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The crucial mistake that cost Crusaders certain win over Waratahs
Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles thought Rivez Reihana was always “going to kick this early” as the Crusaders first five lined up a shot at goal with the match all but won against the Waratahs on Friday.
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The Crusaders, who were searching for what would’ve been their second win from seven starts this season, seemed to snatch it late when replacement Christian Lio-Willie scored in the 79th minute.
Lio-Willie picked up the ball at the base of an attacking scrum five metres out from the try line before running through tackle attempts from backrower Lachlan Swinton and halfback Teddy Wilson.
Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Macca Springer and Reihana were the first to flock to their try-scoring teammate, but the five-pointer still had to be confirmed by referee Nic Berry and the TMO.
A remarkable comeback for Will Harrison and a night to remember for @nswwaratahs 🙌#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvCRU pic.twitter.com/8iuJ8KcRGv
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 12, 2024
Once the try was given the green light, and as the Crusaders grouped in a huddle with captain Tom Christie doing the talking, Reihana lined up the shot at goal. But it didn’t need to go over.
The shot clock was ahead of the game clock. Reihana could’ve let time elapse for the Crusaders to win, but after taking the attempt with a second left, the Waratahs seized their chance to send the thriller to extra-time.
“The Tahs-Crusaders, there’s always something unique about those games,” former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts. “Great one to be a part of sitting in the crowd and watching the game finish as it did.
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“At no stage was I convinced that either side was clear favourites or had the game lost. It was open the whole entire way.
“I always had a feeling that no matter what happened… I was watching the whole time thinking, ‘He’s going to kick this early, he’s gonna kick this early.’
“Once you set up your kick, your time to delay is in the setup of the kick. Kickers have their routine, they’re not gonna hold back another 20 seconds.
“He should’ve delayed his setup of his kick. Once you’ve set the ball up and you’re ready, you’re going through your same motion otherwise you compromise your kick.
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“I thought (the Tahs) were going to get another chance.”
The Waratahs managed to retain possession off the restart as they prepared to march their way up the field. To the delight of the crowd, they began to look like a real chance of doing something special.
As they spread the ball wide, Crusaders wing Johnny McNicholl was penalised and shown a yellow card for an international knockdown. That gave the Waratahs a golden opportunity to tie it.
Playmaker Will Harrison sent the match to golden point with a clutch long-range penalty goal, and the replacement was the hero once again with a drop goal to win it 43-40 just a few minutes later.
Match Summary 
4
Penalty Goals
3
4
Tries
5
4
Conversions
3
1
Drop Goals
0
119
Carries
127
6
Line Breaks
6
15
Turnovers Lost
13
5
Turnovers Won
6
Harrison, who returned to Super Rugby Pacific this season after more than 700 days away following a horror run of injuries, was the man of the moment on a famous night at Allianz Stadium.
“I watched the setup and there were two, three, maybe four players that rushed to his left side on his final instruction. That was the thing that’s most important – he had time,” Hoiles explained.
“I knew he was going to get a clean strike out of it because of the way he set the guys up.
“I thought they’d gone a phase or two too long but then when they came back to the other side I was like, at least he’s got his guys in front of him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments