20 Jul 2013

Crusaders leave Reds for dead

9:45 pm on 20 July 2013

The Crusaders easily beat the Reds in Super Rugby's first playoff qualifier in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The final score of 38-9 reflected the home team's almost total dominance of the game.

Three Quade Cooper penalties were the best the Reds could do, while Daniel Carter, Tom Marshall and Ryan Crotty (twice) scored tries for the Crusaders. Carter kicked three conversions and three penalties for a match haul of 20 points and Tom Taylor kicked one penalty.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw came off the bench for the last 15 minutes of the game in his first Super Rugby appearance this season after a sabbatical.

The win puts the Crusaders through to the semi-finals, joining the Chiefs and the Bulls; the last semi-finalist will be decided on Sunday night when the Brumbies play the Cheetahs in Canberra.