Rugby: Crusaders crush Reds

Nemani Nadolo scored two tries and left a trail of defenders in his wake. Photo / Getty

Crusaders 58
Reds 17

A rampant attack and a generous opponent combined to provide a fitting farewell for a quintet of Crusaders tonight.

With a host of key men heading offshore at the end of the year, the Crusaders gave the home fans plenty of reason for cheer in their final game at AMI Stadium this season.

The Crusaders ran in eight tries and enjoyed their third 50-point haul of the season, earning a bonus point victory that was important far beyond mere sentimental value. The five competition points lifted the Crusaders back into the playoff picture but, before Todd Blackadder's men get too carried away with renewed hope for the finals, we must pause to consider the opposition.

The Reds were an absolute rabble. Actually, that may be too kind, given even the most disorderly mob of men would have provided greater resistance than what the visitors offered during a second half that saw them ship 43 points.

There's a reason the Reds are in last place - several of them, in fact. Tackling is one, or a lack thereof. A weak mentality must be added to that list after tonight, given the manner in which they capitulated after heading to halftime just five points in arrears.

The visitors appeared to change tack in the second 40, eschewing a competitive approach in favour of giving the likes of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter the finales their Crusaders careers deserved.

McCaw managed 35 minutes off the bench while Carter shone in his decision-making and distribution throughout. But if the last hurrahs of that pair were at the forefront of the agenda, it was Colin Slade who experienced perhaps the best send-off.

Another player headed for the departure lounge after this season, Slade established once more what an impactful player French club Pau would soon receive. The first five picked up 23 points in 80 impressive minutes, almost flawless with the boot and again demonstrating his abundant ability with ball in hand.

Slade stepped well off both feet, showed a real turn of pace and illustrated awareness of when to pass and when instead to use the threat of a pass, a skill that served him well in grabbing his try. It was try created by a brilliant line break from Carter and the five-eighths pairing were far from the only Crusaders to enjoy dynamic outings.

Nemani Nadolo was again the home side's plan A - creating the opening try before grabbing a brace of his own in the second spell - but the Crusaders weren't as over-reliant on the giant wing as they has been in recent weeks.

Both forwards and backs showed enterprise and utilised a varied passing game to create plenty of penetration. Their fluidity in possession was exactly what had been missing for large stretches of the season but, to re-emphasise, the Reds were rubbish.

Their performance was all the more galling given their efforts in the first half, building pressure through penalties and driving the lineout at every opportunity. A succession of threats eventually saw Samu Kerevi cross on the stroke of halftime and appeared to make a real game of it.

But that possibility disappeared as rapidly as Sam Whitelock did during the lock's stunning 65-metre solo burst, the clear pick of a wide array of spectacular tries.

Crusaders 58 (Ellis, Slade, Nadolo 2, Whitelock, Todd, Macilai, Bird tries; Slade 6 cons, 2 pens)
Reds 17 (Kerevi, Feauai-Sautia tries; O'Connor pen, 2 cons)
HT: 15-10