Final fling before the finals

Aaron Mauger fends off Trevor Halstead during the Crusaders v Sharks Super12 rugby match at Jade Stadium, Christchurch, April 29, 2005. Picture / Fotopress

Competition contrasts, the Crusaders and Sharks endorsed their Super 12 form last night.

The match became a training ground exercise, a chance to use all their substitutes for the Crusaders as they went to the top of the table and confirmed their place in the playoffs.

For the Sharks it was further embarrassment, another hit as they stayed anchored at the bottom of the ladder in a dire season.

The result did nothing for those who have defended the expansion of the series next season including an extra side from South Africa. It would have done little for the All Black selectors other than raise another worry line when lock Chris Jack disappeared with a leg problem.

This was apparently a game of rugby but it disintegrated into some hybrid form of sport because of the Crusaders' early superiority. They were in such command, coach Robbie Deans was able to replace first five-eighths Daniel Carter after 50 minutes to give Andrew Mehrtens another canter.

Carter had been superb. He scored an extraordinary try in the opening minute when he wrenched the ball clear from the Sharks at halfway, kicked the first of his seven straight conversions and guided the Crusaders round their own domain.

In round three the Crusaders set the season-high victory mark with a 59-24 win against the Reds, a target which looked in easy reach with their 42-8 leading margin at the interval. The mark was finally reached but only in the last few minutes as the Crusaders reasserted their earlier dominance.

Coincidence or not, Carter's exit began the Sharks' revival.

Rather than push on, the Crusaders lost their intensity, they gathered little possession and their defence which had been patchy this season leaked a staggering four tries in 12 minutes in the mid-stages of the second half.

There was never any doubt about the result but the Sharks' scoring surge reduced some of the spectators' swagger until Rico Gear added two late tries.

There had been only one piece of Sharks' resistance in the first half when wing Cedric Mkhize crossed after his team-mates managed to hang onto a string of passes.

Crusaders
(R. Gear 2, D. Carter, C. Jack, J. Marshall, G. Somerville, R. Filipo, L. MacDonald, C. Laulala, C. Ralph, S. Hamilton tries; Carter 7 con, A Mehrtens 4 con)

Sharks
(C. Mkhize, A. van den Bergh, B. Russell, W. Britz, R. Keil, tries; R. Pienaar con, pen, C. Barnard, 3 con).

Halftime: 42-8

Crusaders 77
Sharks 34