The Crusaders did what they wanted and what was expected – taking maximum points against the clawless Cheetahs with a 45-6 win in their 10th round Super 14 match at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, on Saturday night.
The home team had the bonus-point try before half-time and finished with seven in all with fullback Colin Slade converting five.
Although the Cheetahs did not cross the line, they attacked willingly in the second spell and never threw in the towel, but the Crusaders defence was robust and well organized and the visitors, who have yet to win in Australasia since their name change in 2006, slumped to their 21st successive loss Down Under.
The Crusaders hinted beforehand they wanted to play at pace and they started at a hectic rate but not with the needed accuracy. They were the first to score, however, when the Cheetahs had their scrum disrupted 40m out and Crusaders halfback Kahn Fotuali'i spotted no-one home on the blind and ran 40m to score after 11 minutes.
Colin Slade, who had missed a penalty kick in the third minute, failed with the wide conversion.
A good period on attack by the Cheetahs was rewarded in the 19th minute when first five-eighth Riaan Viljoen kicked a penalty goal from in front. From the restart, the Crusaders camped inside the Cheetahs half and the pressure finally told when second five-eighth Ryan Crotty capitalised on a big overlap to cross unopposed, Slade adding the conversion for a 12-3 lead after 26 minutes.
Seven minutes later the Crusaders had their third, No. 8 Thomas Waldrom crashing through a splintered defence to score by the right post and give Slade an easy conversion.
First five-eighth replacement Meyer Bosman kicked a second penalty for the Cheetahs after 36 minutes, but the Crusaders immediately split the defence from the kick-off and Waldrom had his second try just before the break courtesy of a push-over from a 5m scrum. Slade added the conversion to have the home team ahead at half-time, 26-6.
The Crusaders, confident in their lead, made two changes to their front-row inside the first nine minutes of the second half to accompany Zac Guildford replacing Jared Payne on the wing at the break.
After some scrappy play early in the half, the Crusaders bagged their fifth try in the 56th minute when half the team handled before wing Sean Maitland turned infield to dot down, Slade missing the wide conversion.
On the hour, prop Ben Franks scored his first try for the Crusaders after the pack bullocked their way over from 7m out. Slade’s conversion took the score to 38-6.
The seventh try went to Guildford after RichieMcCaw and Waldrom started a counter-attack from outside the 22m, Slade kicking a simple conversion to take it to 45-6 after 68 minutes.
The Cheetahs mauled across the line in the 73rd minute, but the TMO could not find evidence that the ball had been grounded. The visitors, retaining possession well, had a concerted period attacking the Crusaders line, but it came to no avail against a well disciplined defence.
Scorers:
Crusaders 45
Tries: Waldrom 2, Fotuali'i, Crotty, Maitland, B Franks, Guildford
Cons: Slade 5
Cheetahs 6
Pens: Viljoen, Bosman
HT: 26-6.