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The Crusaders extended their winning run to 10 Super Rugby matches on Saturday, as the Waratahs remained just ahead of the Rebels in the Australian Conference.
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Ladder leaders Crusaders consolidated their place at the top of the ultra-competitive New Zealand Conference with a fine 34-20 victory at the Chiefs.
The Chiefs were in front in an entertaining clash when Sean Wainui and Luke Jacobson cancelled out Heiden Bedwell-Curtis’ opener, but Matt Todd and George Bridge crossed to put the visitors in control.
Although Jacobson scored a second try, Damian McKenzie’s failure to match Richie Mo’unga’s consistency with his boot meant the Chiefs were chasing the game even before Luke Romano’s late effort.
We’ve overcome the challenge from @ChiefsRugby with a 34-20 win! And in the 200th @crusadersrugby game for Crocky 👊🏼 #crusaderforlife #legend 🙌🏼 #CHIvCRU #wewill #crusadeon
— Crusaders (@crusadersrugby) June 2, 2018
Elsewhere, a knee injury to Jordan Uelese dampened the Rebels’ impressive 20-10 defeat of the Blues at Eden Park.
The Rebels became the first Australian side to triumph in New Zealand in Super Rugby since 2015, but the victory came at a cost as Wallabies hooker Uelese was injured in a tackle on Akira Ioane just 10 minutes after arriving as a substitute.
His team-mates had already completed the scoring, pulling out of sight after a tight first half in which tries from Billy Meakes and Dane Haylett-Petty – either side of Terrence Hepetema’s effort – secured a narrow lead.
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Meakes went over again after the break and the Blues failed to add to their score, but the visitors’ – and Michael Cheika – will now be concerned by Uelese’s condition.
-Equal club-highest number of wins in a Super Rugby season ✅
Top of Australian Conference (for now) ✅
2nd ever win in NZ ✅
1st ever win in Auckland ✅#NeverBackDown #BLUvREB pic.twitter.com/uGUxq49Sh1
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) June 2, 2018
The Rebels had climbed to the summit of the Australian Conference with their win, but the Waratahs reclaimed top spot by a point after a thrilling 52-41 success at the Reds.
Israel Folau scored twice for the Waratahs, who also saw Curtis Rona, Michael Wells, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nick Phipps, Jake Gordon and Cameron Clark cross in a superb attacking display.
The Reds managed to stay in the game for long periods, too, though, going over seven times themselves, but ultimately they came up just short.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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