Crusaders on brink of home semi

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 12: Kieron Fonotia of the Crusaders breaks away from the tackle of Shane Christie of the Highlanders during the round 19 Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Highlanders at AMI Stadium on July 12, 2014 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 12: Kieron Fonotia of the Crusaders breaks away from the tackle of Shane Christie of the Highlanders during the round 19 Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Highlanders at AMI Stadium on July 12, 2014 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

Published Jul 12, 2014

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Christchurch - The Canterbury Crusaders made an emphatic claim for a home semi-final in the Super Rugby competition with a bonus-point 34-8 victory over the Otago Highlanders in their final pool on Saturday.

With the table-topping NSW Waratahs already assured of one semi-final, it will take a Herculean effort by the Coastal Sharks to deny the Crusaders the second berth.

The Sharks will need to beat the Western Stormers by a 35-point margin and pick up a bonus point in the final match of the regular season if they are to sneak into second place.

The Crusaders, seven-time Super champions, led the Highlanders 17-3 at half-time, scoring their first try just ahead of the break, before adding three more for their bonus point in the second half.

The Highlanders struggled to find their way with their talismanic captain Ben Smith sidelined by a leg infection.

They were punished for repeated indiscretions from which Dan Carter landed four penalties to give the Crusaders a handy lead in the first half before they began exchanging penalties for tries.

Matt Todd scored the first two and Corey Flynn the fourth from lineout drives when the Crusaders turned down handy shots at goal and kicked for the corner.

The third try came when scrum-half Andy Ellis tapped and ran when the Crusaders had a close-range penalty and resulted in Nemani Nadolo scoring wide out.

The Crusaders forwards dominated throughout the match with their scrum and lineout both a class above what the Highlanders could muster, and the home side benefitted from five steals against the throw.

After beating the Auckland Blues two weeks ago, Crusaders centre Ryan Crotty said they were building nicely for the final.

“We've had a couple of good wins over the Blues and the Highlanders and it gives us momentum going into the finals. It's been a good couple of weeks.”

While the Highlanders have qualified for the play-offs for the first time in 12 years, the Crusaders have reached the knock-out stage for the 13th consecutive year. - Sapa-AFP

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