Revisiting 1st Southern Hemisphere teams match at Twickenham
The build up to the game was massive and the expectations were sky high from both the teams.
While the Twickenham wasn’t the home turf for any of the team playing on field this Sunday yet approximately 35,000 spectators have came to witness a massive historic even when SANZAR teams played for the first time outside the southern hemisphere for a
super league match.
Although some players from the both sides might have played in this ground when playing for their national teams yet the feel of playing at one of the most prominent sporting arena should be termed as nou-veau.
Before the Steve Walsh whistle start the match on Sunday, Crusaders were placed at second position in the combined table and sharks due to high point difference were placed second.
For Sharks it was expected that the absence of their and tournament leading scorer Patrick Lambie will hurt them badly and player in such form is impossible to replace. The end result of 28 – 44 in favour of the Crusaders would have different with him in
the team. Sharks in his absence started very well with their first try of the game coming shortly after the start of the game.
However, Crusaders came back strongly, remained in lead, and in control for the rest of the game. No. 10 Dan carter was most impressive of all Crusaders scoring 19 points in the game that included a try, three penalties and four conversions.
Crusaders scored five tries as compare to the four scored by the Sharks. For Crusaders alongside Carter Sean Maitland (twice), Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford also scored the tries.
For sharks Jacques – Louis Potgieter two penalties, a conversion and a try was the main highlight. Playing his first game of the season in place of Patrick Lambie, his performance for the match can be termed as satisfactory particularly when one has to fill
in the shoes of the tournament leading scorer.
Sharks although lost the match but would definitely be pleased with the way they played on the field particularly the ball possession and exposing the grey areas of the Crusaders defences however their defence didn’t hold up against the Crusaders aggression
who were able to squeeze the bonus points.
At the end of Week Six of Super XV, Crusaders are leading the New Zealand Conference and are sitting behind the unbeaten Stormers.
Sharks will be heading to Durban to the play against their conference leaders and the unbeaten team of the Super League XV on Saturday 2nd April, while the Crusaders will have the week off followed by their match against the Bulls at Timaru.
Bulls had already defeated the crusaders their only defeat in the league so far.
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