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Crusaders flex muscles by overcoming Chiefs in bounce back victory

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Crusaders have turned the tables on the Chiefs with a 34-19 win to spoil their Hamilton Super Rugby Pacific homecoming.

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A barnstorming Sevu Reece scored with 20 minutes to play to swing the game in the Crusaders’ favour.

His devastating line break and try came against the run of play as the Chiefs, who started the half down by just three points thanks to two first-half tries from Alex Nankivell, looked for a go-ahead try.

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Leicester Fainga’anuku then carried four men over the line from close range to all but seal the second-placed Crusaders’ fourth win from five starts as crowds returned to New Zealand Super games.

The Chiefs remain in fifth place and will have concerns over star lock Brodie Retallick after he left the field late in the first half with a thumb injury.

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Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said the loss a fortnight ago had stung his side into action.

“Last time they hurt us at home; it’s a tough place to come out on top here, we talked out effort all week,” he said after the five tries to three win.

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“Last time the Chiefs had better of it, dominated physically.

“We had to turn up physically and I thought the boys showed plenty of effort in that area.”

Chiefs skipper Sam Cane lamented their inability to match the competition heavyweights.

“To be fair they won the majority of the little battles that go on inside a rugby game,” he said.

“They put us under a lot of pressure … it’s disappointing at home for the first time in a long time, because today we took a couple of backward steps.

“But credit has to go to the Crusaders for the pressure and attitude they showed up with tonight.

“Man it makes you appreciate it when you haven’t had it for a wee while.”

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– Murray Wenzel

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PoppaRick 1 hour ago
The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

It annoys when sport “Professionals “ make statements like that . The Best Team, plays their Best game in the final. The start of the Season is pure entertainment for the Fans and training for the Teams. The last 2 years in a row the Chiefs timed their run wrong and “Choked “. Not a word used when speaking about the Crusaders, EVER!!

Hamish Bidwell should put something behind his arrogant statement. He’s playing the weatherman game, he knows, if he gets it wrong, meh!

But he takes kudos for getting a 50/50 right.

Remember game #1.

Rob Penny took his front row off including Tamaiti Williams who was demolishing the Chiefs scrum and causing havoc all over the field. The Saders lost the second half and the game, meh? Yes meh! We lost Tamaiti first game last season a loss we didn’t recover from when added to Jordan, Scooter, Backadder , etc. Yet they beat The Blues in the last Round game. Oh that’s right the Chiefs ( qualified first ) then lost to the Blues, at home! With 🐄🔔S.

The Crusaders as a whole, from top down, know the season is decided at the end.

Not a team I would write off so easily.

As for the Cow Bells. If I had Chiefs supporters coming over to watch the game at mine. I would ask them to leave the bells at home, purely because they are so bloody annoying. My house my rules. Next year don’t lose in the “Finals” (joke), get the home final and tell the Crusaders to leave the horses at home (🤣🤣🤣).

I can’t wait the game will be awesome for so many reasons.

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