NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / Super Rugby

Rugby: Canes caned by Crusaders

Gregor Paul
By Gregor Paul
Reporter·Herald on Sunday·
21 Apr, 2012 05:30 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Corey Flynn of the Crusaders is tackled by Richard Buckman of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

Corey Flynn of the Crusaders is tackled by Richard Buckman of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hurricanes 14
Crusaders 42

The Crusaders have flicked the magic switch - the one that transforms them into a frothing red wall of rugby energy and leaves lesser sides like the Hurricanes as unwitting road kill.

Tactically they were streets ahead, playing an intriguing mix of kick-and-chase and counter-attack to scythe, confuse and bludgeon the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes, for their part, were complicit in their own horrific first half demise - choosing endlessly to boot the ball aimlessly into the middle of the field and hope that somehow the Crusaders wouldn't capitalise. Of course it proved to be as flimsy as it sounds, compounded by the inaccuracy of the kicking.

There was no contest in the air, no punishing line of Hurricanes defenders and the Crusaders had the freedom of the Cake Tin in those opening 40 minutes.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

That's where the damage was done, the Crusaders stretching out to 32-0 after 35 minutes. There's being a generous host and then there's just being plain stupid - handing the Crusaders a lead like that was suicide and as well as the Hurricanes recovered, they were never going to haul their way back into genuine contention.

It was the softness, the casual disregard for the game plan or common sense that was most perplexing - all season the Hurricanes have been deadly when they have moved the ball and backed their instincts and yet there they were experimenting with kick and no chase from their own territory.

By the time the Hurricanes aimed the loaded gun away from their foot and regained their width, tempo and composure, it was all too late.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Crusaders knew the game was safe and knew they would weather the resilience; that the Hurricane was never going to be deadly.

Besides, everyone could see that Kieran Read simply wasn't going to be stopped. He was in that sort of mood and if he ever had a World Cup hangover, he has certainly shaken it off.

He was at his rampaging best, scoring the opening try when he coasted up the middle to take Zac Guildford's inside pass.

The skipper had plenty more to come, working his full portfolio. As welcome as it was to see his aerobic game at full noise, those ranging legs of his cranked to the max, the best reminder of Read's worth came close to half-time when he buckled Andre Taylor.

Discover more

Sport|rugby

Rugby: Kirwan wants to coach the Blues

20 Apr 05:30 PM
Rugby

Rugby: Matfield's return to lead Boks possible

20 Apr 05:30 PM
Super Rugby

Rugby: Highland fling as Blues fall again

20 Apr 05:30 PM
Super Rugby

Rugby: Stormers win hits Reds hard

20 Apr 11:55 AM

The Hurricanes fullback made the mistake of being indecisive after retrieving a kick. It's not one he's likely to make again as he was clobbered by Read, then driven back and then mangled with the ball spitting out on the Crusaders' side.

Rugby is a gain line business and Read owned it, making life relatively easy for those outside him.

Tom Taylor was able again to take a firm hand on proceedings, playing with all the nonchalance of the man outside him. The question will continue to be asked: when will Dan Carter be restored to the No 10 jersey? The answer, as long as Taylor continues to play with such awareness and unhurried accuracy, will remain a mystery.

There would seem little need for the Crusaders to change a winning combination as much as it might secretly displease Carter to have been bumped to a role he felt he'd left behind. The Crusaders were able to play with the width they wanted and most importantly, they were able to finally bring their back three in to full effect.

Israel Dagg had a heart-to-heart with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen during the week to open his soul about his lack of confidence and form.

Whatever was said, it worked. Dagg was more decisive and his two tries were a case of him having the confidence to be in the right place at the right time.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The fullback was helped no end by the much improved Guildford, who relished having to take high balls in the first half and then launch counter-attacks. That's his natural game, making it all the more curious that the Hurricanes spent those crazy first 40 minutes doing all they could to build the confidence of the Crusaders' back three.

By the final whistle, the wash-up was pretty much as predicted. It was never going to be easy for the Hurricanes having lost Cory Jane, Julian Savea and most painfully, TJ Perenara. They are not the sort of team that can handle losing any of their preferred players.

Hurricanes 14 (A. Taylor, V. Vito tries; B. Barrett 2 cons), Crusaders 42 (K. Read, D. Carter, R. Fruean, I. Dagg 2 tries; T. Taylor 4 cons, 3 pens). Halftime 7-32.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Super Rugby

Super Rugby

‘A few tears’: Crusaders hooker on reasons behind move to Waratahs

New Zealand

'Two bits of gold': How ballet and sumo transformed the All Blacks

Premium
Business

Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Super Rugby

‘A few tears’: Crusaders hooker on reasons behind move to Waratahs
Super Rugby

‘A few tears’: Crusaders hooker on reasons behind move to Waratahs

Ioane Moananu is leaving the Crusaders for more playing time with the Waratahs.

14 Jul 10:30 PM
'Two bits of gold': How ballet and sumo transformed the All Blacks
New Zealand

'Two bits of gold': How ballet and sumo transformed the All Blacks

12 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Premium
Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned
Business

Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned

03 Jul 05:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP