Crusaders too classy for Brumbies

The Brumbies stop-start Super rugby campaign came to a shuddering halt as they
crashed out of finals contention with a 40-22 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch
on Friday.
Starting the final round in fourth spot, two positions and one point ahead of the
Crusaders, the Brumbies were out-played in their winner-take-all clash at AMI
Stadium.
The seven-time Super champion outscored the Brumbies five tries to three, taking
control of the match with two five-pointers in two minutes just before the half-hour
and 18 straight second-half points as fog descended over the stadium.
Ranked by many pundits as Australia's strongest Super representative, the Brumbies
rarely lived up to top billing and missed the semi-finals for a sixth consecutive
year.
The Brumbies paid the price for some sloppy and undisciplined play, with almost all
of the Crusaders' tries coming from either turnovers and penalties.
It was another deflating night in Christchurch for the Canberra-based franchise who
haven't won there since 2000 and have now conceded over 30 points in each of their
last six matches in Christchurch.
The bonus-point victory insured the Crusaders run of semi-final appearances extended
to a ninth successive season.
Masters at exploiting turnover ball, the Crusaders preyed on the Brumbies errors to
score tries through good support play.
The home team needed just 12 minutes to cross the Brumbies line, with winger Sean
Maitland diving over after good work from fellow winger Zac Guildford and captain
and flanker Richie McCaw.
Centre Tyrone Smith converted the Brumbies' third intercept of the night into their
first try with a 35-metre sprint to the line after 17 minutes.
The Crusaders produced a match-tilting surge with 12 quick-points.
No.8 Kieran Read crossed after the Crusaders capitalised on a fumble by Brumbies
prop Salesi Ma'afu and two minutes later, prop Owen Franks dotted down from a
forward drive after being set-up by the outstanding Read.
Down 19-7, a penalty to Matt Giteau reduced the margin but opposing pivot Dan Carter
replied in kind to give the Crusaders a 22-10 halftime advantage.
The Brumbies got within five points early in the second half after Giteau converted
the seventh try of the season by prop Ben Alexander, following a break from
replacement hooker Huia Edmonds, who came on early for Stephen Moore who suffered a
mouth injury.
An undisciplined piece of play by halfback Josh Valentine signalled the beginning of
the end for the Brumbies.
He gave away a penalty by stamping on McCaw's hand at the breakdown and the
Crusaders swept down-field with their talismanic captain crashing over the line from
a forward drive.
Carter's conversion and two subsequent penalties pushed the Crusaders lead out to 18
points.
Guildford scored the Crusaders' fifth try three minutes to the end.
Edmonds crossed for the Brumbies in the last minute, with flanker George Smith
missing the conversion in his final act of a distinguished career with the Brumbies.



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