.
They opened the scoring through flyhalf Peter Grant after he was stopped inches from the try line.
Crusaders, who are seven-time champions, worked their way back and levelled the scores through a Carter penalty shortly before suffered an injury loss with scrumhalf Andy Ellis leaving the field with a knee injury.
Just as the Stormers adapted without their first choice halfback, the Crusaders lifted their game after Ellis’ departure and were rewarded with a brilliant try from winger Sean Maitland.
Maitland intercepted a poorly timed pass by eighthman Nick Koster for the five points.
Carter then ensured his side opened up a 10 point lead over the home side when he slotted two more penalties.
And if the New Zealanders' dominance at scrum time – with prop Wyatt Crockett named Man of the Match – didn't stun the Cape outfit, a trademark Sonnybill Williams offload to his centre partner Robbie Freuan then surely did.
The pass from Williams allowed Freuan to cross untouched as the margin increased from a reachable 10 to a comfortable 17-point advantage.
With less than five minutes left in the first half, Stormers wing Bryan Habana caught the Crusaders off guard to score from a quickly tapped penalty, reducing his side’s deficit to 10 points at the interval.
This turned to be the home side's only try of the evening with Carter getting a successful shot at goal soon after the re-start.
The Stormers responded by keeping ball-in-hand, but could again not find a break as a promising attacking move ended with centre Jaque Fourie being pushed into touch a metre short of the try line by a brilliant Crusaders cover defence.
As the pressure started building, so did the number of unforced errors the Stormers made in the tackling area.
Carter’s fifth penalty of the night would, however, come from an infringement in the scrum.
He added another in the last quarter of the match to assure the men from Christchurch their win and to send a significant number of Stormers supporters out of their seats before the full-time whistle.
SCORERS
Stormers 10 (10) Penalty: Peter Grant (1). Try: Bryan Habana Conversion: Grant (1)
Crusaders 29 (23) Tries: Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean. Penalties: Dan Carter (5) Conversions: Carter (2). – Sapa
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Spock101, wrote
@ Tokyo3991 - so the Sharks were killed off, were they? What happened to the Stormers then; Oh yes, that's right, they were just outplayed, out-muscled & outsmarted. The Stormers, as they and the Bulls always do, felt that as they were playing at home & the Crusaders had to travel, they had the game in the bag, they just had to show up and they were in the final. Remember Plum's comment after the Sharks loss - he said the Stormers will have to play REALLY well to win - well, they didn't take heed of his words because they thought it was just sour grapes and look what happened. The Stormers were VERY fortunate to top the SA Conference, so don't anyone think that they are THE BEST team in SA. Half time score in the Sharks game was 13-5, in the Stormers game 10-23! Sure, the Stormers had 5 more points than the Sharks BUT the Crusaders led by 10 extra points! This despite the fact that the Crusaders were the ones that had traveled 11000kms across the world & the Stormers were playing at HOME!!! Already you could see that the Stormers were not in the game and that never changed. @ Alec - I totally agree, not in my lifetime either!
Aaron "BLACK ADN WHITE TILL I DIE" January, wrote
okay i will give it to the stormers, you'll did finish on top of the log in the S.A conference.... but the only team from S.A who could and still can get the job done is the SHARKS its all good trashing the easy teams and playing brilliant rugby in the start by what do you have to show for it now....Stormers you cant even hold your head up and say we played good rugby.... now as for them fools who are saying us Sharks are crying for nothing please by all means how is it considered dangerous play when no-body moves oh when you (SONNY BILL) a boxerrugby playa gets a smack on the hand (which might i add my 4 yr old neice will laugh off) make such a meal out of it... now if that is how you need to play to beat us then there must be some sort of fearrespect there.... now back to you DIZZELS the Currie Cup is coming up soon lets see where is your MOUTH then........... SHARKS FOR LIFE
Lionel, wrote
The Crusaders just ozzed class and the best why to shut up those arrogant SA supporters. It was not a case that the Stormers did not pitch up, but a case that they where not allowed to play and very typical of SA's teams not been able to change their game plan. The Crusaders superb defence and the performance of their forwards destroyed the Stormers. Crusaders rule and I hope they have enough left in the tank against the Reds.
Alec, wrote
Shark supporter very good win by "Stormers"best team in SA not in my lifetime. Did not play for 5 mins in whole march.
Greg Shark, wrote
my my...how the stormers were crushed. the sharks did a better job, especially in the scrums, having travelled to nz with ash cloud issues and the stormers were at home to travelling crus(h)aders. stormers were destroyed up front - any more desparaging comments about the sharks now? my comments in this forum previously were that i may suggest 1 stormer in the pack was responded to thus "...you getting a ittle ahead of yourself, mate..." well now what? the much vaunted stormers forwards were comprehensively beaten in all aspects of the game. maybe it would be good for the media down there to open the other eye as well? grant, who? was he playing? sorry but james and lambie are noticable on the field - peter grant presence was not apparent. @steve pn - right on mate!
richard, wrote
Oh dear, who do we blame now ? When the Sharks were thrashed, the excuse was" Jet lag"…"poor refereeing" All our top teams were out-played, out-muscled, out-performed, by players that were hungry and more focussed than ours. Our players have become "glory boys" in stead of rugby players. Lets not embarrass ourselves at the World cup.
TOKYO3991, wrote
@Chris, the Sharks were killed off last week yet somehow you seek to compare their woeful performances against that of the SA Conference winners? @STEVE PN, The scribes, and you, can say what you wish in hindssight. The Stormers are SA's 2011 Super Rugby's best team, irrespective of yesterday's (lack of) performance. The beauty of sport is the best competitor ALWAYS wins, the Saders deserve a pat on the back. Half the Bulls team stalwarts we know will never return to "Fortess Loftus", so stop living in the past. Naysayers, sour grapes and negativity irk me.
reality, wrote
peter Grant supports please now crawl back into your hole he is just not a big match player. Hence his choice of Japan. Never a bok
mdk, wrote
Kyle, wrote
Mo, wrote
@StevePN: As far as I know, the Stormers did the best out of any team in South Africa this season. They WERE outplayed tonight, but don't for one minute think that they did not work hard to get there. Stormers ARE the best SA team this year! FACT!
Chris, wrote
Last week I said in this forum that the Crusaders comprehensively outplayed the Sharks in the second half. At least the Sharks were in the game for 30-35 mins. The Stormers never looked to be in the game. They were outplayed, outmuscled and outsmarted from the opening whistle. While I look forward to the S15 final between the two best sides in the competition (Reds and Crusaders), I see little to be encouraged about ahead of the 2011 RWC. If I were to choose a World 15 on current form, only 3 Boks would feature ie Bismarck du Plessis (hooker), Victor Matfield (lock) and Jacques Fourie (outside centre). The rest of our players are "also rans" by international standards, hardly a recipe to reclaim the World Cup. Don't expect Pieter de Villiers to wave a magic wand and get this lot to do the impossible, because he can't.
STEVE PN, wrote
ROCK SOLID DEFENCE, SPRINGBOK BACKLINE EXPERTLY MARSHALLED BY PETER GRANT, BETTER LOCKS THAN VICTOR AND BAKKIES. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL WEEK. NOW I KNOW WHY THE SCRIBES FROM PRETORIA USUALLY END THEIR COMMENTS WITH "PAPSAK, PAP SNOEK, PAP BROEK".
Anonymous, wrote
the stormers may have been crushed but i still bleed the blue and white of the western province... god bless all of my black, white and coloured bothers western province forever.
byron, wrote
stormers may have been crushed but i still bleed the blue and white of the western province because that where i am born and raised...... win or loose the western cape forever, god bless my black, coloured,white,muslim and christan brothers
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