'Canes stunned by five-try Crusaders

Top performance: Kieran Read

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The Crusaders claimed a five-try 42-14 win over the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in a success that keeps the heat on the Chiefs and Highlanders.

Scores were picked up by Kieran Read, Daniel Carter, Robbie Fruean and two from Israel Dagg as the visitors came out of the blocks firing.

Four of their five tries were posted in the first-half as the Hurricanes, missing late withdrawals Cory Jane and Julian Savea, simply couldn't cope with their in-form visitors from Christchurch.

It was a fitting performance from the Crusaders to celebrate Carter's 100th Super Rugby showing.

Carter scored two tries on debut in 2003 in a match which also resulted in a victory over the Hurricanes. And he got his 30th try on Saturday.

However, it was a superb team performance that helped the Crusaders ultimately back-up last weekend's 31-24 victory over the Stormers.

It didn't take them long to get into their stride when a nice inside ball on halfway from Tom Taylor found Zac Guildford who then handed on to the supporting Read. Taylor added the extras to make it 0-7 with just five minutes played before kicking a penalty to further extend matters.

Carter then joined the party after good initial work from full-back Dagg allowed scrum-half Ellis to release his inside centre and the procession was well underway in Wellington.

Then came a moment of individual brilliance from Freuan, who claimed a high kick before setting off and fending two tacklers from halfway. It was a fantastic effort from the centre, which led to Taylor's conversion making the scoreline a rather daunting one for the 'Canes.

27 points was the lead for the red-hot Crusaders and they weren't done there as they then wrapped up the try bonus-point before the half-time break when, after two forward-looking passes went unnoticed by the officials, Dagg finished the passage wide on the left.

Encouragement was found for the Hurricanes though before going into the dressing room as full-back Taylor spotted loosehead Wyatt Crockett in the line before racing around the prop for a much-needed try that was converted by fly-half Beauden Barrett to make it 7-27.

The comeback looked possible when impressive number eight Victor Vito gave his side a lifeline after his quick-tap saw him power over but it was not to be for the Hurricanes as Dagg claimed his second just after the hour and number ten Taylor added five points from the tee to help the Crusaders claim a key victory in what is a tight New Zealand conference.

The scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Taylor, Vito
Con: Barrett 2

For Crusaders:
Tries: Read, Carter, Fruean, Dagg 2
Con: Taylor 4
Pen: Taylor 3

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Jason Eaton, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mike Coman, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Alapati Leiua.

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Adam Whitleock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Ryan Crotty, 22 Tom Marshall.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)