Daniel Carter scored 17 points from goal kicks to lift the Canterbury Crusaders to a 27-16 win over South Africa’s Stormers in a Super 12 rugby semifinal at Jade Stadium on Saturday.
Carter kicked five penalties and a conversion — six goals from seven attempts — to advance the Crusaders, four-time champions, to a Super 12 final for the sixth time.
All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall, whose place in the match was threatened by injury, scored the first of Canterbury’s two tries and played a pivotal leadership role in the closely balanced match.
Winger Caleb Ralph scored the second try 12 minutes from full-time to give last year’s finalists an 11-point advantage — the small security of the largest lead in the match.
Springbok centre De Wet Barry scored the game’s first try for the Stormers who led 13-12 at half-time. But wearied by travel, the visitors faded under constant pressure in the second half.
The Stormers have played twice in Christchurch in the past two weeks, losing on both occasions, and have crossed 20 time zones on an arduous journey to the semifinals.
Canterbury played no-frills rugby on Saturday, building strong, layered defence and more often promoting the ball through the forwards than through a backline studded with All Blacks.
”The guys stood up tonight,” said Crusaders captain Reuben Thorne.
”The Stormers came here and threw everything into it as we knew they would. The first half was all about pressure. They put heaps on us but we managed to stay close. We piled it on a bit more in the second half and came away with the win.
”It was great to have [Justin] Marshall back directing the play and he made a huge difference.”
Marshall was in doubt for the match until Friday, having been sidelined for two weeks with a serious hip injury.
”Our attitude at the start of every season is that we’ve got to get into top four,” Marshall said. ”We managed to achieve that although it’s been a roller-coaster season.
”I suppose we’ve got the benefit of being in this situation a few times in the past. We know if you apply yourself and commit to giving your best performance when it counts you can do anything.”
The match began with an exchange of penalties between Carter and Stormers flyhalf Gaffie du Toit, who kicked four goals on Saturday from as many attempts.
Barry broke a 6-6 deadlock when he pierced Canterbury’s midfield defense in the 29th minute and stretched to reach the line.
Marshall gave Canterbury their first lead when he scored in the 41st minute after attacks down the left flank through Ralph and the
right through Marika Vunibaka.
Du Toit and Ralph swapped penalties before Ralph made the game safe with a 68th-minute try. Canterbury gained a 5m scrum and moved the ball quickly into a left-hand overlap to give Ralph the final, scoring pass.
”They did well,” said Stormers captain Selborne Boome. ”I thought the Crusaders played well but I’m happy with my boys.
”I think we put a few things together in the first half but maybe ran out of legs in the second which was very disappointing. They scrambled very well and managed to put in tackles when it really mattered.” — Sapa-AP