CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, 29 May 2005 — The Canterbury Crusaders stamped their domination on Southern Hemisphere rugby with a 35-25 victory over the NSW Waratahs yesterday to claim their fifth Super 12 crown in the 10-year history of the competition.
The final result flattered the Waratahs after the Crusaders ruthlessly powered their way to a commanding 35-6 lead before letting the Sydney franchise in for three soft tries near the end.
But at key times of the game, when domination was needed, it was all Crusaders as they turned on a brilliant performance before a sell-out home crowd of 35,700.
Aaron Mauger kicked a drop goal just before half-time to turn pressure into points and give the home-side an eight-point lead at the turn, and Dave Hewett scored the crucial first points after the break when he powered over in a maul two minutes after the resumption of play. The win was based on outstanding defense, a powerful scrum which took charge late in the first half, and ruthless punishing of Waratahs’ errors.
The Crusaders showed why they have been the most dominant team in the Super 12, amassing a remarkable record in the 10 years of the competition by making the finals seven times and winning five.
When Caleb Ralph scored their fourth try against the Waratahs, it gave the Crusaders a record 71 for the season.
Rico Gear missed a chance to beat Joe Roff’s season try-scoring record of 15 midway through the second half when Morgan Turinui slapped the ball free from his hands a meter from the line.
The result was also a fitting send off to two of the Crusaders’ great players, halfback Justin Marshall who played his 105th Super 12 match and prop Hewett who marked the occasion with his second try in 72 appearances, with both heading for contracts in Europe.
In addition to Hewett, Scott Hamilton, Caleb Ralph and Leon MacDonald all scored tries with outstanding flyhalf Daniel Carter kicking three conversions and two penalties.
Peter Hewat kicked two early penalties to have the Waratahs up 6-3 after 11 minutes, while in a late-scoring burst Phil Waugh and Mat Rogers (twice) scored tries with Hewat and Rogers kicking a conversion each.
Waratahs captain Chris Whitaker conceded they were beaten by a far better team, although the team showed some spirit coming back to close the gap to just 10 points in the end. “We didn’t give up till the end. We had a good crack at it but the Crusaders are a good team and we didn’t play smart enough in the first half and let them get away a bit,” Whitaker said.
The Waratahs showed their hand early by testing wings Rico Gear and Hamilton with high kicks, and Gear busted the game open.
Fielding a kick on his own 10-meter line, Gear raced 40m through the tackles of Nathan Grey and Dan Vickerman then grubber-kicked for Hamilton to scoop up and score the opening try of the match.
Midway through the second half, with the Crusaders leading 21-6, two tries in five minutes put the result beyond doubt.
In the 58th minute Reuben Thorne stole a Waratahs lineout throw on the halfway, Ralph found a gap and Leon MacDonald ended the 50m move with a try under the posts. The next try summed up the Crusaders’ counterattacking reputation: They were desperately defending on their own line when they stole the ball and from the initial break Mauger kicked ahead, the move ending with Ralph’s try.
