Crusaders consign Chiefs to worst-ever losing streak
The Crusaders are one win away from the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa title after a controversy-tinged 32-19 victory in Hamilton.
Rebounding from their first home loss in four years to the Hurricanes last week, the Crusaders compounded the Chiefs’ misery by handing Warren Gatland’s men their eighth-straight defeat, one which again put the officials in the spotlight.
The Chiefs have felt dudded by the officials several times this season – last week’s final play at Eden Park merely the last example. Gatland is again likely to take umbrage with a crucial decision midway through the second half which helped the Crusaders kick clear.
With 20 minutes remaining and one point separating the teams, Sevu Reece scored after what appeared to be a knock on from Quinten Strange. The Crusaders lock dragged the ball forward with momentum before Reece swooped.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe and television match official Glenn Newman believed otherwise, ruling in favour of Reece to hand the visitors an eight-point lead that proved much too difficult to overturn.
The Crusaders scored a classy try after that movement – Richie Mo’unga injecting himself on an inside ball to send Leicester Fainga’anuku over. But Reece’s dubious try hugely influenced the outcome in front of 15,082 locals.
Close but not good enough remains the sad story of the Chiefs season. Five-tries-to-one once again highlights their attacking struggles since lockdown. Not even Aaron Cruden’s 100th Super Rugby match could inspire them to snap their record losing streak.
Everyone other than Crusaders supporters wanted a Chiefs victory to keep the title race alive but it was not to be.
Instead the bonus point victory celebrates Sam Whitelock’s 150th match and pushes the Crusaders seven points clear of Blues at the top of the table. Scott Robertson’s side only needs one win from their remaining two fixtures – against the Highlanders in Christchurch and the Blues at Eden Park – to claim the crown.
If the Chiefs are searching positives they need look no further than Lachlan Boshier, their everywhere man. In another losing effort Boshier produced standout performance at the breakdown, on defence, at the lineout and he claimed his side’s only try in a 63 minute shift while carrying an ankle knock.
The loose forwards mix for the All Blacks is incredibly competitive but Boshier continues to state his case.
The Chiefs trailed 17-10 at halftime but they never held the lead and were chasing the game from the outset after a poor start, particularly on defence.
The Crusaders set the tone by scoring two tries in the opening 15 minutes. Tom Sanders found himself charging down the touchline and over the top of a brave Damian McKenzie after quick hands down the short side found space on the edge. Will Jordan then waltzed past Shaun Stevenson in the second instance of poor Chiefs defending to hand the Crusaders a 12-0 lead early.
Not the kind of start the Chiefs wanted by any stretch of the imagination ? The courage of Damian McKenzie though! #CHIvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/VheKBGgalH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 1, 2020
Jordan and George Bridge often popped up at first receiver but whenever Mo’unga challenged the line the All Blacks first five-eighth was lethal with his stepping and offloading causing havoc on several occasions.
Sam Cane and Boshier were supreme defensively and at the breakdown where they both snaffled turnovers. On attack, fellow Chiefs loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula stormed off the back of the scrum with telling carries.
The Chiefs’ kicking game, however, left a lot to be desired. They kicked too much and inaccurately – too often straight to the Crusaders back three which allowed repeated counter attacking chances.
They were also guilty of forcing the play. McKenzie’s cross-field kick sailed well wide of Sean Wainui and Brad Weber’s inside flick ball another example of attacking impatience.
While the Chiefs did well to recover from the opening onslaught and work their way back into the match they went to the sheds one man short and seven points down.
Stevenson’s night went from bad to worse when he was yellow carded for intentionally knocking the ball down and Codie Taylor then rumbled 15 metres over from a lineout drive to strike on halftime, as the Crusaders so often do.
Reece’s strike will leave a sour taste for the Chiefs but their losing habit is near impossible to break.
With a final round bye, the Chiefs have one more chance to end this winless run in Wellington next week.
Crusaders 32 (Tom Sanders, Will Jordan, Codie Taylor, Sevu Reece, Leicester Fainga’anuku tries; Richie Mo’unga 2 cons, pen)
Chiefs 19 (Lachlan Boshier try; Damian McKenzie con, 4 pens)
HT: 17-10
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
25 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to comments