Crusaders cement top spot

The seven-time champion Crusaders scored three amazing tries in the pouring rain to lead 22-5 at the half-time break.

With the deteriorating conditions and the match effectively over as a contest, the teams shared a scrappy second half one try each.

However, they had done enough to open a four-point lead at the top of the standings - over compatriots the Chiefs and Highlanders.

The Crusaders, fired up to celebrate Andy Ellis's 150th game, produced an explosive start in stormy conditions.

But while satisfied with the win, the Crusaders were left to rue the departure of Zac Guildford to the Waratahs, with the wing scoring a late try against his former teammates to deny the competition leaders a bonus point.

With scrumhalf Ellis getting a dream ride behind a dominant pack, the Crusaders were able to defy the wind and rain from the kick off, and with a running game stacked with deft off-loads they were 15-0 up after 15 minutes.

The lead was stretched to 22-5 by half-time before the game degenerated in the second spell.

"The conditions were pretty tough and the lads came out firing. It was awesome," said captain Kieran Read.

"We saw the weather and that wasn't actually our game plan but it worked wonders for us early."

It produced a four-tries-to-two win, a confidence-booster following their loss to the Highlanders last week, while ending a four-match winning streak by the Waratahs.

Both sides remain at the head of their respective conferences with the Waratahs retaining a one-point margin over the Brumbies who have a bye this week.

Johnny McNicholl, Israel Dagg, Richie Mo'unga and Jordan Taufua all scored tries for the Crusaders, while Rob Horne scored in the first half for the Waratahs and Guildford scored late in the second spell.

Mo'unga added three conversions and a penalty to take his total for the season to 126, putting him at the top of the competition scoring list ahead of the Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett with 122.

The Crusaders used the kicking skills of Mo'unga and Dagg to pin the Waratahs in their own half from where they were happy to keep the ball in hand and attack the line.

Israel Folau, moved to outside centre for the Waratahs, made the most of the few chances he had which included setting up Horne's try to get the Waratahs on the board.

Man of the match: Israel Folau had his moments and Michael Hooper is always good value. Israel Dagg is in some seriously good form, Richie Mo'unga showed again that New Zealand have an embarrassment of riches at flyhalf and Luke Romano is another player you can trust to consistently perform. However, our award goes to Crusaders wing Johnny McNicholl for a barnstorming performance that saw him being rewarded with one of his team's four tries.

The scorers:

For the Crusaders:

Tries: McNicholl, Dagg, Mo'unga, Taufua

Cons: Mo'unga 3

Pen: Mo'unga

For the Waratahs:

Tries: Folau, Guildford

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Jone Macilai, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.

Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Tim Boys, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 David Havili, 23 Marty McKenzie.

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 David Horwitz, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Skelton, 4 David Dennis, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Paddy Ryan.

Replacements: 16 Angus Ta'avao, 17 Hugh Roach, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Wycliff Palu, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Matt Carraro, 23 Zac Guildford.

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Kane McBride

TMO: Chris Wratt