The coaches of the Crusaders and Blues have lashed out at each other over ”negative” play after the best Super 14 rugby match of the season in which the Crusaders won 39-10.
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who usually chooses his words carefully, launched the outburst by accusing the Blues of being negative, and the Blues’ David Nucifora hit back, saying Deans should look at his own team’s first-half performance.
Deans’ outburst was directed at the Blues’ flat defence in the second half which he felt bordered on offside.
”There was no reward for positivity, meaning one side [the Crusaders] was very positive and one side [the Blues] was very negative,” Deans said.
”That’s rubbish,” Nucifora shot back.
”We took a lot of pressure in that second half and I’m proud of our defence. It was superb. It was natural of the ref to focus on us because we were the defending team.
”But they [Crusaders] absorbed a lot of pressure from us in the first half and they should have a look at themselves then.”
The Crusaders flyhalf kicked six penalties to punish the Blues for repeated infringements, while referee Paul Honnis sinbinned two Blues players — lock Ali Williams for taking out a player and winger Joe Rokocoko for not clearing away after a tackle.
But, Honiss said it didn’t feel like there was much negative play as he hadn’t awarded more penalties than he would normally in a match.
The Crusaders overcame an early 0-10 deficit to score 39 unanswered points to win 39-10 and remain at the top of the Super 14 table. – Sapa-AFP