Eight-try Crusaders swamp Sharks
Apr 4, 2015 - 4:03 PM Canterbury Crusaders scored eight tries to thrash Coastal Sharks 52-10 in a Super Rugby mismatch on Saturday despite having only 12 players on the field at one stage.South African referee Stuart Berry, a late replacement for ill compatriot Marius van der Westhuizen, yellow-carded three New Zealanders within four minutes approaching half-time.
He then red-carded Sharks loose forward Jean Deysel, leaving the home team to play the entire second half with 14 men after trailing 28-3 at the break.
Kings Park is becoming synonymous with red and yellow cards as two Sharks and one player from another New Zealand outfit, Waikato Chiefs, were sent off there two weeks ago.
A Crusaders team dominant in all facets throughout were ahead within three minutes and secured a bonus-point fourth try with five minutes left of the opening half.
The record seven-time Super Rugby champions cruised to victory despite starting without two All Blacks icons in fly-half Dan Carter and loose forward Richie McCaw.
Playmaker Carter left South Africa last weekend after a cruel loss to Northern Bulls in Pretoria to be with his wife, who is expecting their second child.
And All Blacks skipper McCaw was rested, coming off the bench only after 52 minutes when virtually all the damage had been inflicted.
As if a humiliating defeat in the Indian Ocean city was not bad enough for the Sharks, fly-half and skipper Patrick Lambie retired injured early in the second half.
Despite the walloping, the South Africans remained third on the combined southern hemisphere inter-provincial standings while Crusaders climbed four places to sixth, the last play-offs spot.
Source: AAP
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