Crusaders power past Moana Pasifika with second-half blitz

Defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders have won two matches in a row for the first time this season, with four capped All Blacks among the try-scorers in the 50-21 victory on Auckland’s North Shore.

Coach Rob Penney turned to uncapped first five-eighth Cooper Grant for the round six fixture at North Harbour Stadium, with the Crusaders missing their first-choice playmakers Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara.

Crusaders captain David Havili is among the 13 players currently sidelined, with Will Jordan taking up the captaincy. Meanwhile, Moana Pasiifka started the 2026 season with a win away to the Fijian Drua but were looking to snap a four-match losing streak back at home.

It didn’t take long for the Crusaders to strike, with Noah Hotham sniping within the red zone before passing the ball on to Bell. The hooker threw a short flick pass to outside centre Braydon Ennor, who powered through three defenders to score in the fourth minute.

The Crusaders had started the match in style, but Moana Pasifika gave it their all as they looked to hit back soon after. About 10 minutes after Ennor’s try, the home side looked confident as they built up phase after phase in their attacking 22.

Former All Blacks prop Atu Moli dropped the ball about five metres shy of the try line, but halfback Joel Lam forced on a knock-on after the scrum that followed. Moana continued to unleash attacking pressure before Bell secured the ball from the grasp of Lalomilo Lalomilo.

All Blacks Will Jordan, Christian Lio-Willie, Dallas McLeod and uncapped outside back Chay Fihaki combined in the Crusaders’ first attacking opportunity after their defensive stand, setting up Sevu Reece with Super Rugby career try number 68.

That saw debutant Grant step up and convert his first points in Super Rugby.

The Crusaders led 12-0 before Moana hit back through Tevita Ofa and Lam, while Patrick Pellegrini proved accurate off the goal-kicking tee. Pellegrini’s second successful shot at the uprights saw the hosts take the lead for the first time.

But Moana’s lead was short-lived, with Grant sending a cross-field kick towards Fihaki in the 34^th minute. Fihaki was unmarked near the right touchline, catching the perfectly-weighed kick without any difficulties.

It was a three-point ballgame at the break, with the Crusaders leading.

Individual brilliance from Leicester Fainga’anuku saw the Crusaders build on their lead early in the second term. Fainga’anuku broke the game open with a 45-metre carry, which saw the backline utility beat multiple defenders.

Bell then scored two tries in five minutes, as the Crusaders began to run away with a convincing win on the road. The hooker had been fairly prolific on both sides of the ball during the first half and continued to stand out in the second 40.

Kurtis MacDonald was next to add five points to the Crusaders’ score, before Fihaki completed a double in the 72^nd minute. With that last try, the Crusaders became the second New Zealand side after the Hurricanes to hit 50 points in round six.

While the match was lost, Moana did have the final point-scoring say of the match, with Siaosi Nginingini picking off a Kyle Preston pass. The try-scorer jumped up immediately and began to run back towards halfway, with Moana giving it everything until the final whistle.