Crusaders vs Blues: The best prop in Super Rugby, try assist of the year

The Blues persevered in their hunt for seven points throughout a sodden 80 minutes of physical rugby in Christchurch, but a scrum penalty after the 80th minute saw their effort come undone as James O’Connor’s game-winner sailed between the uprights.

While denying the first super point finish of the season, the Crusaders retained their lead atop the Super Rugby Pacific standings with seven wins and two losses to their name.

The Blues also proved why they would be a nightmare matchup if they are to sneak into the playoffs late in the season.

Here are some takeaways from the Crusaders win.

Don’t forget about Dalton

In the great Sam Cane successor debate, Dalton Papali’i’s name has been lost.

This is despite the 27-year-old being Scott Robertson’s go-to man to begin the 2024 season before injuries took him out of the action.

Papali’i played just 30 minutes in tonight’s contest, but made them count with strong carries and a turnover to complement his usual tenacious defence.

The 36-cap All Black is second only to Du’plessis Kirifi in total tackles for any Kiwi loose forward, despite having played one less game than the Hurricanes’ co-captain.

Papali’i is rarely called upon to carry for the Blues, but does impress and tends to make it over the gain-line when his number is called. The All Blacks will be much the same, with Wallace Sititi and Ardie Savea sure to start in whatever combination Robertson and company select.

Papali’i may not be as exciting as Kirifi, but he may be just what the All Blacks need in an otherwise explosive loose trio.

Crusaders do what they do best

This game was the ultimate test of the Crusaders’ iconic grit and grind defence, a test they passed.

The Blues were camped in the hosts’ 22 for large stretches of this contest, going hammer and tongs at the line with little reward. The visitors managed three times as many 22m entries as their rivals and, remarkably, spent 50 per cent of their time in possession inside the Crusaders’ 22, but were denied time and time again.

The game took its toll, and the defensive resilience was worn down in the final quarter, but 183 tackles later, the Crusaders prevailed.

10 Crusaders chewed through double-digit tackles, with Ethan Blackadder leading the pack with 26. Scott Barrett, Christian Lio-Willie and Codie Taylor were all immense and followed up with 17 tackles apiece.

While it was an impressive display of fortitude, Rob Penney will be disappointed that poor exits and underwhelming discipline had his side pinned against their own line for so long.

Try assist of the year

Hoskins Sotutu’s attacking X-factor has been more subdued this season than last, but tonight the No. 8 produced a piece of brilliance that will undoubtedly be seen the world over by this time tomorrow.

A behind-the-back, flick of the wrist, 20-metre dime found AJ Lam, who got through three defenders to score.

There are no words for this one. Simply outstanding.

WHAT HAVE WE JUST WITNESSED?!? 🤯

Hoskins Sotutu take a bow 🙌 #SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/0L7rD2mkK7

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 18, 2025

Blues reverse most concerning trend

The reigning champions have been a very poor second-half team in 2025, but even with perhaps their least experienced bench unit of the year so far, they managed to twist this game into a contest late in the piece.

The Blues being dead last in second-half scoring this season won’t come as much of a surprise given they’ve scored the second-fewest points this season, but having your points so heavily skewed is a dangerous trend.

The loss will sting for many reasons, but to be down by seven at halftime against the competition leaders and go on to lead by three with nine minutes remaining is a great positive step for the Blues.

The aforementioned brilliance of Sotutu was key to getting the Aucklanders in the game, while multiple scrum penalties against the Crusaders also helped.

AJ Lam also deserves a ton of credit for another superb performance in the midfield. Don’t be surprised if Lam stays ahead of fellow in-form 12s like Quinn Tupaea and Timoci Tavatavanawai in the national selection picture.

Territory

35%

24%

17%

24%

41%

Territory

59%

Tamaiti Williams is the best prop in Super Rugby

Two men presented themselves as antidotes to the Blues’ bully-ball carry game tonight: Scott Barrett and Tamaiti Williams.

Both All Blacks proved too physically dominant to be moved as the Blues looked to pick-and-go in Crusaders territory, repelling what was such a powerful tactic both a season ago and again and in recent wins.

Barrett’s response to recent criticism is a testament to his character, and Williams’ form at the age of just 24 is exactly what fans hoped the 144 kg behemoth would grow into when he burst onto the scene.

The prop is performing better than any other in Super Rugby Pacific, using his size and strength to impact the game on both sides of the ball.

He scored in the opening minute and couldn’t be contained at scrum time, even up against a former All Black in Angus Ta’avao.

Williams’ propping partner Fletcher Newell also deserves plenty of credit for an 80-minute performance, including the game-winning scrum penalty.