Highlanders versus the hapless old crusts official match thread

 Dan Carter comes on at 12. McCaw may be on later.

 Landers deined the try but go for touch to try for the try & they do? Checking the knock-on.

 bent read also looking pap. He has tried to impress from the wing but hasnt.
Meanwhile highlanders may have scored!
Time to bring on ritchie or has he been playing. cant tell these days!Highlanders cheated out of a try. Marshall says there is no consistency. he is really annoyed. Interpreation favour hapless crusites. No problem though as highlanders score.But now checking for aknock down.
Note crusty player playing ball off ground!!Its a try. Great work H ighlanders.

 ..Who got that one?...was watching the Warriors imploding

 25-14 after 52 mins.

 wee mcaaaw arrives to save the day!!

 McCaw on & Nandolo is injured - he is my captain

 Game has slowed up somewhat to accomodate wee mcaaaw.

 Slade gets the penalty. 25-17 after 57 mins.

 Mcaaaaw knocks on. Never mind ritchie it happens.

 Another mindless kick by aaron smith. Man this guy has been poor. Another playing missing in action to a degree is Sam Whitelock?

 Saders have to get the ball and be consistent if they want to win this. Game has deteriorated into stop & start.

 Crusties decide to scrum in at right angles. Another scrum penalty arises. so thats the end game plan?

 Scrum penalty & saders are going for the try. Lose line out .

 Cloudy Mr Justin Marshall was the wee abs finest scrumhalf and an outstanding rugby brain and commentator. The big surprise is he is so honest!
I could listen to him pointing oiut how bent down under refs are robbing us blind all day!

 saders are making mistakes & this is stopping them.

 Keep going Highlanders a try to rub it in wo uld be great!

 old bent read finding it hard to bend down and pick up the ball. keep him on the wing out of harms way. hahahahahahahha

 Please focus on the game Cloiudy and brycy!!Crusties forward pass picked up. 

 ...I reckon...Tigers just scored so its still anyones game...

 Dagg has also had a very quiet second half. 

 Clock is ticking down & landers are holding on. 72 mins gone 

 Brycy who in the world are these annoymous tigers an warriors.Meanwhile crusties knock o n again.

 Saders on attack & get a penalty. Get the 3 points as they still have to score a try.

 Saders on attack & get a penalty. Get the 3 points as they still have to score a try.

 25-20 Landers clock at 78 mins.

crusties go for posts. Its a 5 point game

 Again ref relieves pressure on crusties line.Highlanders just need to hang onto ball now .

 Landers off-side & Daggs kick out to touch is good but landers get a turnover. Landers keeping the pill with 3o secs. left

 Hooter & the kick out. Landers win it away & with a bonus point. Saders had a hard time against a good kiwi team. Congrats to Landers - well deserved. Saders seemed to lose it in the second half.

 Great win Highlanders. The yellow didnt do it this time and neither did the forward pass try help the crusties to a win but it did give them a bonus point.
I thought the Highlanders deserved the win.

 Tahs vs. wee stormers up next. My sym pathies in advance Beeno.

 JW
I just checked the Superbru predictions and I was one of 11% of the predictors to predict a win for the Highanders.  My reasoning for this was the Crusaders -
*  in their game against the Bulls was not up to standard;*  played seriously-defective Sharks side that the second club team of Witgatwortelfontein would have beaten;*  then had to travel back to New Zealand through many time zones - something with a seriously detrimental effect - which clearly showed from even before half-time; and*  when under pressure they make handling errors that a good team like the Highlanders would use against them
You may ask where Witgatwortelfontein is - it is a farming hamlet in Namaqualand with a total pollution of 30 - so guess what their 2nd team would look like!!!!        

Congrats CleverMike. Landers have been a tough team for the last two seasons & as you say the Crusaders were returning home after a tough trip.