Crusaders overcome immense hurdles to reach Final of Super Rugby 2011
The Crusaders have travelled a long and winding road to the Super Rugby Final to be played this weekend. They have battled extensive injuries, earthquakes and hours of travelling to make it at to the end of the longest Super Rugby season in history. Any
other team may have faltered along the way, but not the Crusaders.
The Crusaders started off their 2011 Super Rugby season without their skipper and star player, Richie McCaw, due to a foot injury. Their stand in captain, Kieran Read, was thumped with an initial defeat at the hands of Kiwi derby Blues, in Eden Park, on
February 19. The Blues defeated the Crusaders 24-22 after a nerve-wracking contest. The previous years’ semi-finalists were surprised by the early defeat. Three days later they would be given another shock as on February 22 they were left nomads by a powerful
tremor that wreaked havoc in Christchurch.
The home town of the Canterbury franchise was shaken by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The quake dealt a formidable blow to the second-largest city of New Zealand. More than 170 people were killed in the natural disaster and financial losses are still being
incurred.
AMI stadium in Christchurch received huge structural damage and was ultimately declared unsafe to play in by the International Rugby Board (IRB). The venue was scheduled to host five home matches of the Super Rugby championship for the Crusaders, which were
relocated by New Zealand Rugby Union to Nelson and Auckland. One of their home matches was shifted to Twickenham stadium in London.
The Crusaders’ second match of the season, against the Hurricanes, was cancelled due to the quake and both teams shared equal points. Crusaders clinched their first victory of the season in the third round of the competition, playing against the Australian
conference Waratahs, by a huge difference of 33-18.
The Christchurch side produced even better results in their second home match at Nelson. They crushed the Brumbies by 52-10 as Sean Maitland scored four tries in the match. Sonny Bill Williams also scored his first Super Rugby try in the match. The Crusaders
continued with their good performance in the tournament and grabbed another impressive victory. They overcame the Highlanders by 44-13 at Carisbrook Stadium on March 19.
They enjoyed one week rest following the victory against the Highlanders during the sixth round of Super Rugby. After the break, Crusaders travelled to London to play a charity match for the people of Christchurch, against the Sharks. Huge crowds were present
to welcome the New Zealander derby as they stunned the Sharks 44-28 on a neutral venue. Sean Maitland contributed two tries for the Crusaders in the match.
The Crusaders enjoyed the first bye of the tournament in the seventh round of season. They controlled the Bulls easily by 27-0 on April 9 and defeated the Chiefs by 34-16 in the 8th round and 9th round respectively.
The Crusaders ended their seven matches winning streak of the season, against the Highlanders on April 22 as they lost the match by 18-26. They bounced back into the tournament and defeated the Western Force by 42-30 in the 11th week of season.
They managed to crush the South African top ladder, Stormers, by 20-16 before sustaining the third defeat of the season by the Cheetah. The Cheetahs outclassed the Crusaders in Vodacom Park 33-20.
McLean Park, Napier’s contest was won by Crusaders as they ruined the Chiefs by 25-19. The Crusaders were tested in the current championship as they took on the Queensland Reds, on May 29, at Suncorp Stadium. They played up to the mark until their skipper
McCaw was penalised at the scrum. The controversial decision awarded by Australian referee Stuart Dickinson gave a penalty kick to the Reds and it sunk the Crusaders.
They had a second bye of the season following the hard to digest defeat by the Reds. The Crusaders concluded their regular season with two more victories in the round matches with an overall fourth position on the point’s tables and qualified for the play-offs.
They defeated the Sharks in the second quarter-final by 36-8, and overcame the Sharks in the semi-final by 29-10, on July 2.
The Crusaders will play their 10th final of Super Rugby championship against the Queensland Reds on July 9. The hotly anticipated match-up has broken all ticket sales records and is gearing up to be one of the fines display of rugby in Super Rugby
history.
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