Damn, the Herald beat me to it - that old saying "and they were lucky to get zero' - or was that 'we were' - applies to this match, where the Stormers had no answer to the defence of the Crusaders.  The only thing they bought to this game was more of the same, defence.  However, keeping the Crusaders to just two tries, and 22 points in total is fine and dandy - you also need to score a few points yourselves, which was never going to happen!!

Not the cake-walk as it was last weekend for the Crusaders, but still a more comfortable win than the score line would suggest.  Next weeks match up with the also unbeaten Sharks stacking up to be the highlight of the season so far.

But back to this match, and once again, across the board, from jerseys 1 through 22, the Crusaders played pretty well individually, and as a team.  Jersey 22 though had a few hiccups!  Worn by late replacement in the starting lineup Sean Maitland, the term 'gumboots for hands" was invented for him, that is until he caught the Carter cross field kick for the easiest of tries in the second spell.  But until then catching a cold would have been beyond the youngster!

Good performances from both the forward pack and the blouses out wide, forwards belting the Biltong Biters into submission before the blouses finished things off.  This Crusaders machine on a roll, is nice to see.

Up front, where it all starts, Campbell Johnstone and Wyatt Crockett, book ending Flynn at hooker had the better of their opposites in all aspects of play.  Crockett in particular having a big game out in the open, while Johnstone, the new slim line version is not the dinosaur that I thought he might be in the ELVs game of rugby.  The big former All Black anchored the Crusaders scrum well - you hardly noticed absence of Somerville from the engine room, and on the other side, Crockett laid down a solid maker to be included in the top XV starting side in the weeks to come.  His ball handling was superb, the big man gets through a ton of work.  An All Black jersey this season - perhaps not that far off if he carries on in this vein.

The second row pairing of Williams and Thorn continues to grow too - lineout time and in general play, and obviously they are doing their work at scrum time, as the Crusaders scrum has not been bettered this season, no matter what combination of props they have trotted out.  Williams getting around the park like on oversized blindside flanker, running with the ball and supporting ball carriers like an All Black lock should.  Thorn definitely playing the tighter game of the two, and the combination working a treat - rivalled of the New Zealand sides by Flavell and Haiu. 

Loose trio coming along nicely too, McCaw and Tuiali'i as we all know class players, joined by a rapidly becoming class player Kieran Reid.  Reid is not in the mould of Collins or Kaino, not a block busting big hitter, but more of a quiet assassin - as I have mentioned in the past, more of a Thorne type player, but I think already better than the former All Black captain.  Certainly not out of place beside the current All Black captain McCaw and Tuiali'i.  Tuiali'i again a massive game from the massive man 0 he is playing out of his skin at the moment, and for three games on the trot - carrying on from last seasons NPC.  Something he has not really done before, so is this the year they big fella comes of age?  McCaw, well, he's McCaw, 'nuff said.

The blouses were effective as usual, perhaps a little dodgy with the finishing of chances (the whole team in fact), but big ups in this aspect of the game for the Stormers, as while they could not launch an attack to save themselves, they sure as hell knew how to defend!  Andy Ellis head and shoulders above the rest of the halfbacks playing in New Zealand at the moment, no doubt enjoying the ride he is getting behind the Crusaders pack, but you still have to put the form on the board!

Dan Carter and Brett Stephen combining better than hot milk and weetbix now.  The whole backline working like a well oiled machine - Casey Laulala even looking good again.  Hard to believe that playing players together week in and week out would make them combine together better, but there you go!!  Carter full of confidence again - his cross field kick for Maitland's try a gem, his running game coming back, and passing game coming along nicely too.  Brett Stephen looking more comfortable a spot further out at second five too.  Takes a while to adjust no doubt, to the demands of second five as opposed to first five, but it looks like he is fully there now!  Anyway, the inside backs doing the job required.

Leon MacDonald leading the way for the back three.  This is probably the weakest part of the Crusaders team when you examine the personal.  Fullback more than handy in Panadol McaDOnald, but then the wings - nothing earth shattering there.  A journey man All Black in Hamilton, Caleb Ralph, and a couple of rookies Maitland and Poki.  Certainly would not want that last pairing lining up in a pressure match!  In this match you had Maitland and Ralph starting, and while Maitland was as nervous as a rookie street walker on a Saturday test night, Ralph was his usual solid reliable self.  MacDonald strong as he has been all season, stepping and returning the ball well.

All in all a good result for the Crusaders, a hard fought win, which should put them in the right frame of mind as they take on the Western Farce this coming week.

Crusaders 22 (Maitland, Ellis tries;  Carter 4 pens)
Stormers 0.  HT:  11-0