Crusaders a Gear ahead of Bulls

2006-05-20 12:30

Christchurch - All Blacks winger Rico Gear scored two tries as the Crusaders beat the Bulls 35-15 on Saturday to join the Wellington Hurricanes in the final of rugby union's Super 14 tournament.

Gear touched down twice in the first half as the Crusaders established a 16-8 halftime lead and Chris Jack, Corey Flynn and Aaron Mauger added second-half tries as Canterbury, last year's Super 12 champion, reached its eighth final in the provincial tournament in 11 years.

Canterbury remain unbeaten in eight semifinals and next week host the Hurricanes, who beat the New South Wales Waratahs 16-14 in Wellington on Friday to reach their first final.

New record for Carter

All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter, who played a portion of the match at halfback after Andy Ellis and Kevin Senio suffered injuries, kicked two conversions, a penalty and dropped goal to break the record of his All Blacks and Crusaders predecessor, Andrew Mehrtens, of 206 points in a season.

"That first half was a real arm wrestle," said Crusaders captain Richie McCaw. "There was a lot of kicking and, as forwards, we found ourselves in the middle of it. We knew we had to take charge after halftime, we did and we took the game in the second half."

Gear scored his first try in the 20th minute, pursuing a perfectly weighted chip kick from Casey Laulala after a speculative kick and recovery by fullback Leon MacDonald split the Bulls defense. He scored again 10 minutes later after the Crusaders forced a turnover and moved the ball swiftly to the winger who outflanked his marker.

Jack dived over unmarked after the Crusader pick and run style maintained the ball through 17 phases in the third minute of the second half. His was the crucial try.

Flynn scored from a quick lineout throw taken by Mauger in the 64th minute and Mauger broke from halfway to score his own try four minutes later, making the win emphatic.

Authors of their own demise

The Bulls, who snatched the last semifinal place from the Sharks and ACT Brumbies with a bonus point victory over the Stormers last week, were unbackable underdogs and largely authored their own demise.

They believed they had the set piece base from which to attack the Crusaders but, after flexing their muscles at early scrums, lacked the composure or concentration to emphasize or profit from that advantage.

Their scrummaging lacked timing and concerted purpose and their lineout let them down at pressure moments, particularly after Springboks lock Bakkies Botha left the field near halftime.

Their tries went to winger Bryan Habana in the first half, his seventh of the season, and to replacement Pierre Spies in the second.

"I think at halftime we were still in it," said Bulls captain Victor Matfield. "We made two turnovers in the first half and they scored two tries.

"In the second half they came at us with that string of 17 phases and they put us out of the match with that try."

Scores:

Canterbury 35 (Rico Gear 2, Chris Jack, Corey Flynn, Aaron Mauger tries; Daniel Carter 2 conversions, penalty, dropped goal).

Bulls 15 (Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies tries; Morne Steyn conversion, penalty).

- AP