Rugby: Crusaders thump reds in Macdonald farewell

Leon MacDonald kicks a conversion in his last game at AMI Stadium in Crusaders colours. Photo / Getty Images.

The Crusaders gave Leon MacDonald a victorious Christchurch sendoff with a 32-12 crushing of the Queensland Reds which ensures they stay firmly in the Super 14 semifinal hunt.

After helping his team snare the bonus point win they craved, Japan-bound fullback MacDonald exited AMI Stadium to a standing ovation with 20 minutes remaining.

The veteran All Black announced yesterday he would leave for the Kinetsu club once this Super 14 campaign finishes.

That could well extend into the playoffs as the Crusaders made light of cold, slippery conditions to ruthlessly expose a virtual Reds B team such is the scale of the injury crisis to have struck the Queenslanders.

Not surprisingly, the inexperienced visitors struggled to match the cohesion of a Crusaders side who dominated every facet and led 20-0 at halftime.

Hooker Jason Macdonald crossed for their fourth try 8min after halftime to ensure the defending champions apply the utmost pressure to the teams above them.

Sixth before this weekend, they climb to fourth and could stay there if the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Sharks in Durban on Sunday morning (NZ time).

Either way, victory over the Blues in Auckland next week will be essential if the Crusaders are to have a chance of winning an eighth Super rugby title.

They never needed to get into full steam tonight, using a conservative gameplan of kicking for position, driving tightly and relying on a dominant scrum throughout most of the first half.

No 8 Thomas Waldrom continued an outstanding year with another influential performance while All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was industrious upon return from his latest head injury.

Lock Isaac Ross was the most dangerous player on the field with ball in hand, throwing a range of clever offloads, but left the game at halftime with heavy bruising.

Locking partner Brad Thorn also departed, on the half hour seemingly favouring his hamstring, something that won't impress All Blacks coach Graham Henry given the injuries blighting his second-row contenders.

Skipper McCaw was content with a performance that showcased the trademark Crusaders efficiency.

"Considering the conditions, I thought we played some really good rugby. We played at the right end of the field and created a lot of opportunities," he told Sky Sport.

"It would have been nice to finish them all off but we wanted five points out of the game and we got that so we're very happy."

McCaw wasn't too disappointed at his team's inability to pile on more points in the second half against their outmatched opposites.

"When you get up by 10 points you try to score from everywhere," he said.

"We wanted to go out and not let them off the hook. We let a couple of soft tries in but ... it's a lot more fun when you can score some tries because they've been pretty few and far between this year."

MacDonald slotted an early penalty and converted the opening try by Waldrom in the 16th minute after waves of Crusaders' drives.

Prop Owen Franks then crossed for his first Super rugby try after a sweet cut-out pass from Ross.

The Reds lost one of their few first-choice players to the sinbin when first five-eighth Quade Cooper was deemed to have cynically infringed 8min from halftime.

One try came in his absence, to centre Tim Bateman after a sideline dash from his midfield partner Ryan Crotty.

Tries to Macdonald and replacement winger Sean Maitland made the result a formality but the Reds showed commendable spirit to forge late tries through two replacements -- centre Ben Tapuai and prop Greg Holmes.

The Reds could yet have a say in the playoff makeup as they finish their season at home to the semifinal-contending Hurricanes in Brisbane next week.

- NZPA