By James Bennett Crusaders 27 - 0 Bulls
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LIVE COMMENTARY:
All video up, check out all the tries and the head clash. Crusaders run out victors 27-0. See you next time!
80 mins - Well that sums up the Bulls night, they just can't string phases together, they drop the ball and the siren sounds. A well deserved Crusaders victory. No points for the Bulls - telling stuff.
77 mins - Bulls go hammer and tongs at the Crusaders line for a consolation try, swinging it left and right.
74 mins - Bulls with posession and territory but the Crusaders with too much passion, they simply muscle them off the ball and get a scrappy kick away. Total dedication from the Crusaders tonight.
72 mins - Try Crusaders! Replacement player Tom Marshall dots down for his first try in Super Rugby, a classic backline move and space to burn for the red and blacks. No luck with the conversion.
VIDEO UPDATED OF THE HEAD CLASH, A MUST WATCH.
70 mins - SBW has done his job for the night and he heads to the bench for a sit down. Crusaders continue their dominance on the park, once again counter rucking the Bulls off the ball and picking up an attacking penalty.
69 mins - Back to the action and Berquist has a penalty shot after a ruck infringement from Matfield. He nails it and the Crusaders extend the lead. Matfield is starting to lose his rag, not often that happens.
65 mins - Ohhhh! Owen Franks involved in a mighty head clash with a Bulls substitute, looks like van der Merwe, he was absolutly totalled there! Video coming..
63 mins - Crusaders get a scrum in their own half just outside the 22m, Ohhh! A lovely backline move sets Fruean free on the outside, he shows some real pace but the move breaks down in the Bulls 22m. Great pace form the big man.
61 mins - They rumble it toward the line but the staunch Crusaders defence holds firm and wrestle the ball free.
58 mins - Steyn gets a penalty and boots it down field for a Bulls lineout, attacking chance for the men in blue.
56 mins - The mistakes continue for the Bulls, Olivier drops one cold in the midfield, perhaps having a little peep and the duo in front of him, Sonny Bill and Fruean aint what you wana see!
54 mins - Bulls ring the changes in hope...even changing the wingers for a bit of inspiration.
50 mins - Forwards enjoy a drive before releasing the backs - a bit lateral from Dagg and co. however as he was bundled over the sideline.
VIDEO UPDATED of the Dagg try, check it out.
47 mins - The Bulls have just been a bit off tonight, lacking handling and direction. Their set piece has been average also, lineouts a concern with Chris Jack using all his experience to disrupt things.
44 mins - And the Crusaders have struck straight away after the break...Great time to score and really puts the Bulls under pressure early, details and video coming. Guildford smashed Matfield from the kick off and Dagg grabbed the scraps, showing good strength to mow over..
Halftime - Crusaders have been clinical, the Bulls a bit scratchy, not sparkling rugby but dominant display from the Crusaders, we'll be back for the second half very soon.
39 mins - Big defence from the red and blacks puts pressure on the Bulls backline, Thorne counter rucks well and forces a penalty, Berquist makes no mistake from close range and the Crusaders head to half time 14-0 up. See you soon for the second spell.
37 mins - Morne Steyn finally gets a points scoring chance after the Crusaders infringed at maul time. Tough kick 40m out, he drags it left and the score remains 11-0 to the Crusaders.
34 mins - The forwards are making their presence felt in the backline for the Crusaders, not just the back three either, props and locks included!
32 mins - Crusaders make a hash of it as the Bulls clear. However they can't retrieve their own line out ball and the red and blacks get even more possession.
28 mins - The Bulls finally get the ball in field position and string some phases together, aww no they cough it up and SBW is there to bang it down field. Maitland is first to arrive and drives the Bulls cover over the try line for a five metre scrum.
26 mins - Crusaders scrum on half way, what can they conjure up?
24 mins - Berquist's kicking is a bit of a concern as he misses another penalty chance. As the Crusaders backs and forwards combine once more with some slick running.
23 mins - The Crusaders are happy to work away from their own end with ball in hand. A team warning for the Bulls as they concede another penalty for not rolling away at the tackle.
21 mins - Berquist is presented with another penalty opportunity and bangs it over, the Bulls look frustrated as Matfield has a word to the ref.
VIDEO UPDATED of the SBW try.
17 mins - The conversion missed and the Crusaders find themselves in good field position once more...patient build up form the forwards. Pressure released as Berquist held on...penalty Bulls.
14 mins - TRY Sonny Bill Williams goes over, pure strength, pure pace. He ran an excellent line in the mid field and ripped straight past a weak Olivier tackle, he was chopped down short but momentum took him over, great try and VIDEO coming soon.
12 mins - Both forward packs catching up on old times, several scrums have been reset in the last couple of mins. Referee White has had enough and gives a free kick to the Crusaders for going early. Surprise, surprise, the Cursaders opt for a scrum!
9 mins - Fruean makes a bust down the right hand side and Berquist gets another chance to knock over a three pointer, this one 40m out...Yes, that's three points, just on the inside right of the posts.
7 mins - Very flat defensive line being held by the Crusaders, they manage to fluster the Bulls inside backs and get a penalty on halfway...looks like Berquist will have a shot, he misses to the right but no probs with distance.
5 mins - Guildford fields a Steyn bomb, he's looking at he top of his game since returning from injury.
3 mins - 15 man rugby from the Crusaders - backs in the forwards and forwards in the backline, great to see, nearly everyone in red and black has had an early touch! Scrum to the Bulls near half way after a knock on.
1 min - They swing it wide but run out of room. Crusaders turn to play with the ball, Berquist kicks pegging the Bulls back.
Kickoff - Bulls get us under way and manage to get the ball back in good position.
7:33pm - Great conditions for running rugby, mild and still. Out come the Crusaders, lead out by Kieran Read. No Sam Whitelock or Dan Carter tonight, will that be a big factor?
7:30pm - Plenty of Crusaders flags fluttering around Alpine Stadium in Timaru, here come the Bulls to a hostile reception.
7:29pm - Who willl win this one? To be honest I think the Bulls have a great shout to take this.....will it be played like a test match? We are about to find out.
7:25pm - Players are going through their final preparations, jerseys on, mouthguards in...not long now...two of the big heavyweights of Super Rugby to do battle very soon...
We will bring you live commentary from 7:20pm, in the meantime check out the video from the Crusaders last outing from Twickenham where they taught the Sharks a rugby lesson.
We will bring you live commentary from 7:20pm, in the meantime check out the video from the Crusaders last outing from Twickenham where they taught the Sharks a rugby lesson.
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Pre match:
The clash between the Crusaders and Bulls also offers one of the season's highlights, and a compelling contest of styles.
The Crusaders are the top attacking team in the competition this season with 195 points from six games - an average of 32.5 points per game – but alloy that strength to the second-best defensive record in the tournament.
Canterbury has conceded only 93 points at 15.5 points per game and hold joint second place with Queensland, three points behind the Stormers.
The Bulls have begun to regain form after losses to the Highlanders and Stormers and enter the match on the back of last week's win over the Hurricanes with four wins from six games.
Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner has been passed fit to play after recovering from a knee strain and Danie Rossouw returns to the starting lineup after missing the match against the Hurricanes.
"They certainly don 't come much harder than this one, " coach Frans Ludeke said. "The Crusaders are playing great rugby, but we have shown in the past that we never shy away from huge challenges. More importantly for us will be our own desire to improve every week. Last weekend showed massive improvement, but we will need another massive step-up to beat the Crusaders."
3 News
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source: newshub archive
