Crusaders romp into another Super semi

Crusaders romp into another Super semi

The Crusaders have marched into the Super Rugby semi-finals for the 12th successive season after overwhelming the Queensland Reds 38-9 in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The home side used brute force on defence and skilled execution on attack to maintain a historical playoff dominance at home in a competition they have won seven times.

They scored four unanswered tries against a Reds side who relied on three penalties from first five-eighth Quade Cooper 12ax7.

Centre Ryan Crotty bagged a double while the other tries went to wing Tom Marshall and first five-eighth Dan Carter, who also landed three penalties and three conversions in a 20-point haul.

Up 21-6 at halftime, the Crusaders never took their foot off the throat, winning the collisions comprehensively, whether through ball carrying or on defence, where their aggressive tackling set the tone.

The static Reds struggled to even make a half-break and never looked like completing their goal of a "New Zealand sweep", having beaten the four other Kiwi sides this season.

Their elimination means it was the last game in charge for coach Ewen McKenzie as he ends his four-year reign to take over the Wallabies.

Crusaders captain Keiran Read said the Reds were rocked by his team's strong start and they were determined not to loosen the noose personalized clothing labels.

"It comes off a bit of dominance up front. We were able to get over the advantage line and get a bit of quick ball," said Read.

"In final games, your (defence) is where your character shows and is probably where it's won."

On attack, the Crusaders' offloading and support play was a feature, with all four tries a result of clever ball movement.

A Carter penalty and Crotty's first try put them 10-0 up inside 10 minutes. Carter's try on the half-hour mark kept them clear as Cooper slotted his penalties in the 14th, 28th and 46th minutes.

Marshall and Crotty scored tries seven minutes apart midway through the second spell to guarantee a fifth successive win and seventh in a row at home against the Reds since 1999.

It also allowed coach Todd Blackadder to employ All Blacks captain Richie McCaw off the reserve bench for the last 15 minutes. McCaw performed efficiently in his first appearance of the Super Rugby season after taking a sixth-month break from the sport.

The 32-year-old admitted to nerves as he waited for his chance.

"The team's been going pretty well. I just wanted to make sure I slotted in nicely," said McCaw.

"It felt like I played about 80 (minutes), the lungs are burning a wee bit. It was just awesome to be involved."

The Crusaders are unbeaten at home this year and have never lost a home playoff match but they must now travel in the pursuit of an eighth title .

They will face the top-qualifying Chiefs in Hamilton next Saturday if the Brumbies beat the Cheetahs in the second elimination final at Canberra on Sunday.

However, if the Cheetahs win that game, the Crusaders will travel to Pretoria to face the second-ranked Bulls.

Read warned the same level of intensity would be needed from his team.

"We've got to be a careful. Every time we've had a good win, we've lapsed the following week," he said.

"You certainly can't afford to do that at this time of year."