Waratahs vs Crusaders: Can’t replace Suaalii, Crusaders back on track

The Crusaders have returned to winning ways in Super Rugby Pacific, beating the Waratahs 48-33 at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. Without the likes of Will Jordan and Codie Taylor, the visitors made a statement, handing the Tahs only their second home loss of the season.

Johnny McNicholl scored in the second minute, and the Crusaders never really looked back, with Braydon Ennor and Ioane Moananu also scoring a try each inside the first 15 minutes. While the Tahs hit back through Lang Gleeson, they’d go into the break trailing by 24.

After a solid start to the second half, which saw the Tahs score the first two tries, the Crusaders regained control as they held on for a clinical win on the road. This result means the Tahs are all but out of the playoff race, while the Crusaders control their own destiny to finish top two.

You can’t replace someone of Suaalii’s calibre

The loss of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was always going to be a talking point.

Suaalii will undergo an operation on a fractured jaw, which will keep Rugby Australia’s multi-million dollar man on the sidelines for at least one month. With the Tahs’ season already hanging in the balance, Friday evening’s challenge became that much tougher.

Coach McKellar named Andrew Kellaway at fullback as Suaalii’s replacement, while one-Test Wallaby Darby Lancaster returned to the starting side on the left wing. While Suaalii was missing, it was by no means a bad Tahs side on paper.

But replacing someone of Suaalii’s calibre is nigh on impossible.

Take the Tahs’ 17-40 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra earlier this month as an example. Suaalii was up there with the best for total carries, made a telling impact with those opportunities in terms of running metres, scored a try, and stood tall on defence.

The Tahs missed that X-Factor against the Crusaders.

Kellaway wasn’t able to make a difference, and the same, for the most part, can be said for Lancaster and Rielly on the wings. Of course, Lancaster’s try with less than 10 minutes to play will be replayed repeatedly on socials, but that was just one moment to speak of.

It’s impossible not to think about how Suaalii could’ve changed things, even if only slightly.

But that’s what makes the Crusaders so great

You can’t replace someone of Suaalii’s calibre.

That’s the truth.

Lancaster, Reilly and Kellaway struggled against the might that is the Crusaders.

But the Crusaders have their own injury problems, with first five-eighth Taha Kemara out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and star All Black Will Jordan is also on the sidelines.

But if you were new to rugby and didn’t know that, you’d be brave to question the Crusaders. Anyone new to the sport wouldn’t doubt the likes of Johnny McNicholl and Rivez Reihana, who fit into the Crusaders’ starting side seamlessly.

The Crusaders have been great forever in Super Rugby. That comes down to team culture and the belief players clearly have in themselves and of each other, trusting anyone who is given the chance to wear the famed red and black strip.

McNicholl scored the opener and Reihana had a great game. It’s impossible for anyone to step up and replace Suaalii at the Tahs, but the Crusaders don’t seem to have the same problem even when injuries strike.

That’s what makes the Crusaders such a great team.

Waratahs’ season is all but over

With three rounds left, the Tahs had an outside chance of playing finals.

Coach McKellar’s team occupied eighth place on the ladder, and had a tough run home in a bid to save their season. After hosting the Crusaders, the Tahs will make the trip west to face the Force before taking on the Blues at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Before Friday’s match got underway, the Highlanders nearly did the Tahs a big favour as they sat on the cusp of an upset win in Wellington, only for Cam Roigard to steal it for the Hurricanes with a last-gasp try.

The top six has begun to take shape deep into the season, although Saturday’s clash between Moana Pasifika and the Blues could be another twist. The Tahs need Moana to win, otherwise the Blues will join the Hurricanes in a well-formed top six.

But let’s focus on the Tahs.

Their record at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium was perfect after four matches, including a shock win over the high-flying Chiefs. But it’s a completely different story on the road, with the New South Welshmen still yet to record a win away from home this season.

Friday’s loss to the Crusaders has all but brought an end to the Tahs’ season. While they’re still mathematically a chance, it seems highly unlikely the men wearing sky blue will play finals. It’s probably a far reflection of the competition, with the Tahs not winning enough big games.

It’s wrong to doubt the Crusaders

Johnny McNicholl scored the first try of the match in the second minute.

There was a palpable sense of concern and anxiousness as the Crusaders returned to halfway ready to go again, while the Tahs waited for Rivez Reihana to take the shot at goal. But as fans saw only hours before in the Hurricanes versus Highlanders, an early try isn’t the full story.

Tane Edmed took the kick-off, and the Tahs weren’t afraid to throw the ball around when they regathered possession. Edmed was involved in an attacking play where the hosts spread the ball out left, but a misjudgment cost the Tahs dearly.

Triston Reilly threw an interception. Braydon Ennor did well to regather the ball after initially batting it up skyward, but there was no stopping the All Black who, had too much pace and space, beating Darby Lancaster to the line.

What was most telling about this was the reaction from the Crusaders.

With plenty of players hanging back already as Ennor raced away, the Crusaders set themselves up again for a restart, visibly keen to pile more point-scoring pressure on the Tahs. As for the home side, they set up to watch Reihana take another shot at goal.

The Crusaders went on to record a big win and it’s little wonder why. They expected a reaction from themselves after falling to the Chiefs at home, and this was exactly the type of performance coach Rob Penney would’ve been after.

While it seemed the giants had fallen last season, with those who don’t call Christchurch home enjoying every moment of their apparent downfall, and it was a similar story after the loss to the Chiefs. Many doubted them, but once again, the Crusaders are back up and standing.

They are the real deal.

12 minutes of hope

The Crusaders deserved to win, but give credit where credit’s due.

With the match practically over by half-time, the Tahs came out of the sheds at half-time with a vengeance. The 24-point difference at the break seemed like a mountain too tall to climb at the time, but a red-hot start could change that.

Langi Gleeson and Miles Amatosero crashed over for a try each inside the first 12 minutes of the second term, and it breathed new life into that Tahs side. As for the Crusaders, they called upon some highly experienced reinforcements, including Wallabies hopeful James O’Connor.

The Crusaders ultimately took control soon after, with Reihana linking up with Sevu Reece, who raced away to score a record-equalling 65^th career Super Rugby try. But those first 12 minutes, seemed to give Tahs fans a glimmer of hope.