Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

The Crusaders have reaffirmed their credentials as one of the title favourites this season with a dominant 43-10 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin. After losing first five-eighth Taha Kemara early on, the Crusaders recovered in a one-sided southern derby.

Will Jordan got the party started with two tries in four minutes, which put the Crusaders in a strong position midway through the first half. Another try from Codie Taylor extended the visitors’ advantage, who scored 24 unanswered to open the contest.

Jonah Lowe eventually broke the deadlock for the Highlanders with a five-pointer in the 61^st minute, but it’s not as if the Crusaders were ever in danger of losing the match. Here are some takeaways from the round 11 clash.

Will Jordan is Cullen-esque

There are shades of Christian Cullen in the way Will Jordan plays the game.

Jordan is able to change direction without losing any pace, and that’s served Tasman in the NPC, the Crusaders and All Blacks well over the years. It’s an undeniable fact that Jordan is a world-class option both on the wing and at fullback for New Zealand.

It was a nervy start to the match on Saturday, with the Crusaders losing first-choice No. 10 Taha Kemara to injury. But Jordan starred as the visitors took control, with the fullback slicing through the Highlanders’ defence line on two occasions to score.

Fans may have experienced some déjà vu as Jordan scored two tries that were fairly similar in the ninth and 13^th minutes. Highlanders defenders struggled to even get a hand on the fullback who continues to make it look far too easy out there.

Jordan continued to threaten the Highlanders’ defensive line form there, showcasing skill and rugby IQ with strong running, kicking and playmaking games. In the 52^nd minute, the 62-game Crusader was within a metre or so of securing a 50/22.

“They’ve got players that can hurt you from all parts of the field and this guy nearly got a 50/22 out of it,” commentator Justin Marshall said on Sky Sport.

That’s X-factor.

That’s Cullen-esque.

Comparisons between Jordan and Cullen are fair; they’re warranted.

Let’s all just hope All Blacks selectors don’t do anything wild like move Jordan to centre.

Highlander has All Blacks potential

There’s been a lot of talk this season about Caleb Tangitau and Timoci Tavatavanawai.

Those two men from the Highlanders are uncapped at Test level, but among the fan favourites to play for the All Blacks in 2025. Tangitau has been a shining light since making the move south from the Blues, while Tavatavanawai is force capable of playing wing or in the midfield.

Fabian Holland is another candidate to debut for the All Blacks, but there’s another Highlander who deserves to be in that same conversation. Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens hasn’t skipped a beat since returning from injury in round nine against the Fijian Drua.

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens also played 80-minutes in a loss to the Chiefs in round 10, and the No. 15 was once again prolific in Saturday’s loss. For most of the first-half, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens was equal-first for both carries, metres run, and line breaks.

With a strong running and kicking games, and also solid defence, there’s a lot to like about Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’s game and that’s likely an opinion many would agree with.

While Will Jordan and Ruben Love are clear options to play fullback for New Zealand, it really does seem that Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is an All Black-in-waiting. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Highlander will enter the Test arena for the first time.

James O’Connor is one of the Crusaders’ most important players

Unfortunately for Taha Kemara, the young first five-eighth was helped from the field less than six minutes into the southern derby. Kemara twisted awkwardly in a tackle and suffered what appeared to be a knee injury, which prompted a forced change in the backline.

James O’Connor dominated rugby’s headlines last week as fans called for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to recall the experienced playmaker for the British & Irish Lions Series. ‘JOC’ nailed a last-gasp match-winner to sink the Blues in Christchurch in round 10.

But Crusaders boss Rob Penney didn’t select O’Connor to face the Highlanders. Instead, Rivez Reihana was given an opportunity to build on 13 minutes of playing time all season – a chance which came earlier in this match than many expected.

Reihana played well against the Landers, while team captain David Havili also stepped up as a playmaking option for the Crusaders. But with the Super Rugby playoffs a month or so away, who Peney selected in the No. 10 jersey will be key.

With the injury of Kemara, O’Connor has become one of the Crusaders’ most important players ahead of the finals. O’Connor’s influence will remain incredibly valuable to the team, even if Reihana is chosen to start upcoming fixtures.

Now that Kemara is likely out, if O’Connor can continue to have a positive impact by helping steer the Crusaders the title, then by all means, Joe Schmidt should select the fly-half to face the Lions. Only time will tell.

What’s most impressive about the 2025 Crusaders

Ever since Super Rugby began, there’s been this long-held belief that a team needs a Test star at fly-half to challenge for the title. Dan Carter, Richie Mo’unga and Morne Steyn have proved that true in their own right, but there’s an exception to every rule.

The 2025 Crusaders have shown that the game has changed

Kemara started a majority of matches this season, while former Wallaby James O’Connor has been called upon to come off the bench. Against the Highlanders, Rivez Reihana played 75 minutes with less than 20 games of Super Rugby experience behind him.

With Kemara going down after five minutes, that would’ve been a cause for concern for a lot of teams, with first five-eighth still the most important position in rugby on attack. But the Crusaders recovered, showing just how much of a unit they really are.

Forwards like Codie Taylor and Christian Lio-Willie did the damage up front, and backs such as Will Jordan reaped the rewards. It’ll either be O’Connor, who hasn’t played a Test in three years, or Reihana wearing the No. 10 moving forward, and the Crusaders will be okay either way.

They’re still one of the strongest contenders for the title, if not the favourites.