Super Rugby: Crusaders race away from Reds in second half
The Crusaders scored four tries in 16 second-half minutes on their way to clinching a 57-29 win over the Reds.
Last Updated: 11/05/14 4:11pm
The seven-time Super Rugby champions trailed the hosts by one point at half-time at Suncorp Stadium but raced away from their opponents after the interval.
The Crusaders scored six tries in total, Johnny McNicholl and Nemani Nadolo grabbing two each and Wyatt Crockett and Luke Whitelock also crossing the line.
Colin Slade racked up 27 points on a perfect day from the kicking tee, while the Reds also managed to grab a bonus point after scoring four tries in total.
The Crusaders became the first team from New Zealand to win at Suncorp since 2009 and scored 50 points in Australia for the first time.
The Reds were behind early on when Nemani Nadolo went over for a try in the first ten minutes, before Slade added the conversion and later his first penalty.
Level
But with Crusaders scrum-half Andy Ellis in the sin bin, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi scored his first Super Rugby try and Quade Cooper, who had earlier slotted over a penalty, added the conversion to level things up at 10-10.
The Reds then struck again, forcing a turnover before Dom Shipperley came off his wing to collect a short pass and go over untouched. Cooper converted but Slade narrowed the gap with two penalties before half-time.
And the visitors flew out of the blocks after the break, Crockett going over after taking a tap penalty and McNicholl gathering Israel Dagg's kick to touch down.
Cooper's kicking was turning from bad to worse, allowing the Crusaders the territorial advantage they needed to score a third try when Slade's high kick was tapped down into the hands of Whitelock.
Another poor kick from Cooper then allowed McNicholl to run into space down the touchline and combine with Slade to release Nadolo for his second try.
Rod Davies and Rob Simmons slavaged some pride and a bonus point as they each went over for tries, while Slade's fifth penalty brought up the half-century for the Crusaders.
And there was still time for McNicholl to bag his second try, intercepting a loose pass from Cooper and outrunning the Reds defence after kicking ahead.