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Watch: Braydon Ennor's game-changing moment of magic that sparked Crusaders victory

By Online Editors
Braydon Ennor

The Crusaders produced two moments of innovative magic in quick succession to turn the game in their 26-15 win over the Blues in Christchurch last night.

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The game exploded into life midway through the second half when Rieko Ioane crashed over the line to give the Blues a 15-9 lead with 25 minutes to play.

But as Otere Black lined up the conversion from out in front, Crusaders winger Brayden Ennor stunted the Blues momentum.

As Black took a step back to begin his slow meander towards the ball, Ennor brilliantly burst off the line to charge down the kick.

That strike appeared to spark something within Crusaders standout Richie Mo’unga, who proceeded to push his side towards victory.

Not long after a cheeky quick restart from Mo’unga caught the Blues napping when he saw Blues fullback Beauden Barrett was sitting slightly deeper than he had been in the first half.

That was all Mo’unga needed to expertly dribble a restart along the deck for himself to gather, before dashing deep into Blues’ territory.

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“Sometimes I like to put things on myself, that was one thing I felt I could have done to change the momentum and change the way the game was going,” Mo’unga said.

“I had just been told Will Jordan was down, and Davie [David Havili] was down getting checked out on the in-goal. I sort of felt something had to happen.”

Mo’unga then delivered a brilliant double pump cut-out ball that put George Bridge into space on the outside. Bridge found Mitchell Drummond back on the inside, and the Crusaders stole a one-point lead for the first time in the match.

Those were the moments that turned the match.

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“We could feel the energy around the stadium, could feel the boys start to lift. That is rugby, that is momentum. Boys doing their job and doing it well,” Mo’unga said of his team’s finish.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald said it was the “little moments” that let his team down.

”We came and scored a fantastic try in the second half, and then they get a charge down on the conversion, which shows how relentless they are in everything they do,” he said.

“Then Richie is alert, like always, and does a little short kick and all of a sudden we are defending our try line.

“That is the Crusaders, a relentless outfit that keeps on putting pressure on. We chucked everything we had at them, we came really close and I’m really proud of the effort.”

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Bull Shark 2 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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