Waugh: Crusaders deserved win
2008-05-31 14:35
Christchurch - The Crusaders added to their legacy as the most
successful side in Super rugby history when they beat the Waratahs
20-12 here on Saturday for a record seventh title.
It was a fairytale finish for the Crusaders as they bid farewell to
popular coach Robbie Deans, who took them to five Super rugby crowns,
and long-serving loose forward Rueben Thorne, who played in all seven
title matches.
Although they were outscored two tries to one, and trailed 12-11 at
half-time, the Crusaders dominated for most of the match.
Both sides produced monumental defensive efforts and the match was
eventually decided by the boot of influential Crusaders flyhalf Dan
Carter who landed four penalties and a drop goal.
In a rugged battle for the loose ball, All Blacks captain Richie
McCaw enjoyed a slight edge over his Australian opposite Phil Waugh as
the turnovers favoured the Crusaders.
Waratahs loose forward Wycliff Palu, double try scoring wing Lachie
Turner and Lote Tuqiri were constant threats for the Waratahs but they
had few opportunities.
For McCaw, it was the Crusaders' defence that was the key to their
victory.
"The hits that were going in were just outstanding," he said, adding
that his side stepped up a notch when lock Brad Thorn was sin-binned
midway through the second half.
"You've got to really dig deep when you're down to 14 men. It
sharpens the resolve even more and the way we defended and didn't give
away any points it was pretty awesome."
Won the round robin convincingly
Waugh, meanwhile, had no excuses. "They deserve to win the title,
they won the round robin convincingly and we were outplayed tonight, so
good on them," he said.
"The difference was the amount of pressure in our own half and that
paid off for them."
After a Dan Carter penalty had the Crusaders ahead 3-0 early, the
Waratahs hit the front on their first positive foray into the home side
territory.
Following a patient build up from a series of pick-and-goes down the
left flank, flyhalf Kurtley Beale kicked across to the right wing where
Turner beat Carter in the air for the ball to cross for an easy try.
As the Waratahs successfully stymied wave after wave of Crusaders
attacks over the next 15 minutes, the produced their second try from a
Waugh intercept inside their own 22.
The ball was fed out to Turner who kicked ahead and won the race to
the line with Beale's conversion giving them a 12-3 lead.
Although down on points, the Crusaders remained in command and they
narrowed the gap over the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Carter kicked his second penalty when Tatafu Polota-Nau was
penalised for lying on the ball and then Mose Tuiali'i scored in the
corner after the Crusaders had stretched the Waratahs from one side of
the field to the other.
The Waratahs led 12-11 at the turn but were unable to score a point
in the second half.
The Crusaders regained the lead 14-12 with a Carter penalty three
minutes after the resumption and never surrendered it.
He added a drop goal with 10 minutes remaining and then added his
fourth penalty when Waugh tackled Crusaders wing Scott Hamilton without
the ball.
With a 20-12 lead and the clock counting down, Reuben Thorne came
off the bench for the last three minutes in his last first-class game
in New Zealand.
Thorne is the only player to have appeared in all nine finals the
Crusaders have contested.
Deans, meanwhile, is preparing to leave New Zealand to become the
new Australian coach and on Monday will name his first Wallabies side
which is expected to include many of the losing Waratahs team.