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Back-to-back hat-tricks for Bridge but Read injury mars Crusaders' day

Crusaders’ George Bridge scores against Cheetahs

George Bridge scored his second successive hat-trick as Crusaders maintained their perfect record in Super Rugby, but Kieran Read’s broken thumb will be a worry for New Zealand ahead of the British and Irish Lions’ tour.

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All Blacks captain Read requires surgery on the injury sustained in Saturday’s 48-21 defeat of Cheetahs and could be a doubt for the first Test against Warren Gatland’s side, which takes place on June 24.

The setback tarnished an otherwise excellent day for Crusaders and Bridge in particular.

The wing crossed the whitewash three times in a 57-24 rout of Stormers last time out, and he repeated the feat as Crusaders made it nine wins from nine.

Last crowned champions in 2008, Crusaders look well set to feature heavily in the end-of-season shake-up as they delivered another strong performance at Free State Stadium.

David Havili was first to go over, Bridge touching down for his first before Cheetahs had a Sergeal Petersen try controversially ruled out for a forward pass which television replays suggested was not the case.

Bridge rubbed further salt into the wounds with his second to give the visitors a 22-7 half-time lead. That was extended as Richie Mo’unga went over soon after the restart, Havili adding his second before Mitchell Drummond got in on the act.

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Bridge’s third rounded off the scoring for Crusaders, who lost Sam Whitelock and Mitch Hunt to yellows in the final 10 minutes, Petersen adding a meaningless score for Cheetahs at the end.

Meanwhile, Sharks overcame Jaguares 33-25 and, in a one-sided affair, Southern Kings routed Rebels 44-3, the home side running in half a dozen tries, including 33 unanswered second-half points.

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Nickers 16 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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