All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter became the ninth player to reach 600 points in super rugby, surpassing 150 points for the season, as the Canterbury Crusaders beat South Africa’s Cheetahs 53-17 in a Super 14 match on Saturday.
Carter scored two tries, kicked two penalties and converted six of the Crusaders’ seven tries to take 28 points from the match and to help the defending champions maintain their unbeaten record through the championship’s 10th round.
The Crusaders distanced the Cheetahs with three second quarter tries after the teams had been tied 10-10 midway through the first half. A penalty to Carter, his second, and tries to fullback Leon MacDonald, halfback Kevin Senio and winger Rico Gear lifted the Crusaders to a 32-10 halftime lead and locked the game in their
safekeeping.
Gear’s try was Canterbury’s fourth and gave them a bonus point before halftime.
Carter scored both of his tries in the second half, on either side of a try by winger Scott Hamilton, giving the Crusaders 50 points with 12 minutes remaining. Substitutions affected their combination and they were unable to add to that score.
Canterbury now has 40 points from nine games to lead the Super 14 by seven points from the New South Waratahs who face a tough 10th round assignment against the ACT Brumbies on Sunday.
The recipe for their win on Saturday contained ingredients familiar to Crusaders followers: Possession, field position, continuity, support and vigorous defence which created tries from turnovers.
The Cheetahs tried to play the game at pace, a tactic the Crusaders welcomed, but made errors which led to turnovers which led to tries.
”That’s what happened tonight, we missed too many first tackles and we paid the price.” – Sapa-AP