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Crusaders v Waratahs takes: Fainga'anuku at 7 verdict, Wallabies new ace up the sleeve
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The Crusaders opened One New Zealand Stadium and the 2026 Super Round with a resounding 35-20 win over the Waratahs to keep their hopes alive of a top six finish.
Rob Penney’s side put their shock loss to the Force behind them on a special night for Christchurch, delivering five tries in the win.
Here are quick takes following the first game of the Super Round weekend.
The Moananu turning point
The Tahs had done a good job of resisting the home side in the first half, heading to the sheds down by just one at 14-13.
Eight minutes into the second half defending their own line, reserve hooker and ex-Crusader Ioane Moananu was yellow carded for attempting to pinch a ball at the ruck. It was an unfortunate moment, the Crusaders had no halfback and ball looked out, but Nic Berry found an indiscretion.
Down to 14 men the Waratahs conceded a try to Fainga’anuku which extended their lead out to eight points with half an hour to go. The Tahs had a chance to return serve, but after a Jorgensen turnover the Crusaders struck again on counter-attack through Dallas McLeod who bagged his second of the night. At 28-13 it was effectively over for the visitors and the floodgates opened.
Tahs’ set piece shambolic
The Crusaders essentially had the Tahs’ playbook at lineout time, stealing often and in the biggest moments to foil the visitors attack. This was painful watching for any Tahs fan. Crusaders pinched or disrupted the lineout three times after they had kicked to the line to look for more. A 63 per cent line out percentage is woeful at this level and even worse against the Crusaders. You just can’t lose that much ball from prime attacking opportunities and expect to be in the game. Pete Samu was the best option, with the loose forward winning three balls while the starting locks Matt Philip and Miles Amatosero grabbed just one between them. It seemed a lack of lineout scheme appeared to be the visitors’ downfall as the Crusaders were picking them off with ease.
Despite a new front row for the Tahs it seemed the Crusaders also had the wood over their scrum. They looked at risk of folding frequently from the home side’s shove and were even pushed off their ball for a tighthead late in the second. The Tahs do not have a solid foundation from set-piece and it showed in Christchurch.
The verdict on Leicester Fainga’anuku at 7
The midfielder-turned-openside played his first game in the No.7 jersey, which ended up being not a traditional openside role.
Understandably, he played more as a ‘flex’ position to utilise the parts of his game that suit. It’s not often that your openside is your top ball carrier and he was close with 15. He carried close from the pod but also from the midfield a lot. His passing skills were great when positioned out in the backline.
Even though he is great over the ball at ruck time, there weren’t too many jackal attempts despite hovering around the rucks a fair bit. This is where his experience as a flanker lacked a little. He almost had a massive turnover midway through the first half with the Tahs hot on attack inside the 22 but the call didn’t come.
Overall it was a success with Fainga’anuku’s impact coming mainly with ball-in-hand with the extra involvements out wide.
Super Sid Harvey
Aussie 7s recruit Sid Harvey had a big first half at One New Zealand Stadium, scoring all 13 of the Waratahs points. The 20-year-old nailed two penalties, scored a try from a cross-field kick and nailed the sideline conversion. He had a big line break against the run of play but ran away from his support on the right. IN the second half he showed moments of brilliance and a solid passing game at fullback to replace Max Jorgensen.
But it is his goal kicking that should seriously propel him into the Wallabies conversation. At Test level, points are at a premium and he is an ace. He kicked three penalties in the final 10 minutes in a win over the Brumbies, and he had a clutch kick for Australia U20s against New Zealand. You can picture him already slotting a match-winning kick against the Boks in a big Test.
If the preferred flyhalf is in fact Carter Gordon, who has issues off the tee, Harvey is the perfect option on the wing to five the Wallabies excellent goal kicking.
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