Rugby: A drop goal to make the 2007 All Blacks envious

Leon MacDonald's match-winning drop goal against the Blues kept the Crusaders alive for at least one more week. Photo / Getty Images

Dropped goal and victory. Memories of a certain game in Cardiff came rushing back as Leon MacDonald steered the Crusaders to a late 15-13 win against the Blues.

The strike always looked accurate, but the flight path seemed unusually slow. It did not matter to the Crusaders - and the All Blacks would have gratefully taken such a slow-motion success against France two years ago.

When the last round of the Super 14 was eventually complete, MacDonald's strike inside the last five minutes at Eden Park had elevated the Crusaders into the playoffs.

The result condemned the Blues to an impoverished five wins and eight defeats in Pat Lam's first year as coach, while the curiosity will be why they left it until the final game to show some regular defensive grit and concentration.

That observation was not lost on Lam who was also magnanimous about MacDonald's winning strike.

The Blues expected their visitors to be more adventurous in search of a bonus-point victory but also felt the Crusaders would be looking to feed from any Blues mistakes.

"So we were really determined to keep our errors down, to play in the right area of the field and make them play. We were after the win. We knew they would go for the bonus point, so we thought they would get more frustrated.

"That was the aim, and to stay in the game, and we almost did it."

Why it took the Blues so long to show their defensive teeth will form just one part of the review into another season of under-performance.

Extensive injuries have been offered as part of the excuse list, but the Crusaders could argue they have been hampered even more by player defections and injuries. The Blues were still able to send out eight All Blacks to the Crusaders' four on Saturday.

The hosts also seemed to get the benefit of the doubt from television match official Chris Pollock.

How he denied a try to Crusaders lock Michael Paterson and then approved one for Isaia Toeava was a mystery.

The first decision clearly baffled referee Bryce Lawrence, who asked his TMO if he wanted to reconsider his conclusion. Lawrence should have gone with his own instincts and awarded the try.

The Crusaders muffed several other tries. Stephen Brett ignored his support after one break, Thomas Waldrom was cut down at the chalk and then dropped the ball as he dived for the line from a planned lineout move.

Those mishaps saved the Blues and kept the scoreline close. Way too close when Brett messed up a late clearance and the Blues led 13-12 from Toeava's converted try.

It was time for deliberate, clinical decisions. Richie McCaw laid down the guidelines, the Crusaders ground their way into the Blues 22 and MacDonald potted the winner.

Rulings at the rucks, as measured Blues skipper Keven Mealamu said, had been pot luck, and that made the game difficult. Lam was also bothered by the TMO rulings and the time it took to make decisions.

For the Crusaders, victory endorsed their gameplan. It was purely about winning; they had not spoken about getting bonus points.

"The pressure of this win will stand us in very good stead for the semis," coach Todd Blackadder said.

"We have a lot more to our game that you saw tonight, but I thought we deserved our hard-fought win.

"I am generally in favour of TMO. I think 99 per cent of the time they get it right, and I was pleased the decisions in this game, eventually, were not pivotal."

Making the semifinals would be a new experience for the bulk of the squad. They would rely heavily on McCaw and MacDonald for their experience and insights into the intensity of those matches.

Returning to South Africa would feel very familiar after being home for only a fortnight. The Crusaders would slot back quickly into their routines and this week would be a great deal about rest and recovery.