FORMER Wallaby Matt Rogers has put a dent in the Crusaders' playoff hopes after the team's 37-15 defeat at the hands of the Western Force.
Despite both teams entering the match with just one win each in 11th and 12th places respectively, the hosts rallied to put on a lively display on Courtley Beale's debut.
“The Crusaders had 14 turnovers tonight, and I think half of them were solid defensive power plays,” Rogers explained.
“They were in their faces all night.”
Double-code international Allana Ferguson compared the Crusaders to children after watching the Force maul demolish them for the third time.
“How about it, it's like adults versus kids, that was great,” Ferguson said of the last-ditch effort.
The force travels to New Zealand to face the Highlanders and Chiefs and before returning home to face the Fiji Drua and New South Wales Waratahs.
the summary of the match 
Rogers believes two of the matches are winnable, putting them in the hunt for a quarter-final spot, but he was prepared to write off the Crusaders' chances.
“Confidence that they were going to take the back of this off, and Courtley coming into that side, he's only been there for a week,” Rogers said of the force.
“Give him more time, he will improve, and confidence will grow from within the team. Who knows what the future holds for this team, but they will put themselves in the picture.
You have now taken the Crusaders out of that picture. “I don't think they can get there.”
The Crusaders travel home for two matches against Australian sides, the Rebels and the Reds, before the Southern derby against the Highlanders.
They then play the Brumbies in Canberra before returning home to play rivals the Blues.
“Yes, the Crusaders are gone for me too,” agreed Ferguson.
“What I liked about the power play tonight was that it was quite balanced. They succeeded in a lot of different ways. I thought their offense in the first half was very good and it was the defense that won them over in the end.”
“Obviously the ball rolling was on fire as well, and I thought they were well balanced in how they went about getting the win over the Crusaders.”
