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'You could feel it all week': Crusaders captain Taylor on ambushing the Blues
By Ben Smith
The under-siege Crusaders topped a tumultuous week with a memorable 29-27 win over the table-leading Blues in front of a raucous crowd in Christchurch.
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The emotional result came after a week of celebration and regret. The club honoured their past players in their hall of fame ceremonies but off-hand comments from head coach Rob Penney made for a rocky week in the media.
The do-or-die fixture against their biggest rivals added to the energy in the match, with the Crusaders keeping their slim playoff hopes alive in the end.
Captain Codie Taylor said the team was able to turn around the winning moments that the side has been missing this season.
“I think it’s been there, I just think we haven’t capitalised on opportunities,” Taylor explained to Sky Sport NZ.
“We lost a few moments in past games but a massive week for us, we knew what we were up against with the Blues, real class side, they deserve to be where they are.
“There was a lot of chat around our week and what it meant for the boys that have been before us and I’m glad we could get a result for them.”
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Boosted by the ongoing return of All Blacks like captain Codie Taylor, Ethan Blackadder and the return of Fergus Burke from injury, the Crusaders looked like the form team of old.
In his first game back in three weeks Blackadder crashed over for the first try, before a double to Blues prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi put the visitors up 15-7.
But the resilient Crusaders struck on the stroke of half-time through winger Chay Fihaki after a quick tap gamble to stay in the match.
AJ Lam extended the Blues lead to 22-12 but the Crusaders wouldn’t go away, with Fergus Burke pulling the strings on two Crusaders tries.
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A first phase strike saw Burke fire a long ball to Sevu Reece, who nearly scored, before Burke pulled the trigger on cross-field kick back to No 8 Christian Lio-Willie open back on the other side on the next phase.
It was Burke again slicing through the line to set-up another, linking with Chay Fihaki who produced a wild inside pass to halfback Noah Hotham for the Crusaders to take the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
On staying alive and building confidence, Taylor said that the win was ‘huge’ after an inspirational week inside the Crusaders camp.
“I think we’ve got a wee chance there still, that’s huge for us,” he said.
“It’s been a tough season for us obviously. We connected on Monday, we knew what we were up for, the boys dug in deep, you could feel it all week.
“Especially after yesterday, going along to the legacy lunch being a part of that and how much it means to those that went before us.
“We just wanted to show them how much it means to be a Crusader.”
