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Crusaders overpower Bulls, grind out tough win in sloppy Super Rugby clash

March 23, 2018

The Crusaders outclassed the Bulls 33-14 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch tonight after a scrappy Super Rugby match.

FULLTIME - CRUSADERS 33 BULLS 14

74 mins: CRUSADERS 33 BULLS 14

Codie Taylor of the Crusaders scores a try during Crusaders v Bulls, Super Rugby Round 6, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand. 23 March 2018. Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

TRY! Mitch Hunt puts in a clever cross-field kick with Manasa Mataele jumping high and getting a hand to the ball, knocking it back. George Bridge shows great hands to scoop the ball up and he stretches over to score his first try of the match.

Mitch Hunt misses his first shot at goal from out wide.

72 mins: CRUSADERS 28 BULLS 14

HEAD KNOCK! Bad news for Ryan Crotty as he is replaced by David Havili. Crotty could be out for a while for the Crusaders after suffering a concussion against the Hurricanes a fortnight ago.

68 mins: CRUSADERS 28 BULLS 14

TRY! The Bulls' reserve loose forward Marco van Standen barges through the Cursaders' defensive line, he isn't held and he sprints over the try-line and gets his side back into the match.

The conversion is good from Handre Pollard. 

58 mins: CRUSADERS 28 BULLS 7

A lot of errors in the second spell from both teams with the wet weather causing headaches for both sides.

49 mins: CRUSADERS 28 BULLS 7

TRY! Jack Goodhue runs a great line and Mitchell Drummond throws a pin-point pass as Goodhue crashes over to score under the goal posts.

Mitchell Hunt makes no mistake, slotting the conversion from in front.

44 mins: CRUSADERS 21 BULLS 7

NO TRY!  George Bridge looked like he might have been through and set to score the Crusaders' fourth try of the match but the ref blows his whistle and rules Michael Alaalatoa had knocked the ball on prior to Bridge regathering the ball.

40 mins: CRUSADERS 21 BULLS 7

And we are back underway! The Bulls kick the ball off deep to the Crusaders. 

Ryan Crotty of the Crusaders. Crusaders v Chiefs, Super Rugby week 2, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand. 24 February 2018. Copyright Image: www.photosport.nz Crusaders v Chiefs, Super Rugby week 2, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand. 24 February 2018. Copyright Image: www.photosport.nz

HALFTIME - CRUSADERS 21 BULLS 7

39 mins: CRUSADERS 21 BULLS 7

TRY! Excellent body position from Jack Goodhue who goes low and drives his way over with brute strength to extend the Crusaders' lead. Mitch Hunt lands the conversion attempt.

36 mins: CRUSADERS 14 BULLS 7

The Crusaders return to XV men as Tim Perry makes his way back onto the field. The Crusaders have an attacking scrum five metres out of the Bull's goal line.

31 mins: CRUSADERS 14 BULLS 7

TRY!  Travis Ismaiel comes up with a great individual play. The ball is untidy at the back of the scrum and Embrose Papier pops the ball up to the right winger. Ismaiel steps out of two tackles before sprinting down the right edge and diving over to score the Bulls' first try of the match.

Handre Pollard is successful with his conversion attempt out wide.

27 mins: CRUSADERS 14 BULLS 0

TRY! The Crusaders power over for another try after a well-worked line-out move. Codie Taylor breaks off at the back of the maul and crashes over to score the Crusaders' second try of the match.

Mitchell Hunt nails the conversion from a slight angle.

25 mins: CRUSADERS 7 BULLS 0

YELLOW CARD! Tim Perry has been sent to the bin for a high tackle. Didn't look too bad but the ref is forced to go to his pocket after Crusaders' ill discipline giving away multiple penalties early in the match.

21 mins: CRUSADERS 7 BULLS 0

OUT ON A FULL! David Havili tries to play the territory game but his kick goes out on a full and the Crusaders have to go back just inside their 40m line with the Bulls finally getting something finally go their way.

19 mins: CRUSADERS 7 BULLS 0

TURNOVER! Nothing is going the way of the Bulls. Handre Pollard finds himself isolated around halfway and it's Crusaders' duo Ryan Crotty and Billy Harmon that hold up the Bull first-five and force a turnover and a scrum for the Crusaders on their 40m line. 

15 mins: CRUSADERS 7 BULLS 0

TRY! The Crusaders rumble over to score the first five-pointer of the match after a solid line-out maul. Crusaders' lock Scott Barrett is the one who grounds the ball over the try-line. Mitch Hunt makes no mistake with the conversion.

15 mins: CRUSADERS 0 BULLS 0

Crusaders march their way down into the Bulls' 22 and a clever chip kick from Crusaders' hooker Codie Taylor forces Warrick Gelant of the Bulls to boot the ball into touch. The Crusaders have an attacking line-out deep inside the Bulls' 22.

11 mins: CRUSADERS 0 BULLS 0

DEFENCE! The Crusaders manage to mess up an attacking line-out maul from the Bulls deep inside their own 22m and earn themselves a turnover and scrum 5m out from their own goal line.

8 mins: CRUSADERS 0 BULLS 0

PENALTY! Bulls' centre Jesse Kriel makes a great dart midfield, stepping and rolling out of several tackles. But the Crusaders are penalised after Michael Alaalatoa tackled a Bulls player without the ball.

5 mins: CRUSADERS 0 BULLS 0

PENALTY! Crusaders' blindside flanker Heiden Bedwell-Curtis is penalised for not rolling away from the ruck in time after making a tackle. The Bulls turn down a penalty shot at goal and opt for a kick to touch. 

2 mins: CRUSADERS 0 BULLS 0

BIG HIT! Ryan Crotty lines up the Bulls' first-five Handre Pollard and nails him with a big tackle at halfway. His big hit forces Pollard to lose the ball in the tackle. But the Bulls get a scrum on the Crusaders' 40m line after the ref was playing an advantage to the Bulls for a knock earlier in the play.

KICK-OFF! And we are underway with Mitchell Hunt kicking off for the Crusaders with his kick landing just outside of the Bulls 22.

PRE-MATCH:

The Crusaders have lost two matches in a row with tight and brutal contests against the Hurricanes and Highlanders.

They welcome back Ryan Crotty and Sam Whitelock into their starting side after they both sat out last week's game against the Highlanders after suffering head knocks against the Hurricanes a fortnight ago.

Matt Todd has been replaced by Billy Harmon at number seven after Todd couldn't recover in time from a rib injury.

The Bulls have their backs against the wall after losing three straight matches in a row since their impressive 21-19 win over the Hurricanes in their season opener in Pretoria last month.

The last time the Bulls faced the Crusaders, they went down 62-24 in May 2017 in Pretoria.

TEAMS:

Crusaders: David Havili, Manasa Mataele, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Mitch Hunt, Mitchell Drummond, Jordan Taufua, Billy Harmon, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Tim Perry.

Reserves: Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett, Oli Jager, Quinten Strange, Tom Sanders, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, Braydon Ennor.

Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Divan Roussouw, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier, Tim Agaba, Hanro Liebenberg, Roelof Smit, Lood De Jager, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman

Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Lizo Gqoboka, Frans van Wyk, Hendre Stassen, Marco van Standen, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, John-Ben Kotze.

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