Crusaders 37 Highlanders 15
CHRISTCHURCH - In-form playmakers Andrew Mehrtens (Crusaders) and Steve Larkham (Brumbies) should have a big impact on Saturday's Super 12 rugby final at Bruce Stadium in Canberra after the weekend's semifinals.
By the end of this week, Mehrtens will have overcome the sore ribs and back that had clouded his semifinal chances on Saturday night.
However, for the 57 minutes he was on Jade Stadium, he proved a nightmare for the hapless Otago Highlanders.
With a commanding display, the All Blacks first five-eighths steered his team into their third consecutive Super 12 final, against Larkham's ACT Brumbies.
In an impeccable exhibition, Mehrtens succeeded with all eight goalkicking attempts for 22 points in the Crusaders' 37-15 win over the Highlanders.
His long diagonal kicks took the puff out of the opposition, and at regular intervals he calmly stroked the ball between the posts when the Highlanders popped up on the wrong side of the rucks and mauls, or infringed in the face of constant pressure.
"He punished us. He punished us badly," Highlanders hooker Anton Oliver said.
"It's bloody hard when you pick yourself up after two or three tackles and a workover by your opponents and then have to run back 40m or 50m for another lineout or scrum."
Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder said Mehrtens showed all the reasons that he was considered perhaps the best first five-eighths in the game.
"He's playing very well at the moment, that's really inspiring for us," Blackadder said.
"We are excited when Mehrts gets going and is in full control because he does it so well."
Larkham, in superb form for the Brumbies in recent matches, helped his table-topping team to a 28-5 win over the Cats in the other semifinal to take the first Super 12 final away from New Zealand since the competition started in 1996.
"Steve's playing heck of a well, which isn't good news for us," Blackadder said.
"It's going to be a great battle between two of the best [first-fives] in the game right now."
"It should be a pretty absorbing final for the fans."
Mehrtens' game is expected to be a significant discussion topic for the Brumbies in the leadup to the final.
"He was in fine touch in Christchurch," Brumbies captain George Gregan said. "He just shows he's fit again and with that sort of game he'll be giving the Crusaders a lot of confidence. He's definitely their strength."
Though Mehrtens put the final squeeze on the Highlanders' aspirations, it was the constant pressure from the Blackadder-led Crusaders' pack that created the inroads.
"We knew they would have been depending on their scrum to dominate us but I'm very happy we turned what should have been our weakness into a tower of strength for ourselves," Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said of his team's forward play.
The All Blacks-laden Highlanders pack, with test front-rowers Oliver and Carl Hoeft, came up second best against players such as Mark Hammett and Greg Somerville.
"It wasn't only the scrums that we were strong in," Deans said.
"Our tight forwards took the game to them around the paddock."
Scott Robertson, with another strong game from openside flanker, showed that his consistent form will be a worry for Josh Kronfeld with the All Blacks squad to be announced next Sunday.
"I'd be disappointed if I wasn't there. I think I've done enough to get there, but that's All Black rugby," Kronfeld said.
"I'm aiming for 50 [tests] and that's driving me in the game."
Kronfeld and team-mate Taine Randell, with experience on their side, must have done enough on Saturday night to convince national coach Wayne Smith they have more to offer the All Blacks.
The revelation of the match was young Ben Hurst, the 21-year-old son of 1970s All Black midfield back Ian Hurst, who was elevated from No 3 halfback in the squad to play in Justin Marshall's place.
Marshall and his understudy, Aaron Flynn, were out with leg injuries.
Hurst, who played four provincial games for Canterbury last season, was an efficient passer and displayed remarkable composure in his first big game.
"I was really excited but I had to keep a clear mind to be able to do what I was required to do," Hurst said.
"I got a lot of help from Justin [Marshall] and Aaron [Flynn] during the week.
"The guys just went out of their way to support me during the game. It was fantastic."
Marshall and another All Black, lock Norm Maxwell, both with similar calf injuries, are unlikely to play in the final.
* Crusaders 37 (R. Cribb, M. Vunibaka, 2, tries; A. Mehrtens 6 pen, 2 con) Highlanders 15 (S. Maling, B. Kelleher tries; T. Brown pen, con) 15. Halftime: 19-8.
- NZPA
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