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'Uncanny resemblance’: Will Jordan sees similarities to All Black in debutant

Johnny Lee of Crusaders is interviewed following the round five Super Rugby match between Crusaders and Highlanders at Apollo Projects Stadium, on March 14, 2026, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
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5 comments
Crusaders debutant and former New Zealand U20 representative Johnny Lee couldn’t have imagined a better start to his Super Rugby Pacific career, showcasing his talents with a double against the Highlanders at Apollo Projects Stadium.

Lee, who plays his rugby for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC competition, powered his way over the line on two occasions, providing massive impact for the Crusaders after their disappointing defeat last week against long-time rivals, the Blues.

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Lee’s first try was on the back of some solid work by the Crusaders forwards, setting a strong platform at lineout time.

The debutant took the ball off the back, fired a short ball to Ethan Blackadder who then returned the favour by offloading the ball to Lee who went in for his first Super Rugby Pacific try.

Then, instead of leaving the back of the driving maul as he did for his first try, Lee stayed in the fight and barged his way over the line with the help of his tight-five to score his second of the evening.

Attack

146
Passes
167
110
Ball Carries
122
147m
Post Contact Metres
196m
9
Line Breaks
5

Will Jordan, who was the stand-in captain for the Crusaders after David Havili went down, mentioned a moment during the week about Lee and Blackadder that made him realise some similarities.

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Lee and Blackadder are both loose-forwards, with an ability to play on multiple positions in the back row, while playing for the same NPC and Super Rugby franchises.

“Yeah I saw them standing beside each other during a meeting the other day, it is a bit of an uncanny resemblance, but nah Johnny’s a guy who just goes about his work, gets stuck into it, and like Penney said, he’s been hugely impressive,” Jordan told reporters in Christchurch.

“Yeah he doesn’t shy away from anything so an 80-minute first game is a decent shift in a southern derby.”

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Lee’s head coach, Penney, knows that after that performance, the 22-year-old Tasman loose-forward will be hard to leave out going forward.

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“He got over the ball a couple of times, yeah, like he’s a kid that’s been around through the system, New Zealand U20s, had a really nice year for Tasman last year.

“Came into the season with a bit of an injury, unfortunately, so had a slower start, but has played really well for the Crusaders development 15, and deserved his selection.

“He’ll be very hard to leave out. It’s a credit to the young man, and it’s exciting for the organisation.”

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Comments

5 Comments
B
BM 43 days ago

Where young Blackadder is brutal young Lee showed us he is finessed. I can see both being around for a long time.

G
GP 44 days ago

Nice call Will Jordan. Johnny Lee is a lot like Ethan Blackadder and Johnny has learned a lot off Ethan. Never say die, relentless in the true traditions of red and black loose forwards. Rob Penney picked Johnny Lee as one to look out for at the beginning of the season. Ethan Blackadder also had a great game.

P
PickOllieMathisOrKeepLosing,Rob. 44 days ago

They need a loose forward/wing option off the bench.

S
SC 45 days ago

Now Penny needs to get Ollie Mathis into the matchday 23 off the bench.

U
Utiku Old Boy 45 days ago

Good work rate, engine, skills and grit. Would be interesting to see his dimensions.

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