A second half double from All-Black winger Zac Guildford helped the Crusaders seal a massive win against the Blues, which has all but secured them top spot in the New Zealand conference.
The first half was a pulsating affair with both sides attacking and defending with power and pace, but it was the Blues took the lead after four minutes through the boot of Luke McAlister who slotted a simple penalty kick.
The side from Auckland then took scored the game's first try after 13 minutes, a flowing move from the Blues back-line saw Jared Payne throw a pin-point pass to winger Rene Ranger who went flying down the line before putting a deft grubber kick pas the full-back before scoring in the corner. McAlister couldn't add the tough conversion but the visitors held an 8-0 lead.
The Crusaders replied son after Dan Carter slotted his first penalty of the night from straight in front of the posts. Two minutes later the home side got their first try of the game, a sloppy scrum by the Blues allowed Canterbury scrum-half Andy Ellis to kick the ball down field, Jared Payne was tackled on his own line and a huge counter-ruck by the Crusaders pack allowed flanker Matt Todd to score, Carter made no mistake with the conversion and the score was now 11-8.
The Crusaders were in the ascendancy and Tom Marshall was looking extremely dangerous on the counter attack. And it was Marshall who thought he had set up a try for Keiran Read after his wonderful step broke through the Blues defence and offloaded to Zac Guildford but his pass to Read went forward.
The Blues hit back through another Luke McAlister penalty to make the scores 13-11. The Crusaders again thought they had scored just before the break but this time it was Read who was called back for obstruction on Jerome Kaino as Marshall crossed the line in the corner. Both sides were building some excellent phases of play and only some excellent defence was preventing more tries, at the break the Crusaders led by two points but it was anyone's game.
Guildford got his first try of the game almost straight from the kick-off, the Blues caught the ball and set up the ruck but the forwards drove to far past the ball, and Kerian Read just stepped round the side and passed the ball to Guildford who strolled over in the corner. Carter couldn't add the conversion from the touchline but the lead stood at 18-11.
The Blues hit back though taking the game straight into the Crusaders 22, the visitors went through 29 phases of play before prop Charlie Faumuina thought he had scored but the TMO ruled that the ball was held up. But the young prop didn't have to wait long to get his score, just two minutes later he crashed through a couple of tackles to score from close range, McAlister couldn't add the conversion and the score stayed 18-16.
The Crusaders had a golden chance to extend their lead on 52 minutes, centre Robbie Fruean made a scorching break through the Blues defence and got deep into the 22 before passing to Andy Ellis but the scrum-half dropped the ball just five metres out.
Minutes later it was the Blues turn to waste a brilliant opportunity, the visitors managed to get a turnover deep inside the Crusaders 22, they quickly moved the ball wide to replacement winger Lachie Munro who stepped inside and passed to McAlister who just had to catch the ball and fall over the line, but he dropped it and the chance was gone.
Guildford then came to the Crusaders rescue in defence with a superb covering tackle on Munro. With just four minutes to go Guildford got his second score to seal the victory. An outstanding chip from Carter was collected by the young winger who scored in the corner, Carter couldn't add the conversion but the victory was complete and the game finished 23-16.
The Crusaders just had the composure and class when it mattered and in the end was the difference between the two sides.
Man of the Match
Zac Guildford
