Rugby: No happy ending for Highlanders

Daniel Carter evades the attentions of the Highlanders' Matt Berquist last night. Photo / Getty Images

It's not going to be easy for any team to win in the South Island in 2010. What we learned last night is that the Highlanders are a good outfit - it's just the Crusaders are that bit better.

They came so very close to a famous win and would have deserved it, too. There was thrust and enterprise from them as well as some big ticker and belief.

And there was also Michael Hobbs - the former Blues midfielder coming off the bench to turn the game with 17 points that included two tries.

Unfortunately there was also Zac Guildford for the Crusaders, who blasted on to an inside pass with 10 minutes remaining to coast past tired legs and wrap things up.

It was fitting that the game should be decided by a quality try as it was a corker of a game. Remember, these two played out one of the worst games in living memory last year when the Highlanders kicked penalties to win 6-0.

It couldn't have been any different this time round.

There was no mucking about from the Crusaders. There was no feeling their way in slowly.

Out they came and whacked the Highlanders between the eyes. The visitors spent the first 20 minutes wondering whether they would ever get their hands on the ball.

The determination and polish the Crusaders brought to their work should be seen as the manifestation of their desire to win back a title they consider rightfully theirs.

It was hungry, accomplished rugby that they played to stretch and strain the Highlanders and then finally snap them.

The pace was electric and the Highlanders did well to restrict the Crusaders to just one try in the opening quarter.

It was scrambling, passionate defence that kept them in it and then as they weathered the storm, took some of the sting out of the Crusaders' attack and got their hands on the ball, they slowly played their way back into the contest.

The thing about the Highlanders is that they are a well-coached, resilient outfit.

Israel Dagg at fullback was full of running and the pack gave away little even though they were forced to hastily rearrange when No 8 Nasi Manu limped off in the early minutes. Once Hobbs came on they had more direction and pace to their attack and the confidence grew.

It was hard for the Highlanders because there was class everywhere they looked. Dan Carter did what he always does and gave his side belief and composure and the runners lined up to hammer off his trickery.

Thomas Waldrom knows only one way to go - and that is straight and hard, while Sam Whitelock in the second row looked like he might be the pick of the four-strong clan.

Guildford, too, was eager and his confidence looked as if it had jumped on the back of his impressive All Black tour.

The only niggle for the Crusaders was that their efficiency and cutting edge left them in the last yards of the field in the first half.

Some slick back moves where a legion of dummy runners were used saw the Highlanders split several times. There was one movement straight off the training ground where Andy Ellis drifted wide off a scrum and fed Carter, who had pushed himself into the midfield.

There was no happy ending, though, and the Crusaders only managed to score their first try on 22 minutes when Ellis was able to scramble from close range.

That gave them a 10-0 cushion and with coach Todd Blackadder telling them to calm down and not rush in the second half, they enjoyed immediate reward when Jared Payne hacked on a Robbie Fruean off-load and made the touchdown.

There was a sense of a rout at that point. The floodgates would surely open? No chance.

The Highlanders responded immediately when Hobbs crashed on to a flat pass and then was over again a few minutes later after some neat interchanges saw Josh Bekhuis break free down the right.

A Hobbs penalty took the score to 18-17 with 10 minutes remaining but it was the same old story with the Crusaders - they held their composure and hit back with Guildford's scorching try and one on the buzzer from Sean Maitland.

* Crusaders: 32 (A. Ellis, J. Payne, Z. Guildford, S. Maitland tries; D. Carter 2 pens, 3 cons)

* Highlanders: 17 (M. Hobbs (2) tries; Hobbs 2 cons, pen)