Debutant hat-trick sees Crusaders win Super Rugby Pacific opener

Super Rugby Pacific 2025 kicked off in Christchurch as the Crusaders looked to right the wrongs of 2024 while the Hurricanes looked to build on the immense promise shown last season.

It was the Hurricanes who struck first, but a back-and-forth contest eventually evened out with the Crusaders on top. A final score of 33-25 showed the team are back in dangerous form for 2025.

The Hurricanes drew four penalties in their opening multi-phase attack, earning them a lineout five metres from the Crusaders line. Another penalty to Scott Barrett saw the All Blacks captain handed a yellow card just four minutes into the contest.

Powerful tackles from Christian Lio-Willie and Tamaiti Williams pushed the Hurricanes backward, but the visitors were efficient with their attacking breakdown work, and Jacob Devery provided the power to score the opening try of the season.

Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham’s day was done after just eight minutes, the young All Black limping off the field and making way for debutant Kyle Preston.

It didn’t take long for Du’Plessis Kirifi to make his presence felt at the breakdown, threatening before winning a turnover in the 11th minute.

The Crusaders’ discipline continued to be poor, and the Hurricanes took the territorial gains with glee. A lineout 30 metres out saw the visitors execute a classy play with Kirifi playmaking. The ball swung wide right where Will Jordan got a hand to a pass, only for the ball to swing the other way with young Harry Godfrey delivering a crisp pass wide, resulting in a second score to Devery.

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Avg. Points Scored

2.7

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The Hurricanes were next to receive a warning for their indiscipline, and the Crusaders received their first shot at attacking with strong field position. Their first attack was well orchestrated but foiled by a number of defenders holding Sevu Reece up over the line. Just moments later though Will Jordan split the defence with a strong line and found Wellingtonian Preston for the Crusaders’ first try of the season.

Physical phase play with the occasional Will Jordan injection then saw the Crusaders chew through metres and eventually equalise with a try to Cullen Grace.

The Hurricanes wrestled momentum back in their favour with silky ball movement that displayed their backline’s attacking prowess. Former All Blacks Sevens speedster Fehi Fineanganofo claimed his third big carry of the game, adding to an impressive early run metre count for the debutant. A penalty saw the Hurricanes regain a three-point lead.

Quick hands from Callum Harkin set Kini Naholo away down the left edge and the All Blacks XV winger had the pace and athleticism to dive in and reach the corner. The score extended the Hurricanes’ lead to 22-14 at the break.

After a unique halftime that saw two Crusaders fans get married under the posts, the Hurricanes came out with pace and power, pressing deep into Crusaders territory early.

With a penalty on offer, the visitors opted to go for the seven points but had their lineout stolen. The visitors soon found themselves down the other end with some heroic defence from Kini Naholo saving his side from conceding a try in the corner.

Just as it looked like the Crusaders had struck again, a replay tipped the TMO off to an earlier knock-on from the passage of play.

An audacious counter-attack from the Crusaders saw the hosts collect two chip and chases in quick succession resulting in Kyle Preston’s second try of the game. The score reduced the Hurricanes’ lead to one.

Tension overflowed for the second time as the hour mark approached, again showing both teams were entering the season with plenty of passion. A lift in the tackle saw Ethan Blackadder penalised, and Callum Harkin claimed three points.

Reserves started to filter into the game with 20 minutes remaining, including former Wallaby James O’Connor, who showed class with his touches from the outset.

Quick hands at the line was the name of the game throughout and Dallas McLeod provided the swift distribution to set Reece away for another break down the left flank, this time making it to the line and burning defenders to get under the posts. O’Conner had his first points for the Crusaders with the conversion.

The Hurricanes were forced to defend for much of the final 10 minutes and it was one of their own homegrown talents in Kyle Preston who cemented the Crusaders’ win with his third try of the game on a sniping dive beside the ruck. Final score: 33-25.