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Impressive: Dan Carter
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Teams
- ACT Brumbies
- Crusaders
Also see
- Minute-by-minute!
- Carter hails Crusaders
- Force part with Mafi
The Crusaders scored a key win over the Brumbies on Sunday, prevailing 30-23 with a workmanlike performance that has kick-started their campaign.
With both teams having a bye next weekend, this result was always going to be key in terms of whether they had a positive spell off the field.
And inspired by the returning Dan Carter, it was the Crusaders who won the contest as solid breakdown work combined with the Brumbies struggling for momentum against a strong defence saw the visitors get the four points.
Brumbies boss Jake White will not be happy with how his lacked the intensity that had seen them pitch their flag at the top of the overall standings. Consolation comes in the form of a losing bonus that leaves them a point clear after Round 12.
They did start the game well when an intercept try from Matt Toomua put them 0-7 to the good after Christian Lealiifano's successful conversion.
But after a Lealiifano penalty, back came the Crusaders through a Carter penalty goal before Andy Ellis crabbed across the field before diving over. Carter's conversion levelled matters.
The Crusaders were causing all kinds of bother at the breakdown and with Jesse Mogg and Stephen Moore struggling, the visitors sensed they had a big chance in the second-half.
Zac Guildford was the man to put them in front following excellent work from Ryan Crotty and Luke Romano on the left side and with Carter sending over the conversion, there was more than a feeling the Crusaders were back to their old selves after an off-colour start to 2013.
Carter extended the lead to 23-10 going into the final quarter with two penalties, striking the ball well on his return while Brumbies record holder George Smith's threat was minimised.
Despite Lealiifano replying with a shot, the game was over as a contest when replacement Israel Dagg crossed for a breakout try that was converted by Carter in the 68th minute.
Home captain Ben Mowen did reply soon after, running in under the posts, but at 30-20 to the Crusaders with time ticking on, only a third Lealiifano penalty would trouble the scorers as the Brumbies took a single point from the action. The Crusaders claimed a vital four.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Toomua, Mowen
Con: Lealiifano, Toomua
Pen: Lealiifano 3
For Crusaders:
Tries: Guildford, Ellis, Dagg
Con: Carter 3
Pen: Carter 3
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Fotu Auelua, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leon Power, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Pat McCabe.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Jordan Taufua, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Israel Dagg.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Comments
Toulousain says...
Trinats2, we have our traditional home at Ernest Wallon (approx 20,000) and recently renovated, but we tend to take the bigger games to the municipal ground here in Toulouse (approx 40,000). Talking of upgrades, the big news here, budget-wise, is the new training facility that opened this year. Believe it or not, the club almost went bust building it..... Now, we just need to get all of our academy youngsters to actually use it :-)
Posted 18:31 07th May 2013
Trinats2 says...
Toulousain:
Merci beaucoup !
Le rugby Rouge Noir sstill have a small ground ? or have you upgraded ?
Posted 12:32 07th May 2013
Tyler_Durden says...
Trinats - upsetting someones else apple cart is about the best we can hope for now, unfortunately it will probably be another Kiwi team...
I havent lived there for a very long time, or even in NZ, so while I like to see them firing I don't take it too personally when it doesn't happen (which is a good thing given their record!) just like to see good Rugger and hopefully 1 or 2 Kiwi teams on the charge.
I will of course be cheering for Aus against the Lions. Gotta have some SH loyalty!
Posted 04:42 07th May 2013
Tyler_Durden says...
Should read "hasn't". Stupid fat fingers on stupid iPhone keyboard.
Posted 01:02 07th May 2013
Tyler_Durden says...
It's harsh to say Carter has performed well as WC's as he was invalided out if the last two. Abs up to that point he'd been playing particularly well, think of his demolition job on in the French in pool play. And when he left the field in Cardiff NZ where ahead and looking far more comfortable than what was to follow. I really hope he has another cup left in the tank as I can't think of a player that deserves a another run at it more than him.
Posted 01:00 07th May 2013
7ton says...
Where has my friend Chicka gone? He usually posts on articles re the Brumbies
Posted 23:39 06th May 2013
Toulousain says...
@new_j4a. I always try to distance the two emotions, but it is harder with certain players, shall we say :-) As a proud mother, it is hard not to look at some young talented men and see ones dreams for one's own sons. I think you Anglo-Saxons call it being a "role model". The word is over-used of course, but in the case of DC (and McCaw and Read) it is really fitting. Not just great rugby players. Great men first.
@Trinats2, I don't know you as well as I know new_j4a, but I too enjoy reading your posts and your banter, if I might say so without kissing your behind too much? There is an interesting book about choking I read over Xmas called "Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice" by Matthew Syed. If you've got a kindle you can get it from amazon pretty quickly. I guess the strap-line is that only the truly honed sportsman/ musicians/performers etc are prone to choking. Well worth a read. Captures what happens in the mind of otherwise successful people when the pressure is on. Oh, and btw, good luck against the Lions :-)
Posted 22:44 06th May 2013
Trinats2 says...
Tyler_Durden
No problem, your welcome.
"1. Telling us how great your teams are
1. Telling everyone else how crap their teams are"
I couldnt agree with myself more !!!
Not good to see any team lose so many, always tough on their fans. There are many rounds left. You will finish up the table and topple one or two of the top teams on your conf, mark my words.
Posted 12:30 06th May 2013
passtheball says...
cuw3100 - My point was not that they are not great players but the full deal is performance at the w cup. Ask Barry John if he would have loved to have been at a world cup? Jonah made his world fame in SA at the cup! Why does Falau and SBW want in? The soccer W Cup has been around for ages and the rugby one will become even more of the pinnacle or world stage for all players. Both Carter and Messi have been disappointing at the cup and Messi, in particular, will rank with Johan Gruijff - great player but missing that one element that Pele has. As for David Beckham - do you the player or the product? George Best needed a better national team so we dont know how he would have performed. So no, I still hold my opinion.
Posted 12:17 06th May 2013
Trinats2 says...
Costa, I reckon PR have employed someone full time to prevent most of my posts !!!
new_j4a:
That's a bit harsh on costa and Tyler_Durden ! They are welcome to their views, I'm a big boy I can take it, as I have been known to dish it out (once or twice !!! )
cuw3100
what's all this talk of soccer and Beckham... wtf ?
Carter is a kiwi, he chokes come world cup time, unless its fixed in NZ !!!
Posted 11:44 06th May 2013
new_j4a says...
@Toulousain, "am I also allowed to say he is getting more handsome every year?!?!" Yes you are....as long as the appreciation of his shape doesn't adversely affect your appreciation of his form. A truly great player....up there with McCaw.
Posted 08:39 06th May 2013
Tyler_Durden says...
Trinats - thanks for telling me what a great guy you are. I guess I must just catch you on the bad days, eh? Because normally when I log in your doing either 1 of two things.
1. Telling us how great your teams are
1. Telling everyone else how crap their teams are.
Apologies if that's not normal service.
Anyway, as said the NZ teams are well of the boil, my team has only won a single game so far!
Posted 07:41 06th May 2013
cuw3100 says...
@ passtheball ...
"cuw3100 - while that's fair comment; your Carter comparison with Messi has another dimension - both have been "failures" at the World Cups(3 for Carter). Especially when compared to Maradona or Pele and JW or Fox for example. Performing, or even being fit, at the highest level is how history will recall players. NZ even needed Beaver to get them over the line and he's not quite at their level! "
mate history does not bother much about the cups one played be it football or rugger or whatever. does anyone recall what Barry John won? does nayone recall what Eusébio won ? does anyone recall what Jonah Lomu won? Does anyone recall what David Beckham won? does anyone recall what George Best won? I can go on mate, but no point.
History and memories are kind to performances, not to the cup or shield or trophy they take a photograph with. Some of the greatest players have won world cups and many other cups. Some of the greatest have not. Its just a blip mainly from a personal point of view to the player. But to the fans its how they played and brought joy to millions that matters. Ask a few people and they will even not know who won the footy world cup in 1966 :) but ask if they heard of George Best and u will see a smile , no i mean a real toothy smile :)
Both Messi and Carter will be long remembered as some of the best ever in their game. At least in Carter's case their is no equal; Messi always battles with C Ronaldo as the best player.
Posted 05:34 06th May 2013
Tyler_Durden says...
Costa - perhaps blowhard was a little strong, I just find it increasingly tiresome to log in and find the same parochial, inflammatory guff spouted by same posters.
Also, I don't want to tell you your job, but I'd suggest if you're attempting to take the moral high ground then its probably best not to resort to the same name calling you think your trying to eradicate. Undermines your credibility somewhat, no?
Posted 02:15 06th May 2013
MacTavish says...
Well well well. This one goes out to all the motor mouth Aussies that have been chirping over the past few weeks. One that stands out for me was ¿the Brumbies will humiliate the Crusaders¿. That was vintage Crusaders. Humiliation for the Brumbies. All the Crusaders haters can stick that one up them. Brumbies forwards got monstered by a forward pack minus McCaw and Read, and Read wont be too far away back. Brumbies were so woeful you cant even blame the Ref. Its funny how the Aussies have been rubbishing the NZ Conference and the Crusaders in particular. The Crusaders are 3-1 against RSA teams and with that win now 2-1 against Aussie teams. Just the Warratahs at home, with a win that would see them finish 3-1 against Aussie also. I like them apples. Yes they still have to play the Chiefs twice and the Blues again, but of those 3 games two are at home for the Crusaders. So write them off if you dare. One thing that stands out for me is Aussie started one week before everyone, because of the Lions Series. So there will be a week on the horizon where the Aussie teams will be on a bye or playing the Lions ¿ and they will not be scoring points or getting points for the bye. That will hurt the Aussie teams quite a bit. Save your chirping until the Lions are done, see where your teams sit then when everyone else has a week to score competition points and your team does not. I suspect not quite as sharp on the ladder as they are now.
Posted 01:33 06th May 2013
Joburger says...
True, White has his limitations.
However, there is this brilliant coach called Peter de Villiers. Lots of experience coaching international sides, and also good with a witty quip. He would be great for Auz rugby - I suggest you give him a five year non-revokable contract.
Hmm, and don't forget the option to renew for a further five years. Then you can put that awful Robbie Deans era behind and Australian rugby can reach the levels it deserves.
Posted 22:56 05th May 2013
Toulousain says...
Hi new_j4a. I too watched this game out of the corner of my laptop at work and had very similar thoughts to you. But you just have to admire the utter quality and professionalism of those kiwis. DC is just unbelievable. Really. And he is not even a young man anymore, or an unknown quantity. Every team knows exactly that they have to STOP him, but in 15 years of trying, no-one has really figured out how to do it. Not even those scary Boks. (I'm secretly saddened that he never came to play for us in Toulouse, despite our many attempts over the years - and now if he comes to France it will probably be for one the bigger money clubs - oh well, c'est la vie - am I also allowed to say he is getting more handsome every year?!?!).
Anyway, add Read and McCaw (and in the past Thorn, SBW, Marshall, Mauger etc) and you can see how these Crusaders have been so good for so long. The Dagg try at the end was pure Saders!!
Quelle joie to see this beautiful sport played so well.
Posted 22:07 05th May 2013
7redcards says...
Crikey, how many Whitelocks are their??????
Posted 21:59 05th May 2013
BillyMutt2 says...
He's baaack... what a difference Dan Carter makes. Well done Crusaders!
Posted 18:18 05th May 2013
new_j4a says...
@costa and Tyler_Durden, unlike you two who have just sprung up like little mushrooms, trinats is a bit of an institution on here and although there is occasionally a bit of good natured moaning about his impossibly optimistic view of Queensland and Oz rugby, there are many who appreciate his banter....and he knows enough to pick rugby winners better than most. So @costa, the problem with your little buttons that make "morons" disappear is who decides who is a moron....must make you feel special though, having all that power.....just glad that you're just another "nobody" here.
Posted 16:27 05th May 2013