CHRISTCHURCH – The power of the Crusaders pack crushed the Hurricanes on Saturday as the seven-time champions kept their unbeaten Super Rugby record with a 20-12 victory in Christchurch.
With one try and five penalties, the Crusaders remain at the head of the table and unbeaten after 11 games, while defending champions Hurricanes lie third in the New Zealand conference with their second defeat.
The expectation ahead of the clash was for a try-fest between two sides renowned for their determination to attack from all angles, but at halftime, the score was locked at 9-9 with all the points from penalties.
Eventually it was the power of the Crusaders’ All Blacks-laden pack, and the smart direction of centre Ryan Crotty, that defused the Hurricanes strike power of Beauden and Jordie Barrett and kept them tryless for the first time in three years.
For the Crusaders, even without injured Kieran Read and suspended Sam Whitelock, and despite Scott Barrett (ankle) and Matt Todd (concussion) leaving the field, they still had too much power upfront.
“It was such a massive effort,” said Crotty, who ended up captaining the side after Todd left the field.
“We didn’t let them get anything going off set-piece, which was massive, a credit to the tight five.”
FULLTIME: @crusadersrugby win arm wrestle against @Hurricanesrugby in Christchurch and remain unbeaten #CRUvHUR https://t.co/I0Nl3ztji5 pic.twitter.com/dC1Zil1ne6
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugby) May 13, 2017
The Crusaders went closest to crossing the line in the first half when Crotty took a leaf out of the Beauden Barrett playbook and sent a well-directed cross kick towards the corner, only for Seta Tamanivalu to knock the ball on.
It took until the 50th minute before Todd was able to drive over for the only try of the game with a lineout drive that forced the Hurricanes pack back more than 10 metres.
Despite dominating possession, the Crusaders let themselves down in the first half with 12 turnovers, but as fast as the Hurricanes were gifted possession, they lost it with ill-discipline that cost them seven penalties in 40 minutes.
It would not have escaped the attention of the All Black selectors that the first points came after Tamanivalu stood up Julian Savea to get the Crusaders close to the line, where Richie Mo’unga landed the first of his five penalties.
It was a short-lived lead, though, with Jordie Barrett, noticeably still taking the Hurricanes kicks instead of brother Beauden, quickly landing an equaliser for the Hurricanes.
Mo’unga and the youngest of the Barrett brothers ended the first half with three penalties apiece.
But the Crusaders pack showcased their forward dominance at the start of the second half to put pressure on the Hurricanes line until Todd scored.
With their tails up, the Crusaders forwards continued to control the scrums and the breakdown, leaving the much-vaunted Hurricanes backline starved of clean possession.
But they had trouble breaking down the Hurricanes defence, with the only other second-half points coming from further penalties by both Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett.
Points-Scorers
Crusaders 20 – Try: Matt Todd. Penalties: Richie Mo’unga (5).
Hurricanes 12 – Penalties: Jordie Barrett (4).