Crusaders in top spot

WELLINGTON – Normal order was restored in the Super 14 rugby competition over the weekend as perennial favourites the Canterbury Crusaders muscled their way to the head of the table.

The Crusaders took control of the logjam at the top of the championship when they beat the Otago Highlanders for their fifth consecutive bonus-point win while previous pace-setters, the Auckland Blues, fell to the Coastal Sharks. The shake-up put the two New Zealand sides on 37 points, but with the Crusaders ahead on scoring differential, while South Africa’s leading lights, the Sharks, are three points back in third place.The Waikato Chiefs from New Zealand, South Africa’s Northern Bulls and the ACT Brumbies from Australia all have 27 points, but with the late-charging Chiefs credited with fourth on points differential.Even with just three rounds remaining most of the field retain a mathematical chance at least of making the final four.The fading Western Force, who have conceded more than 100 points in their past two games, are only one point behind the Chiefs, with the Wellington Hurricanes, Otago Highlanders and Golden Lions bunched below.However, they are not playing at the same level as the Crusaders who are aiming for a third successive title and their seventh crown in 10 years.Even performing below their best on Saturday they still clinically swept aside the Highlanders 38-3.The craggy Highlanders pack, including All Blacks Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman and Clarke Dermody, had the power to control the set pieces, but they lacked the talent to penetrate the determined Crusaders defence.In contrast, the Crusaders displayed the traits that have made them the most successful franchise in the history of Super rugby, as they soaked up the pressure then counter-attacked at every opportunity.The Sharks underscored their playoff credentials when they out-played the Blues in a spiteful encounter that left Blues coach David Nucifora fuming.The Sharks also benefited from a forward pass in the move that led to Odwa Ndungane’s try, and interference that resulted in a try for JP Pietersen, but they also had too much legitimate power.The Blues, who had no answer to the kicking of teenage flyhalf Francois Steyn and fullback Percy Montgomery which kept them pinned on defence, now face three tough assignments on the road.Roy Kinikinilau and Brendon Leonard both scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs came into contention with an overwhelming 64-36 demolition of the Western Force in a free-flowing spectacular at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.In a South African local derby, the Northern Bulls remained on the edge of the final four when they overwhelmed the Western Stormers 49-12, scoring seven tries, five of them by the forwards who laid the foundations for the win.With a massive 55-kilogramme weight advantage up front, the Bulls controlled every aspect of forward play.The Wellington Hurricanes kept their faint play-off hopes alive, moving up to eighth on the table with a 37-15 win over the Central Cheetahs, while in the battle for the wooden spoon the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Queensland Reds 26-13.Nampa-AFPThe shake-up put the two New Zealand sides on 37 points, but with the Crusaders ahead on scoring differential, while South Africa’s leading lights, the Sharks, are three points back in third place.The Waikato Chiefs from New Zealand, South Africa’s Northern Bulls and the ACT Brumbies from Australia all have 27 points, but with the late-charging Chiefs credited with fourth on points differential.Even with just three rounds remaining most of the field retain a mathematical chance at least of making the final four.The fading Western Force, who have conceded more than 100 points in their past two games, are only one point behind the Chiefs, with the Wellington Hurricanes, Otago Highlanders and Golden Lions bunched below.However, they are not playing at the same level as the Crusaders who are aiming for a third successive title and their seventh crown in 10 years.Even performing below their best on Saturday they still clinically swept aside the Highlanders 38-3.The craggy Highlanders pack, including All Blacks Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman and Clarke Dermody, had the power to control the set pieces, but they lacked the talent to penetrate the determined Crusaders defence.In contrast, the Crusaders displayed the traits that have made them the most successful franchise in the history of Super rugby, as they soaked up the pressure then counter-attacked at every opportunity.The Sharks underscored their playoff credentials when they out-played the Blues in a spiteful encounter that left Blues coach David Nucifora fuming.The Sharks also benefited from a forward pass in the move that led to Odwa Ndungane’s try, and interference that resulted in a try for JP Pietersen, but they also had too much legitimate power.The Blues, who had no answer to the kicking of teenage flyhalf Francois Steyn and fullback Percy Montgomery which kept them pinned on defence, now face three tough assignments on the road.Roy Kinikinilau and Brendon Leonard both scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs came into contention with an overwhelming 64-36 demolition of the Western Force in a free-flowing spectacular at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.In a South African local derby, the Northern Bulls remained on the edge of the final four when they overwhelmed the Western Stormers 49-12, scoring seven tries, five of them by the forwards who laid the foundations for the win.With a massive 55-kilogramme weight advantage up front, the Bulls controlled every aspect of forward play.The Wellington Hurricanes kept their faint play-off hopes alive, moving up to eighth on the table with a 37-15 win over the Central Cheetahs, while in the battle for the wooden spoon the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Queensland Reds 26-13.Nampa-AFP