Super rugby: Phenomenal scrum effort ensures Crusaders return home with two wins

Ryan Crotty scored for the Crusaders after charging down an attempted clearance. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Crusaders will return unbeaten from their tour of South Africa and Argentina after a grinding victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires which was closer and more taxing than the 40-14 scoreline suggests.

There were a few key performances yesterday - not least those by wings George Bridge and Manasa Mataele who scored two tries each, the latter looking more like former All Black wing Sitiveni Sivivatu with each passing week - but perhaps the most telling moment came with 15 minutes remaining and the Crusaders scrum under huge pressure.

The Jaguares had gradually got on top of the Crusaders set piece. They had won several scrum penalties in a row, and 20m out in front of the posts and only 14-26 behind, were about to apply the blowtorch.

In the home side's favour was the fact that this was an underpowered Crusaders scrum, with inexperienced prop Donald Brighouse about to pack down for the first time in the match, and lock Luke Romano off for Quinten Strange.

But instead of capitulating, the Crusaders turned the tables, forcing the Jaguares back, winning the turnover, and second-five Ryan Crotty scoring at the other end after charging down an attempted clearance.

That was the dagger that finally did for the Jaguares, a team forever on a knife-edge as far as discipline goes.

Their commitment can't be faulted but their skill level can at times - that and their ability to keep their heads. Their turnovers killed them and so did a Crusaders defence which kept the home side scoreless in the first half despite the Jaguares at one stage putting together 29 phases.

With strike weapons such as Bridge and Mataele, the Crusaders have the perfect men to capitalise on any half chances, and they did. Bridge scored the first two tries of the match, including one from 65m out, with Mataele's coming from a brilliant lineout move where he combined with impressive hooker Codie Taylor, and another from 50m out.

The Fijian also beat four would-be defenders in very little space to send first-half Mitch Hunt away - more evidence the 21-year-old, a nephew of teammate Seta Tamanivalu, is becoming one of Scott Robertson's most important attacking players.

This bonus point victory, coming a week after a 14-8 win over the Lions in Johannesburg, takes the Crusaders to second, one point above the Hurricanes. It proved the defending champions have retained their grit of last year and are still difficult to beat, despite a horror run of injuries.

With midfielder Jack Goodhue out with a hamstring strain, Tim Bateman was Crotty's centre partner. The sight of Bateman and Crotty down injured in the first 10 minutes would have caused Robertson discomfort but fortunately for them and the coach, they soon got to their feet and played an important part in this win.

This was an often brutal and sometimes ill-tempered match, but there is some comfort ahead for the Crusaders. They are heading home to a bye and their next assignment is a home fixture against the Sunwolves, a team without any victories this season who leaked 50 points at home to the Waratahs this weekend.