Wynne Gray: Crusaders do it in style at Twickers

The Crusaders train at the Royal Artillery Company in London. Photo / AP

Bottom line, the Crusaders had to win. They wanted to thank every red-and-black supporter with a victory and to honour their city which had been so devastated by the February earthquake.

Job done, and in some style with a 44-28 victory against the Sharks at Twickenham. Around those requirements there were a multitude of side issues.

By some guesstimates, the match raised £200,000 for the franchise, it showcased Super 15 rugby to the north, it offered ideas for future global series and afforded those 35,094 who went to Twickers a hell of a spectacle in the sun.

As if the international rugby community needed a reminder, the match showed how critical the "Get Carter" message will be for teams intent on displacing the All Blacks at the World Cup.

The same instruction has been there since Carter's 2003 introduction to test rugby and his ascension to backline commander late the next year. Few have succeeded.

All Black coach Graham Henry would have been anxious about his five-eighths' health but glowing about the DC/SBW combination. It was glossy interaction with Sonny Bill Williams attacking with far more intent on the gainline and offering an array of deft offloads.

The backs showed how to outfox a rush defence with a variety of angles, passes and players to flood the inside channels and then using the width of the park from set moves as they did for Israel Dagg's try.

The Crusaders were very good and the Sharks were not too far adrift, squaring the second half in a determined display. But the Crusaders claimed the match with a four-try burst in an exhilarating 15-minute display midway through the opening half. This was a match played with high skill and great energy, a formula made for sultry spring conditions on a Sunday afternoon in southwest London, not necessarily the type of game to be played at night in New Zealand in October. But it was great for late March in London.

Henry will have warmed to the ferocious unity of the Crusaders' scrum. They rissoled the Sharks, who had their senior test front row of Springbok captain John Smit, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis and a back five who've all worn international colours.

The red-and-blacks had a fair whack of test clout in their pack too, but coach Todd Blackadder chose to mention his rookie opensider for his performance.

"I don't usually single out players but I thought Matt Todd was absolutely outstanding," the coach said.

The 24-year-old has been invaluable while Richie McCaw is in the sick bay, piggybacking the supremacy of his forwards with his own gifts and offering the All Black selectors another option as a test backup.

Several injuries will be disconcerting although the Crusaders do not play again for a fortnight. Captain Kieran Reid retired with what looked like a knee problem then shoulder damage, Carter limped off and Sam Whitelock as well. Initial reports on the casualties were fuzzy, probably deliberately.

The rugby the Crusaders are producing is threatening to rival the standards set by their predecessors in 2002 and the all-conquering Blues in 1997. It is definitely the best seen from New Zealand sides this season and probably has them as a short-priced finals favourite too.