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Rebels blow halftime lead to hand Crusaders Super win

By AAP
Ioane Moananu of the Crusaders celebrates scoring a try during the round nine Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Crusaders at AAMI Park, on April 21, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Rebels have again let a Super Rugby Pacific halftime lead slip to fall to the defending champion Crusaders 43-17 in a brutal clash.

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In their last outing at AAMI Park, the Rebels led the Blues at the break before the visitors blew them away in the second half.

While Friday night’s match was a tighter affair, Melbourne’s 12-point halftime lead evaporated with the Crusaders running in four second-half tries.

It was a disappointing end to a memorable week for the club, who were looking to celebrate new deals for head coach Kevin Foote and his two assistants.

It was also a huge blow for the hosts, who entered the match in 10th spot and in dire need of wins.

The Crusaders have battled a huge injury toll but were still fourth heading into the contest with star playmaker Richie Mo’unga turning out for his 100th Super cap.

The lead changed hands three times in the second half but the Crusaders managed the game better despite some ferocious Melbourne defence.

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The visitors had all the ball early but the Rebels showed desperation to keep them out until the 11th minute, when Braydon Ennor sent a long pass out to winger Macca Springer.

To the home side’s credit they hit straight back with skipper Brad Wilkin diving across the line from the back of a ruck.

And they were in again three minutes later when No.8 Vaiolini Ekuasi scooped up the ball, lost by Crusaders centre David Havili after a big hit by Josh Canham.

Ekuasi, who also extended his Rebels deal this week, had to run 90 metres to touch down.

Halfback Ryan Louwrens then got amongst the spoils for Melbourne to take a 24-12 lead to the sheds.

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They were notably wary after their halftime lead over the Blues turned into a 54-17 loss.

And their worst fears were realised with two early second-half tries seeing the Crusaders take a 26-24 lead in the 63rd minute.

The Rebels weren’t rattled this time and went ahead again through a Reece Hodge penalty kick.

But the Crusaders kept coming and reserve hooker Ioane Moananu shrugged off defenders to storm over.

A Mo’unga penalty gave his team a nine-point buffer and then he set up a try for reserve back Dallas McLeod.

The visitors rubbed further salt into the wound with an 82nd-minute score to also collect a b onus point.

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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