By WYNNE GRAY
Andrew Mehrtens is injured. That report rather than the inevitable Crusaders' victory over the Bulls would have flashed round the rugby world last night after the quality five-eighths hurt his ribs.
The Crusaders must have secured a semifinal place with their 75-27 win as they returned to their Christchurch headquarters, but the injury to Mehrtens took the edge off that victorious homecoming.
It also removed any celebrations Mehrtens might have been planning for his 27th birthday yesterday. He hurt his ribs after being dumped heavily in a tackle by Bulls' halfback Deon de Kock.
The Super 12 points-scoring machine was felled just before halftime. He played on for a few more minutes before heading for the sideline in some pain.
Round that damage, the Crusaders showed their class as they scored 11 tries in equalling the most points by a team in any Super 12 game, matching the 75 the Sharks put on the Highlanders in 1997.
While the Crusaders were strong they were given far too much latitude by the inept Bulls. In three games in New Zealand this trip they have conceded 169 points, including 23 tries.
Winless this season and with just two victories in their past 26 matches, the Bulls' franchise needs some serious investigation. But that is a problem for the South African and Sanzar authorities.
The Crusaders were grateful they faced such a feeble foe after their arduous trip home from the Republic.
Once they had moved to a comfortable 28-6 lead at the interval, they were also able to give star regulars Todd Blackadder, Mark Hammett, Scott Robertson and Mark Mayerhofler some rest and run on all their reserves.
The Crusaders' opening try did not come until the 12th minute but they had scored four for the bonus point by the 24th minute, with the last the best. Mehrtens started it with a little kick retrieved by the speedy Marika Vunibaka, who passed the ball inside to Ron Cribb and, with a deft backflip pass, the No 8 gave Justin Marshall a straight run to the line.
The Crusaders were all energetic efficiency, a mix of quality defence and backline invention before they went into another lull.
The halftime rearrangements worked. In the opening 15 minutes the Crusaders added another five tries, though some of the Bulls' tackling would not have been accepted in JB 6 rugby.
The game then loosened up. The Crusaders were guilty of some untidy passing which presented the Bulls with a couple of tries, while Jannie de Beer used his kicking precision to lay on another with a perfectly-weighted crosskick.
Crusaders 75 ( C Ralph 3, M Vunibaka 3, J Marshall 2, C Jack, S Robertson, D Seymour tries; A Mehrtens 4 con, A Mauger 5 con)
Bulls 27 (J van der Westhuizen, H Pedro, F Welsh tries; J de Beer 3 con, pen, drop goal). HT: 28-6
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