A Ryan Crotty hat-trick has helped the Crusaders hold off the Lions in a 10-try thriller in Johannesburg this morning.
The Crusaders narrowly missed a bonus point, but they will be satisfied with the four competition points from their 43-37 win given the inconsistent rulings of referee Stuart Berry and the fact they will leave with a perfect record in South Africa this season after beating the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
The key to the Crusaders' victory was their ability to offload in the tackle and punish the Lions' errors despite a 12-6 penalty count against them. Their scrum also came under pressure from the Lions, although, again, South African ref Berry did the visitors few favours here.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley said afterwards: "They were dangerous with turnover ball and punished our mistakes. This is one we really wanted but we weren't good enough tonight."
The Lions haven't beaten the Crusaders since 2007 but the Currie Cup champions are vastly improved this year; a victory against the Chiefs in Hamilton recently is testament to that.
So while Crotty scored after only a little over 50 seconds into the game thanks to an assist from giant wing Nemani Nadolo, the Lions quickly asked their own questions and replied three minutes later through centre Lionel Mapoe, who was a handful throughout.
An intercept try through the excellent Johnny McNicholl put the Crusaders back on top, with prop Wyatt Crockett scoring from close range to give the Crusaders a good buffer.
However, Lions first-five Elton Jantjies, in doubt during the week with an injury, scored in the corner to close the gap. His earlier penalty, plus one after his try, gave the Lions a lead, only for the Crusaders to strike back with a penalty after the halftime hooter through Richie Mo'unga.
After six consecutive penalties to the Lions, Berry awarded the Crusaders their first in the 37th minute. Mo'unga's kick came from the second and gave his side a 22-20 halftime lead.
After the break the Crusaders shut the LIons out with two Crotty tries in three minutes; the first of which came from a lineout 25m out, with Crotty running through heavy traffic to score by the posts. His third try came following another Nadolo break and assist.
"I don't think I've ever scored a hat-trick before," Crotty said afterwards. "Credit to Nemzy, he set me up with a few plums."
With a 36-20 lead, the Crusaders were in possession of a bonus point, but conceded a try to replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe.
Halfback Mitchell Drummond put the Crusaders three tries ahead again following more offloads by replacement Ben Volavola and McNicholl, only for them to concede another soft try to van der Merwe from close range.
A Jantjies penalty after the final hooter gave the Lions a losing bonus point.
The Crusaders, wearing a variety of elaborate facial hair, as is their tradition in South Africa, go to sixth on the points table and travel to Perth to play the Force next weekend.
After an opening-night loss to the Chiefs, Todd Blackadder's men will feel their are building nicely. Their depth allowed them to bring All Black forwards Joe Moody and Sam Whitelock off the reserves bench at Ellis Park, with loose forward Jordan Taufua also a quality replacement.
First-five Mo'unga was successful with six of his seven kicks at goal, a much improved display after his struggles in Durban last weekend.
Crusaders 43 (Ryan Crotty 3, Johnny McNicholl, Wyatt Crockett, Mitchell Drummond tries; Richie Mo'unga 5 cons; pen) Lions 37 (Akker van der Merwe 2, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies tries, Jantjies 4 cons, 3 pens). Halftime 22-20
- by Patrick McKendry
