Hurricanes' 34 points end Crusaders' 36-match unbeaten streak at home
They were the last Super Rugby side to defeat the Crusaders in Christchurch four long years ago. Tonight the Hurricanes repeated the dose with a supremely patient and disciplined display to stun the defending champions 34-32 and end their stretch of 36 unbeaten games at home.
TJ Perenara and Ardie Savea were involved in that 2016 victory and they will again savour the night the Hurricanes proved the Crusaders are, indeed, beatable.
The Hurricanes did so with a commitment to the collisions and an undaunted attitude.
Perhaps the Crusaders are starting to feel the pinch of an injury toll that now includes Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Scott Barrett, Cullen Grace and Ethan Blackadder.
Still, a side that has claimed the last three Super Rugby titles does not reach for excuses. They were beaten by a better side on their home patch to throw Super Rugby Aotearoa wide open.
Nothing should detract from the manner in which the Hurricanes stormed Christchurch.
With Beauden Barrett shifting north this season, the Hurricanes have largely flown under the radar. They were supposed to be fighting for best of the rest after losing their first two games of the New Zealand derby season. Since then, though, the unheralded Wellington outfit has found a groove – winning four straight to revive a once flatlining campaign.
This victory will be sweeter than any other this season.
As he does every week, All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo’unga did his best to spark a Crusaders comeback in the second half. The Hurricanes led 21-17 at halftime, and 31-20 midway through the second half, but when Mo’unga has the ball in his hands, anything is possible.
Two pieces of Mo’unga magic almost turned the result. First he produced a solo chip and chase after plucking ball from the air to help set up Quinten Strange’s 69th-minute try that reduced the margin to four points. Mo’unga then made a break and put Sevu Reece in at the corner to give himself a chance to tie the match with a sideline conversion.
That strike proved a step too far, though, and the Hurricanes held on for the final two minutes for a memorable upset.
Jordie Barrett kicked 17 points and dynamic hooker Asafo Aumua produced another impressive performance starting in Dane Coles’ absence.
This was a hugely attritional match that featured seven tries and claimed the in-form Ngani Laumape, who injured his forearm attempting to tackle Joe Moody in the 48th minute and then left the field in a dejected mood after attempting to play on.
Peter Umaga-Jensen, one of the standout figures from centre for the Hurricanes, also departed after scoring in the 62th minute and taking a head knock in the process.
The Hurricanes arrived with intent to get in the face and rattle the Crusaders. On defence the visitors brought relentless linespeed aggression and while they didn’t always get this right, the Crusaders knew they were in a battle from the outset.
Barrett won the fullback duel with his spiral bombs giving opposing fullback Will Jordan a challenging evening.
On attack, the Hurricanes used the width well with forwards and backs linking to create space on the edges where Wes Goosen twice finished sweeping movements. Inside Goosen, Umaga-Jensen picked up where he left off last week by showcasing his strength in contact with brilliantly timed angled bursts from centre.
The Crusaders’ main area of dominance came from their scrum where they took advantage after the Hurricanes lost prop Tyrel Lomax and locks Isaia Walker-Leawere and Vaea Fifita prior to kickoff. Sixteen minutes into the contest fellow Hurricanes prop Fraser Armstrong then departed with shoulder injury.
Mo’unga scored the Crusaders’ first try after a nice tip on pass from Jack Goodhue at first receiver. George Bridge claimed their second following a Reece bust, the All Blacks wing kicking ahead a wide pass and somehow getting to the ball first after the bouncing ball wrong-footed Barrett in-goal.
Other than those two passages, though, the Hurricanes dominated territory and possession and therefore deserved their half time advantage after four lead changes.
The Crusaders started the second spell with a plan to keep the ball in hand. Mo’unga challenged the line much more, attempting to ignite his team, and the Crusaders increased their offloading game.
Opting not to kick the ball away the Crusaders denied the Hurricanes possession for large periods to close within two points.
But unlike so many occasions before, this time it was the visitors who held their composure in Christchurch.
Hurricanes 34 (Wes Goosen 2, Peter Umaga-Jensen tries; Jordie Barrett 2 cons, 5 pens)
Crusaders 32 (Richie Mo’unga, George Bridge, Quinten Strange, Sevu Reece tries; Mo’unga 3 cons, 2 pens)
HT: 21-17
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments