'Crusaders mauled young Cats team like cubs'

Crusaders (46) 65

Tries: MacDonald, Hurst, Ralph (2), A Mauger, McCaw, N Mauger, Vunibaka, Hamilton, Thorne

Conversions: MacDonald (6)

Penalties: MacDonald (2)

Cats (6) 34

Tries: Jacobs, Jordaan, Skinstad, Lombard

Conversions: Tsimba (4)

Penalties: Tsimba (2)

When Cats coach Tim Lane was handed the most youthful team in the competition he never thought he would have to refer to them as "boys" in a literal sense.

Lane was on Saturday sufficiently unimpressed and lamented this mismatch that admittedly, could have been more lopsided had the Cats not got a grip on themselves and held their defensive lines in the second half.

"Our defence was so poor. We were like boys against men," Lane said from Christchurch on Saturday. The coach reflected on his team's biggest defeat of the season and he simply could not gloss over an utterly inept performance in the first half.

They committed mass suicide on defence and the Crusaders cashed in. The Cats seemed to wave the Crusaders' attackers through in the opening 40 minutes - a period in which the visitors helped themselves to 46 points and for a while the hosts looked on course to improve the record 96 points they racked up against the Waratahs last year. Thankfully, the Cats started making tackles in the second half.

"We were outplayed in the first half," Lane underlined the obvious. "Our defence just wasn't up to scratch. In the second half it went better.

"I'm not sure if the Crusaders took their foot off the pedal or if we improved a hell of a lot, but things went better.

"The guys held their defensive lines and they were able to turn it around.

"But the guys must learn to play to their potential.

"They must learn to play for 80 minutes and not for the second 40," Lane advised.

The Cats certainly lacked cohesion and to that end the coach should shoulder some of the blame.

He made nine changes to the side that lost to the Sharks and they frankly, played like individuals and never as a unit.

The Cats' handling again let them down while their decision making wasn't much better than it was against the Sharks.

"I thought our line-outs and our scrums were alright, but we were poor defensively while Kennedy (Tsimba) kicked away possession he should perhaps have used otherwise," Lane said.

The Cats team for next week's clash against the Chiefs will again have a different look.

Lane said the injured lock Kleinjan Tromp, flyhalf Andre Pretorius and flanker Joe van Niekerk will be assessed on Sunday.

"They will probably be considered, as will Gcobani Bobo.

"This game was very disappointing, but we are not down.

"We want to play to our potential and be competitive. But you can't start this poorly and hope to catch up."