April 14 (Reuters) – Canterbury Crusaders’ rookie flyhalf
Tom Taylor scored all of his team’s points as the seven-times
champions brought an end to only perfect record in Super Rugby
with a 31-24 victory over South Africa’s Stormers on Saturday.
Two sides packed with All Blacks and Springboks made for a
contest of the highest quality at Christchurch Stadium but it
was 23-year-old student Taylor’s try and 26 points from a
perfect display of kicking that proved decisive.
Joe Pietersen kicked a penalty well after the siren to give
the Stormers a bonus point that will give them at least with a
share of the lead in the South African conference despite their
first defeat in seven matches this year.
With Dan Carter being played out of position at inside
centre the Crusaders backline had an unusual look about it as it
came up against what is traditionally the meanest defence in the
competition.
The South Africans showed that they had qualities aplenty in
attack too, though, with an opportunist try from centre Juan de
Jongh and a brilliant team effort finished off by winger Bryan
Habana.
It was Taylor who got the first try, however, when the
Crusaders put together an attack of dazzling simplicity from a
turnover in the 13th minute.
Straight running and quick hands got the ball out to hooker
Corey Flynn on the wing and his pass inside gave Taylor a clear
run to the line.
Taylor, the son of All Black Warwick Taylor, added the extra
points but the Stormers charged back with a try of their own
seven minutes later when de Jongh hacked on a grounded pass from
Carter and won a footrace to recover the ball and score.
The Crusaders managed to see out Wyatt Crockett’s 10 minutes
in the sin bin for a high tackle around the halftime break and
still emerge with a 22-16 lead as Taylor continued to punish all
Stormers’ infractions.
Continued…
