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Crusaders dismantle league-leading Hurricanes to climb above Blues into third
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Rob Penney’s Crusaders have powered past the table-topping Hurricanes, 47-14, at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, securing their fourth straight victory at the new venue.
The Crusaders’ victory elevated Penney’s side into third place, above the Blues by three points after their bonus point triumph, ahead of tomorrow’s clash between the Chiefs and the Blues in Hamilton.
For Clark Laidlaw and the Hurricanes, the loss provided some much-needed minutes for both Cameron Roigard and Tyrel Lomax, with the two being replaced after 40 minutes.
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Christian Lio-Willie was powerful and busy with ball in hand for the home side, amassing a game-leading twelve carries at halftime along with his late first-half try.
Sevu Reece celebrated his 100th appearance for the Crusaders with a double on Friday evening, while his work ethic around the paddock was evident and effective.
Penney and his coaching staff were forced into a late change prior to kickoff, with Ethan Blackadder picking up a minor niggle, elevating Johnny Lee into the starting lineup.
The home side had the first opportunity to earn prime field position in the second minute, but Rivez Reihana’s ambitious touch-finder bounced dead.
Most of the opening ten minutes were spent deep inside the Hurricanes’ half, where the home side carried with intent close to the line, resulting in the game’s first try.
Crusaders winger Sevu Reece, who was heavily involved in the play prior to the try, put Dallas McLeod through a hole in the Hurricanes’ defence.
McLeod went close, before Reece peeled to the left side of the ruck and dived for the line, scoring the opening five-pointer on his 100th appearance.
Reece was involved in an unfortunate mix-up directly after the try, letting the ball bounce out of play off the kick-off.
The Hurricanes earned a scrum shortly after, where the away side hit back through a Cameron Roigard offload.
Roigard drew in two defenders before finding his captain, Brad Shields, who powered over the line to draw the game level after 12 minutes.
Last weekend’s hero against the Chiefs, David Havili, kick-started a counter-attack just on the inside of halfway after a Chay Fihaki breakdown turnover. Havili fended off Arese Poliko before linking up with Christian Lio-Willie and Reece to set up Noah Hotham in support.
Hotham’s try gave the Crusaders their second lead of the evening.
The Crusaders then started to gain momentum with the ball in hand, forcing the Hurricanes to make a number of tackles. Penney’s side were towards the right-hand touch-line, as they shifted the ball through Taha Kemara, Chay Fihaki, and Havili. The latter was the architect once again, with Johnny McNicholl applying the finishing touches.
Kemara added the extras, after coming on to replace Reihana, who left the field and was ruled out through an HIA injury.
Laidlaw’s side continued to struggle defensively, not coping with the Crusaders’ effective attacking shape. Reece managed to squeeze through two defenders and find an offload to McNicholl, who shifted the ball on to Christian Lio-Willie to extend the lead to 19 with four minutes to play in the first half.
HT: 26-7 to the Crusaders.
Both sides showcased some silky skills and ball handling in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, despite neither team managing to add to the halftime scoreboard.
Crusaders debutant Cooper Roberts had a couple of bright moments, including a skilful offload to McNicholl down the right-hand touchline. Oli Mathis put a poor pass behind him, instantly linking up with former New Zealand U20 teammate, Roberts, to create the first try of the second half.
Mathis went close near the posts, before Reece flicked it to replacement hooker Manumaua Letiu, who was too big, too strong, close to the line.
The away side took advantage of their limited time in the Crusaders’ 22-meter zone, as replacement prop Pouri Rakete-Stones used his strength close to the line, closing the gap to 33-14.
McNicholl identified some space down the near side of the away side’s ruck defence, breaking the line and setting up Kyle Preston under the posts, whose knack of being in the right place at the right time is becoming a huge strength for the Crusaders.
A late Bailyn Sullivan error gifted Reece his second, topping off an emphatic victory at One New Zealand Stadium.
FT: 47-14 to the Crusaders.
The Hurricanes will host their Qualifying final at 7.05pm NZST on Friday, June 5, against the 5th- or 6th-placed team at Hnry Stadium in Wellington.
