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Crusaders back to winning ways
By Harry West
Defending Super Rugby champions the Crusaders recovered strongly from back-to-back defeats by recording a 33-14 triumph over the Bulls on Friday.
On the back of losses to the Hurricanes and the Highlanders over the past two weeks, the holders were back in business with a bonus-point success at a rain-soaked AMI Stadium.
Scott Barrett went over from a driving maul to give the hosts the lead after a quarter of an hour and, although the Crusaders lost Tim Perry to a yellow card for a high shot, they further stretched their advantage as Codie Taylor crossed in similar fashion to Barrett.
Travis Ismaiel's fine individual score halved the deficit for the Bulls but the Crusaders led 21-7 at the break thanks to Jack Goodhue, who ploughed his way through a couple of defenders from close range.
Goodhue scythed through a gap for his second after the interval and although Marco van Staden got the Bulls back to within two scores, George Bridge put the result beyond all doubt with seven minutes remaining.
CRUSADERS 33 (Barrett, Taylor, Goodhue 2, Bridge tries, Hunt 4 cons) BULLS 14 (Ismael, van Staden tries, Pollard 2 cons) HT 21-7
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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